High-Tech Equipment from Autocam Medical Installed in WMU AMP Lab

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Autocam Medical, a contract manufacturer of precision surgical and medical components and devices announced three new pieces of their manufacturing equipment were installed in Western Michigan University’s (WMU) regional state-of-the-art Advanced Manufacturing Partnership Laboratory (AMP Lab).

The equipment is just one example of Autocam Medical’s commitment to creating a skilled workforce. They are also a key partner in the AMP program, which is focused on encouraging and facilitating the development of students pursuing careers in engineering and manufacturing. In addition, they participate in a CNC Machinist Apprentice program in which they send workers to college to receive training in computer numerical control (CNC) machining. Students that complete 728 hours of classroom instruction while maintaining a full work schedule receive their journeyman’s card in CNC Machining and 27 college credits towards an associate’s degree.

Now students in the program will have access to some specialized equipment. The AMP lab equipment, a CNC 5 Axis Mill, a Swiss lathe, and a 3D metal printer, will provide engineering students and current engineers and designers with an opportunity to experience the high-tech devices needed to develop and test new products and prototypes. “We are primarily focused on the medical industry, so the machines are designed to make smaller parts,” said John Kennedy IV, General Manager at Autocam Medical.

For example, the CNC 5 Axis Mill is used to make metal orthopedic devices such as ankle replacements, shoulder implants, hip sockets, and trauma plates for stabilizing broken bones. The Swiss lathe is designed to make long and slender round components for different uses. The 3D metal printer can print ready-to-finish objects.

In addition to the opportunity to use the specialized equipment, students will also be able to receive valuable input from industry experts at the lab. “Engineering students that have a concept that is a little bit more technical than what they have the ability to do on the Web, can come down here and say, ‘I have this great idea can you guys help me figure out how to make this?,’ while they learn more about advanced machining,” said John Kennedy IV, General Manager at Autocam Medical.

The facility is located on the bottom two floors of WMU’s building at 200 Ionia Avenue SW in Grand Rapids. Students begin their learning in the apprentice lab and classroom and then move down to the lower level, where the new equipment from Autocam Medical is located for hands-on experience. In addition to providing students with the tools they need to bring their concepts to fruition, the location of the Autocam Medical equipment in the lab’s lower level allows passersby to have a birds-eye view of the machines from the sidewalk above.

“This type of visibility will allow people to see manufacturing in process,” said John Kennedy IV. “It will also help raise the profile of advanced manufacturing in downtown Grand Rapids and draw more people into skilled trade careers. Manufacturers are struggling to fill these positions with well-trained workers who can become productive immediately. The AMP Lab helps close that gap.”

Autocam Medical’s President, John Kennedy, has played a primary role in this unique partnership between private industry and public institutions. He has helped connect Herman Miller and Paragon Die and Engineering to the program which includes several other area manufacturers and donors such as, Amway, Cascade Engineering, Flexco, Haworth, and Rockwell Automation. Besides WMU, the companies will be involved with Grand Rapids Community College, Ferris State University, and Aquinas College. As a result, the Lab becomes a resource for all of West Michigan and beyond.

Autocam Medical Recruits and Retains Top Talent with Empowering Work Culture

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Autocam Medical, a contract manufacturer of precision surgical and medical components and devices recently released a new video highlighting their unique work culture and the many ways they recruit and retain employees.

John Kennedy, President of Autocam Medical, says, “Our vision is to become the best contract manufacturer for medical devices in the world. The way in which we do that is by providing the highest quality, best delivery, and best value to our customers. We can’t do that without great people. The many ways in which we recruit and retain top talent is a big part of our focus.”

As Dennis Weihl, Value Stream Manager and seven-year employee of Autocam Medical, notes in the video, one of the many ways that Autocam Medical has made culture a top priority is through the education and opportunities that they offer their employees. “At most companies, if you don’t know it when you walk in the door, you’re not going to have that job,” he said. That’s not the case at Autocam Medical. “They encourage growing and learning at all levels. That’s what keeps me here, I continue to grow and learn every single day that I’m here,” he said.

In fact, 23 of the company’s 200 employees are in a sponsored apprenticeship right now. The program pays for 100% of educational expenses and provides them with a full-time job while they are going to school. Students that complete 728 hours of classroom instruction while maintaining a full work schedule receive their journeyman’s card in CNC Machining and 27 college credits towards an associate’s degree.

What’s more, those that are hired on by Autocam Medical may pursue additional education as along as it relates to their role with the company. The company offers a tuition reimbursement program after 30 days of employment. In addition to paying for 100% of the Qualified Educational Assistance Expenses incurred by a participant for tuition at an accredited college, the program also pays for 50% of their approved expenses for textbooks (up to $5,250 annually). This includes certificate and degree programs.

Besides investing in the formal education of their employees, the company also encourages on-the-job training and teamwork. There are no separate areas. Employees work in Area Improvement Teams (AIT’s) so they have the opportunity to work out on the floor together and learn from one another.
The teamwork approach helps employees “do the best job they can in the work they are doing,” and to discover and suggest processes that will allow the company to do things better, faster, and more cost effectively.

If you would like to learn more about Autocam Medical’s culture, visit:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e8y0l1A6ZEg&feature=youtu.be

Autocam Medical Conducting Same Day Interviews at GRPS Hiring Event

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Autocam Medical, a global contract manufacturer of precision surgical and medical components and devices, announced today that they will be participating in the Grand Rapids Public Schools (GRPS) Student & Community Hiring Event on Thursday, May 9, 2019.

Students, families, and community members are invited to attend the on-site hiring event at Innovation Central High School in Grand Rapids located at 421 Fountain Street NE. High school juniors and seniors may go to the event from 1-3 p.m. while family and community members should plan on being there from 4-7 p.m.

Autocam Medical will be offering same day interviews for qualified CNC Machinists interested in working the night shift from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. More in-depth information regarding these positions and many others throughout all of Autocam Medical’s locations may be found on the careers page of their Web site:
www.Autocam-Medical.com

More in-depth information regarding the event may be found at:
https://www.westmiworks.org/grps-student-and-community-hiring-event/

GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS JOURNAL: Autocam Medical is Investing in Students

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Original Source: Grand Rapids Business Journal

Kentwood-based Autocam Medical, a global contract manufacturer of precision surgical and medical components and devices, said this month it will be thinking of the future by sponsoring the annual MiCareerQuest from 8:30 a.m.-1:45 p.m. April 24.

The career exploration experience for 14- to 18-year-old students will be held at DeVos Place Convention Center, 303 Monroe Ave. NW in downtown Grand Rapids.

Created in 2015 by area Michigan Works! offices, the Kent ISD and the Construction Workforce Development Alliance (CWDA), MiCareerQuest aims to address the growing demand for talent in four key industries.

“A significant portion of our workforce in the construction, health sciences, information technology and manufacturing industries will be retiring over the next decade. This is just one of the forward-thinking ways that Autocam Medical is helping to stimulate the workforce in those fields,” said Tom O’Mara, executive vice president at Autocam.

More than 9,000 students are expected to attend the event. They will have the opportunity to engage with professionals and try different activities in high-growth occupations as they contemplate their future careers.

At the event, Autocam Medical will provide students with the opportunity to watch their initials be laser-etched into a key tag, and view leg and arm replicas showing how the company’s components and devices are used.

They also will have the opportunity to simulate a doctor’s experience by drilling and screwing components into bone blocks.

More information about MiCareerQuest is available at micareerquest.org.

Original Source: Grand Rapids Business Journal

Autocam Medical Joins MiCareerQuest for Students

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Autocam Medical, a global contract manufacturer of precision surgical and medical components and devices, announced today that they will be sponsoring the MiCareerQuest on Wednesday, April 24, 2019.

The career exploration experience for 14 to 19 year old students will be held at the Devos Place Convention Center and will run from 8:30 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. Created in 2015 by area Michigan Works! offices, the Kent ISD, and the Construction Workforce Development Alliance (CWDA) the MiCareerQuest aims to address the growing demand for talent in Construction, Health Sciences, Information Technology, and Manufacturing.

Over 9,000 students are expected to attend the event. They will have the opportunity to engage with professionals and try different activities in the high-growth occupations as they contemplate their future careers. As an employer champion for the event, Autocam Medical will provide students with the opportunity to watch their own initials be laser etched into a key tag, and view leg and arm replicas showing how the company’s components and devices are used. They will also have the opportunity to simulate a doctor’s experience by drilling and screwing components into bone blocks.

“A significant portion of our workforce in the construction, health sciences, information technology, and manufacturing industries will be retiring over the next decade, this is just one of the forward thinking ways that Autocam Medical is helping to stimulate the workforce in those fields,” said Tom O’Mara, Executive Vice President at Autocam.

More in-depth information regarding the MiCareerQuest may be found at: https://www.micareerquest.org/

Autocam Medical Making Same Day Offers at Job Fair

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Autocam Medical, a global contract manufacturer of precision surgical and medical components and devices, announced today that they will be holding a job fair on Saturday, December 8, 2018.

The event will be held at Autocam Medical’s Plymouth, MA location at 24 Aldrin Road from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Same day offers will be made to qualified CNC Machinists, CNC Programmers, Sr Quality Inspectors, and Polishing/Deburring. More in-depth information regarding these positions and many others throughout all of Autocam Medical’s locations may be found at:
https://www.irecruit-us.com/index.php?OrgID=I20150810&pg=listAuto

Interested applicants may also view additional information about the job fair at:
http://trk.emagnify.com/q/119A4KzcnljT/wv

Autocam Medical Receives a Massachusetts Manufacturer of the Year Award

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KENTWOOD, MICH—(November 13, 2017)—Autocam Medical’s Plymouth, Massachusetts division has been named a Manufacturer of the Year by the Commonwealth’s Manufacturing Caucus. The company was nominated by State Representative Matt Muratore of the First Plymouth District. The award was established to highlight and honor successful manufacturers that represent innovative and revolutionary manufacturing capabilities and products. Autocam Medical employs 102 people at its Plymouth facility and produces high precision implants and instruments for Orthopedics and Spine, as well as precision machined components for other surgical and diagnostic applications.

“We are honored, humbled and gratified by this award,” commented John Kennedy, President and CEO. “The credit clearly goes to our team members in Plymouth who have consistently met the demands of constant technology change and taken our facility to the highest levels of quality and efficiency in the products we manufacture there.” Kennedy also pointed out that the location has recently been recertified to ISO 13485 standards, the comprehensive quality management systems for the design and manufacture of medical devices.

The 2nd Annual Manufacturing Awards ceremony was held on October 24th at the State House Grand Staircase with the keynote address given by Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito.

Autocam Medical’s Plymouth, MA facility Recertified to ISO 13485:2016

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August 1, 2017—Autocam Medical, a global contract manufacturer of surgical implants, instruments and related products, has announced its Plymouth, MA facility has been recertified to ISO 13485:2016. ISO 13485 requires that the certified organization demonstrate the quality system is effectively implemented and maintained. The scope of the certificate is “contract manufacturer of machined non-sterile medical device components and instruments, built to customer specifications.”

According to Greg Coberly, Global Director of Quality, “This recertification indicates our continued investment in a quality management system which ensures process control, accurate reporting, and traceability. This approach dramatically improves manufacturing integrity, reduces lead time, and provides the most reliable and high quality medical device components for our customers. This facility is also certified under ISO 9001, the quality management standard that demands a relentless focus on continuous improvement.”

Autocam Medical Launches China Operations

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We are very excited to introduce Autocam Medical’s China Operations! Located in Suzhou Industrial Park, just one hour from Shanghai, our 27,400 square foot building will soon be ready for production. The first “Swiss” CNC machines were delivered and set up in early June and we received our first Rollomatic Cutter-Grinder in July. “The addition of the China facility allows Autocam Medical to expand our growing global reach, while still providing local service. Our team of highly skilled machinists and technical support will provide our customers fast and reliable products and services they have come to expect from all of our global facilities” states Autocam Medical’s Executive Vice President, Tom O’Mara. Actions are well under way to gain ISO-13485 and local regulatory approval to fully support OEM customers.