Our High School Manufacturing Academy (HSMA)

Our 2019-20 year is off to a great start! We currently have 5 Kentucky school districts participating.

They are Franklin County High School Career & Technical Center, Bourbon County High School,

Harrison County High School, Phoenix Horizon Community of Scott County, and Paris Independent High School. The High School Manufacturing program is designed to introduce students to college and career readiness through Advanced Manufacturing career examples, skill sets, and information that provides understanding of work-place expectations.

We offer four (4) classes; Human Relations, Problem Solving, Work Processes, and an Assembly Line Operation where students build model cars. We also include tours to Toyota, Bluegrass Community and Technical College, and the University of Kentucky College of Engineering Lean Institute. Emphasis of this program is placed on the Advanced Manufacturing Technician Program and the role of an engineer in manufacturing. Completion of the HSMA requires a written exam plus a collaborative team exercise of building a spider robot and controller. This program is patterned after our Workshop Development Program for displaced workers.

This year I am pleased to announce the addition of Tim and Amy Turner. Both are former Toyota family members with a variety of training experience. Together we hope to build a strong group of young people who understand the opportunities and expectations of workers in advanced manufacturing careers.