Building Careers
While JAMA members’ operations in the U.S. include substantial investments in training its own workforce, the work actually goes beyond the factory floor and toward helping individuals throughout the workforce pipeline identify and realize their potential. These efforts start as early as kindergarten and run through high school, post-secondary education, including technical and community colleges, and four-year universities. Ultimately, this work to build careers strengthens U.S. competitiveness and makes a positive impact on U.S. society through inspiration, mentorship and hands-on training.
K-12 Education
Toyota
The Toyota 4T Academy is a national high school pathway program designed to provide high school juniors and seniors with an innovative education experience, pairing hands-on learning with on-the-job training at Toyota. The program originally started in Indiana in 2020, later expanding to West Virginia. In 2023, Toyota brough its 4T Academy to Mississippi, further expanding an important program for developing the local workforce.
Honda
In October 2023, Honda hosted Manufacturing Day (MFG Day) activities for students and teachers at nine of its U.S. production facilities, highlighting a remarkably broad array of exciting career opportunities in modern manufacturing whether at Honda, within the company's supplier network or at other manufacturing companies across America. Honda's MFG Day events included more than 1,600 students from 40 different schools in Alabama, Georgia, Indiana, Ohio and the Carolinas.
Nissan
In February 2023, Nissan hosted 62 African American high school students from around the country as part of the annual Nissan Ready program. The Nissan Ready program, which first began in 2014, is an initiative in partnership with 100 Black Men of America that works to educate and inspire students through interactive career-building workshops, dynamic presentations, and building camaraderie.
Mazda
In 2023, Mazda continued supporting its College Track program, which aims to equip students confronting systemic barriers to earn a bachelor’s degree in pursuit of a life of opportunity, choice, and power. At the core of College Track’s program model is the 10-year commitment they make to each student, from ninth grade through college graduation. The Mazda Foundation’s funding supports programming at College Track’s Los Angeles area program centers, located in Watts, Boyle Heights, and Crenshaw.
Subaru
In September 2023, Subaru announced that as part of its Subaru Loves Learning initiative it would adopt all classrooms at high schools on the Camden High Campus. Subaru will also support the development of a graphic arts lab at Eastside High School with funding and materials donations, allowing the students to learn valuable technical skills and concurrently serve as a revenue generator for Eastside by creating branded gear for the school store. This new lab further enhances a grant from the Subaru of America Foundation to support career and technical efforts (CTE), partnership with 12Plus, that connects students to a range of meaningful workforce development opportunities.
Honda
In 2023, The Manufacturing Institute and Honda brought the industry-leading Creators Wanted campaign to central Ohio in collaboration with the Ohio Manufacturers' Association and FactoryFix. Creators Wanted showcases the exciting career opportunities available, and technologies used, in modern manufacturing. As part of the event Honda hosted more than 300 Ohio students on a tour of the Honda Heritage Center in Marysville. The students were able to experience the exhibit of Honda's history of innovation and tour the Honda Technical Development Center, where Honda associates have the opportunity to advance their skills for high-tech manufacturing.
Toyota
The Toyota 4T Academy is a national high school pathway program designed to provide high school juniors and seniors with an innovative education experience, pairing hands-on learning with on-the-job training at Toyota. The program originally started in Indiana in 2020, later expanding to West Virginia. In 2023, Toyota brough its 4T Academy to Mississippi, further expanding an important program for developing the local workforce.
Honda
In October 2023, Honda hosted Manufacturing Day (MFG Day) activities for students and teachers at nine of its U.S. production facilities, highlighting a remarkably broad array of exciting career opportunities in modern manufacturing whether at Honda, within the company's supplier network or at other manufacturing companies across America. Honda's MFG Day events included more than 1,600 students from 40 different schools in Alabama, Georgia, Indiana, Ohio and the Carolinas.
Nissan
In February 2023, Nissan hosted 62 African American high school students from around the country as part of the annual Nissan Ready program. The Nissan Ready program, which first began in 2014, is an initiative in partnership with 100 Black Men of America that works to educate and inspire students through interactive career-building workshops, dynamic presentations, and building camaraderie.
Mazda
In 2023, Mazda continued supporting its College Track program, which aims to equip students confronting systemic barriers to earn a bachelor’s degree in pursuit of a life of opportunity, choice, and power. At the core of College Track’s program model is the 10-year commitment they make to each student, from ninth grade through college graduation. The Mazda Foundation’s funding supports programming at College Track’s Los Angeles area program centers, located in Watts, Boyle Heights, and Crenshaw.
Subaru
In September 2023, Subaru announced that as part of its Subaru Loves Learning initiative it would adopt all classrooms at high schools on the Camden High Campus. Subaru will also support the development of a graphic arts lab at Eastside High School with funding and materials donations, allowing the students to learn valuable technical skills and concurrently serve as a revenue generator for Eastside by creating branded gear for the school store. This new lab further enhances a grant from the Subaru of America Foundation to support career and technical efforts (CTE), partnership with 12Plus, that connects students to a range of meaningful workforce development opportunities.
Honda
In 2023, The Manufacturing Institute and Honda brought the industry-leading Creators Wanted campaign to central Ohio in collaboration with the Ohio Manufacturers' Association and FactoryFix. Creators Wanted showcases the exciting career opportunities available, and technologies used, in modern manufacturing. As part of the event Honda hosted more than 300 Ohio students on a tour of the Honda Heritage Center in Marysville. The students were able to experience the exhibit of Honda's history of innovation and tour the Honda Technical Development Center, where Honda associates have the opportunity to advance their skills for high-tech manufacturing.
Community College and Technical Training
Mazda
The Mazda Foundation supports the Vehicles for Change’s Full Circle Auto Repair and Training Program, which helps fund paid internships and auto mechanic training for people with multiple barriers to employment, including those recently released from prison.
Subaru
The Advanced Manufacturing Maintenance Training (AMMT) Program at Subaru of Indiana Automotive (SIA) is a two year program that combines 26 weeks of classes at Vincennes University with on-the-job training. The program covers a number of areas vital to modern manufacturing including electrical, programmable logic controllers (PLCs), mechatronics, hydraulics, pneumatics, and print reading.
Toyota
The Toyota Technician & Education Network (T-TEN) has been an industry-leading automotive technician training program since 1986. During that time over 23,000 certified technicians have been placed in rewarding careers in dealerships across the country. The program offers new recruits’ tuition-free training at a state-of-the-art facility, balancing classroom learning with hands-on diagnostic and repair work to help smooth the transition to a career in a dealership’s service department.
Nissan
In January 2017, Nissan opened its training center in partnership with the College System of Tennessee at the Tennessee College of Applied Technology (TCAT). Both public TCAT students and employees from the Nissan Smyrna plant are enrolled at the education and training facility and learn various skills that are vital to the success of the region and in demand with employers. This includes automotive technology, collision repair, electrical maintenance, mechatronics and welding.
Mazda
The Mazda Foundation supports the Vehicles for Change’s Full Circle Auto Repair and Training Program, which helps fund paid internships and auto mechanic training for people with multiple barriers to employment, including those recently released from prison.
Subaru
The Advanced Manufacturing Maintenance Training (AMMT) Program at Subaru of Indiana Automotive (SIA) is a two year program that combines 26 weeks of classes at Vincennes University with on-the-job training. The program covers a number of areas vital to modern manufacturing including electrical, programmable logic controllers (PLCs), mechatronics, hydraulics, pneumatics, and print reading.
Toyota
The Toyota Technician & Education Network (T-TEN) has been an industry-leading automotive technician training program since 1986. During that time over 23,000 certified technicians have been placed in rewarding careers in dealerships across the country. The program offers new recruits’ tuition-free training at a state-of-the-art facility, balancing classroom learning with hands-on diagnostic and repair work to help smooth the transition to a career in a dealership’s service department.
Nissan
In January 2017, Nissan opened its training center in partnership with the College System of Tennessee at the Tennessee College of Applied Technology (TCAT). Both public TCAT students and employees from the Nissan Smyrna plant are enrolled at the education and training facility and learn various skills that are vital to the success of the region and in demand with employers. This includes automotive technology, collision repair, electrical maintenance, mechatronics and welding.
4-Year Universities
Honda
Honda and Ohio State University have had a formal partnership since 2000, but have long worked together with much of the effort centered on cooperation around the use of the Transportation Research Center (TRC). Over the years, the relationship has grown to cover many areas including a unique capstone project for Ohio State engineering students. Through the program students are encouraged to push boundaries and deliver new designs and products in a real world setting.
Toyota
Since 1994, Toyota and the University of Kentucky (UK) partnered to create True LEAN, a Toyota sponsored program that teaches students how to operate within and utilize the Toyota Production System (TPS). Housed in the UK College of Engineering, True Lean maintains an ongoing relationship with Toyota including a Toyota Executive-in-Residence. True Lean provides on-campus or onsite sessions and coaching. On-campus sessions include instruction in a specially designed lab, and a leadership session includes a Toyota walking tour.
Nissan
In January 2022, Nissan and Vanderbilt University launched the Vanderbilt-Nissan Collaboration Accelerator. This program is designed to fuel a talent pipeline and identify opportunities for research and innovation between Nissan and the university. As part of this partnership, in 2023, Nissan worked with students and tasked them with creating an ideal customer journey for Electric Vehicle (EV) charging. The groups pitched ideas ranging from installing portable chargers in the electric cars, to installing software to provide EV drivers with entertainment, such as tv shows and games while they charge up.
Honda
Honda and Ohio State University have had a formal partnership since 2000, but have long worked together with much of the effort centered on cooperation around the use of the Transportation Research Center (TRC). Over the years, the relationship has grown to cover many areas including a unique capstone project for Ohio State engineering students. Through the program students are encouraged to push boundaries and deliver new designs and products in a real world setting.
Toyota
Since 1994, Toyota and the University of Kentucky (UK) partnered to create True LEAN, a Toyota sponsored program that teaches students how to operate within and utilize the Toyota Production System (TPS). Housed in the UK College of Engineering, True Lean maintains an ongoing relationship with Toyota including a Toyota Executive-in-Residence. True Lean provides on-campus or onsite sessions and coaching. On-campus sessions include instruction in a specially designed lab, and a leadership session includes a Toyota walking tour.
Nissan
In January 2022, Nissan and Vanderbilt University launched the Vanderbilt-Nissan Collaboration Accelerator. This program is designed to fuel a talent pipeline and identify opportunities for research and innovation between Nissan and the university. As part of this partnership, in 2023, Nissan worked with students and tasked them with creating an ideal customer journey for Electric Vehicle (EV) charging. The groups pitched ideas ranging from installing portable chargers in the electric cars, to installing software to provide EV drivers with entertainment, such as tv shows and games while they charge up.
To view a more comprehensive list of our members’ workforce development initiatives, please visit this link.