Autocam Medical partners with Western Michigan University (WMU) and others to address talent shortage and create a state-of-the-art manufacturing incubator
With the new AMP Lab @WMU that’s set to open this fall, Western Michigan University wants to leverage public- and private-sector partnerships to help local manufacturers innovate and access talent.
WMU is investing $3 million to convert the bottom two floors of its building at 200 Ionia Ave. SW in downtown Grand Rapids into a state-of-the-art manufacturing incubator. The Advanced Manufacturing Partnership Laboratory will test new technologies and also develop aspiring engineers, designers and other skilled workers who remain in high demand among the region’s employer base.
By combining prototyping, professional workshops, training, K-12 outreach, small-scale manufacturing and advanced education opportunities in one space, and by partnering with a range of companies and higher education institutions, WMU wants to position the program at the forefront to solve key challenges for industry.