Case Study: eKAMI builds an innovative manufacturing workforce with Yaskawa Motoman robotics training

eKentucky Advanced Manufacturing Institute trains students in 5- and 10-month programs with Yaskawa Motoman

The eKentucky Advanced Manufacturing Institute (eKAMI) faced the challenge of a significant skilled labor shortage in the manufacturing sector, which was exacerbated by the industry's rapid adoption of Industry 4.0 technologies. To address this, eKAMI needed to create an educational program that could prepare a diverse group of students for advanced manufacturing jobs by training them on the latest robotic automation. Partnering with vendor Yaskawa Motoman, the institute integrated state-of-the-art equipment into its curriculum to bridge the skills gap.

Yaskawa Motoman's solution involved providing its HC10 collaborative robot for eKAMI's hands-on training program. The robot was used to teach foundational skills, particularly by connecting CNC machining with robotics for machine tending applications. This action-based education, facilitated by Yaskawa's technology, successfully created a new talent pool in the Appalachian region. The result is that manufacturers are now looking to build facilities in the area and are actively seeking to hire the skilled eKAMI graduates.

eKentucky Advanced Manufacturing Institute (eKAMI)