GRCC TODAY: Graduation Ceremony at the AMP Lab Honors Autocam Medical Apprentices

The Advanced Manufacturing Partnership (AMP) Lab has churned out another group of CNC machinists from its apprenticeship program.

Kentwood-based Autocam Medical, a global contract manufacturer of precision surgical and medical components and devices, said Dec. 3 it presented 11 students with certificates of completion for their computer numerical control (CNC) machinist apprentice program during a Nov. 10 ceremony at the AMP Lab @ Western Michigan University in Grand Rapids.

The event, recognizing the company’s fourth class of graduates, included a few words of motivation and inspiration by John Kennedy IV, general manager of Autocam Medical, and Bill Pink, president of Grand Rapids Community College.

The year-round program requires students to complete over 700 hours of classroom instruction over a period of 90 weeks. Apprentices are employed by Autocam Medical, maintaining a full work schedule during the training period. In addition to CNC machinist certification, the course of study also covers the necessary schooling required by the U.S. Department of Labor for students to receive a certified journeyman card and puts them on the path to receive an associate degree, earning 27 college credits.

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