Kellogg Community College (KCC) is setting a national precedent in advanced manufacturing and EV workforce development, thanks to groundbreaking investments in Industry 4.0 training technologies.
With support from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC), KCC is now the first college in the United States to implement a fully integrated enterprise training system using FANUC CRX-5iA Collaborative Robots, empowering students to master the advanced, automated technologies reshaping today’s manufacturing landscape.
This new training system – housed at KCC’s Eastern Academic Center in Albion – pairs FANUC’s latest cobots with Allen-Bradley controls from Rockwell Automation, Amatrol’s Enterprise System, and an array of smart manufacturing tools, including autonomous mobile robots, machining workstations, conveyors and more. The result is a comprehensive, hands-on learning environment designed to simulate the high-tech production floors of modern industry.
“Many programs teach manufacturing technologies as discrete topics,” said Geramy Detwiler of ATS Midwest, the distributor that helped bring the system to KCC. “But this system is fully integrated, giving students the ability to connect and troubleshoot across all aspects of Industry 4.0 – exactly what employers need in today’s AI-driven manufacturing environments.”
Photo by Simon A. Thalmann, KCC Daily
This innovation is funded by two major MEDC grants:
$2.7 million through the Kellogg Advanced Manufacturing Industry 4.0 (KAMI 4.0) initiative, focused on upskilling the existing workforce and preparing students for high-tech roles in manufacturing.
$3.5 million to support EV and semiconductor training, as part of a first-of-its-kind public-private partnership with Western Michigan University and major industry employers including Ford’s BlueOval Battery Park Michigan, DENSO, and MAGNA Cosma Casting.
Together, these initiatives will help meet growing talent demands across the region. Ford’s BlueOval project alone is expected to require 1,700 new employees in coming years, and KCC is playing a pivotal role in building the local talent pipeline.
“This is about more than just technology,” said KCC President Dr. Paul Watson. “It’s about preparing our communities in Calhoun, Barry and Branch counties for a brighter, more prosperous future. Together, we are building the workforce needed to meet the demands of the advanced manufacturing industry and ensuring our region remains at the forefront of innovation.”
At the heart of KCC’s training approach is a new vision for smart manufacturing education. Using the Amatrol Enterprise System, students gain hands-on experience with:
Programmable logic controllers (PLCs)
Smart sensors and product ID
Industrial robotics and cobots
Network communications and cybersecurity
Autonomous mobile robots and conveyors
Smart maintenance and troubleshooting systems
Students also have the opportunity to earn SACA (Smart Automation Certification Alliance) credentials in key Industry 4.0 areas, including Robot Operations, Ethernet Communications, Smart Sensors, and Total Productive Maintenance – credentials that align directly with employer needs.
Beyond postsecondary learners, the College is expanding access through a $784,000 BEEP (Bruin pre-Engineering Engagement Pipeline) grant, which will fund STEM camps, school outreach, educator workshops, and more for pre-K through 12th grade students and teachers.
The timing of KCC’s transformation aligns with Michigan’s ambitious clean energy and EV goals. According to recent reports:
The state added more than 5,400 clean energy jobs in 2022, with projections of 41,000 more jobs by 2040.
The U.S. Department of Energy reported that clean energy jobs grew 4.2% in 2023, making up 56% of all new energy sector jobs nationwide.
The MEDC’s Talent Solutions division – which includes 17 higher education institutions and over 20 major employers – has already trained more than 2,600 people for high-tech roles and awarded over 240 scholarships through the Michigander Scholars program.
Through its partnerships with Ford, DENSO, MEDC and others, KCC is helping to realize this statewide vision.
“We appreciate KCC and the MEDC’s continued support of skilled trades and advanced manufacturing training,” said Todd Greer, VP of Manufacturing at DENSO. “This programming not only supports our efforts to upskill our teams but also helps give people the tools they need to grow a career in manufacturing – benefitting the local workforce, our industry, and our communities.”
