159: How Career & Technical Education (CTE) is Impacting Smart Manufacturing with Kent Powell of Amatrol

Whether it’s on the job or in a traditional academic setting, education is essential to building a strong manufacturing function.  But this episode of Manufacturing Happy Hour homes in on one specific aspect of learning – career and technical education (CTE) – and explores how it’s helping teams make better decisions and better products. Amatrol’s career and technical training solutions are used in all 50 U.S. states and in 50+ countries, so we invited Kent Powell, their VP of Sales and Marketing, onto the show to let us in on some of their secrets. Kent shares how Amatrol became a leader in their field, his thoughts and observations on smart manufacturing and why Louisville is a hub for education and employment. Plus, he explains how Kentucky FAME program is helping students get into manufacturing roles in just two years, debt-free.  In this episode, find out: About Kent’s background in aerospace How Amatrol became a leader in CTE What manufacturing teams need to know most Kent’s insights into smart manufacturing How to decide what to train staff on next What manufacturing means to Louisville How Kentucky Federation for Advanced Manufacturing (FAME) is impacting the industry Enjoying the show? Please leave us a review here. Even one sentence helps. It’s feedback from Manufacturing All-Stars like you that keeps us going! Tweetable Quotes: “By using smart sensors, as opposed to on-off switches, we’re able to collect more information, make better decisions in record speed, and make a better product in a short amount of time.” “Manufacturing is our path forward in Louisville. It’s a great place to start a manufacturing company.” “We’re nothing without the success of our clients. If they’re successful, we’re successful.” Links & mentions: Connect with Kent on LinkedIn Amatrol, the global leader in online career & technical education (CTE) Kentucky FAME, the Kentucky Federation for Advanced Manufacturing Education (KY FAME) is a partnership of regional manufacturers whose purpose is to implement career pathway, apprenticeship-style educational programs that will create a pipeline of highly skilled workers Amount of Data Created Daily (2023) The Brown, a historic hotel in Louisville, KY known for its fine Kentucky bourbon & iconic destination; home of the “Hot Brown” and – according to Kent – one of the best Rye Manhattans in the city Make sure to visit http://manufacturinghappyhour.com for detailed show notes and a full list of resources mentioned in this episode. Stay Innovative, Stay Thirsty.