FAME

Name

FAME

Legal name

FAME USA

Website

https://fame-usa.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

FAME is a nonprofit apprenticeship program, now managed by the Manufacturing Institute, that trains multiskilled manufacturing technicians through a tuition-free, two-year earn-and-learn model pairing community college instruction with paid rotations at 450+ sponsoring manufacturers across 17 states.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Manufacturing Workforce Development

NAICS

Apprenticeship Training (611513), Technical and Trade Schools (6115), Other Technical and Trade Schools (611519)

akta.pro primary industry

Apprenticeships, Internships & Work-Based Learning Programs (BPACANAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Education & Training Providers (EDABALAI), Internship-to-Apprenticeship & Early Talent Pipeline Programs (EDAMAKAL)

Keywords

• Manufacturing apprenticeship programs
• Workforce development training
• Advanced manufacturing technician
• Earn-and-learn programs
• Technical skills education

Headquarters

HQ city

Seattle

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Foundation and Corporate Grants: FAME USA operates as a workforce development initiative under the Manufacturing Institute. Funding comes from corporate foundations and partners including The Coca-Cola Foundation, Autodesk Foundation, ECMC Foundation, Caterpillar Foundation, Arconic Foundation, and others who invest in workforce development.
2. Employer Chapter Memberships: Manufacturing employers pay to participate in regional FAME chapters, providing them access to a pipeline of skilled technicians. Sponsors provide paid apprenticeships for students and often cover tuition costs.
3. Student Earnings (Earn-and-Learn Model): Students earn wages while working at sponsoring manufacturers during the program. Over two years, students can earn up to $33,500, which with planning can cover all education expenses. This is not revenue for FAME but represents the value exchange for students.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

FAME operates a two-year earn-and-learn apprenticeship that combines paid hands-on training at manufacturing host companies with community college coursework, enabling students to graduate debt-free with an Associate of Applied Science degree and the Advanced Manufacturing Technician (AMT) credential. The program is delivered through regional chapters and is supported by the Manufacturing Core Exercises (MCEs) team-based curriculum, a Quality Assurance Program, and an annual National Conference for students, employers, and educators.

Product overview

FAME (Federation for Advanced Manufacturing Education) is a workforce development program, not a software platform. It operates as an employer-led apprenticeship model managed by the Manufacturing Institute. The core offering is the Advanced Manufacturing Technician (AMT) Program—a two-year earn-and-learn pathway combining community college coursework with paid work experience at manufacturing partners. Supporting the AMT program are Manufacturing Core Exercises (MCEs), which provide structured real-world problem-solving challenges. FAME also conducts an annual National Conference for network advancement and maintains a Quality Assurance Program for chapter accreditation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Advanced Manufacturing Technician (AMT) Apprenticeship Program

Quantifiable outcome

• 90%+ employment placement rate for FAME graduates
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers20 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Manufacturing Institute (NAM)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019The Manufacturing Institute, the workforce development and education partner of the National Association of Manufacturers, manages FAME USA. In September 2019, Toyota and the MI announced a partnership to transition FAME stewardship to the Institute for national scaling. The MI provides administrative infrastructure, quality assurance frameworks, and national coordination for the FAME network.
• Toyota Motor North AmericacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Toyota originally created and developed the FAME model at its Georgetown, Kentucky plant in 1987 and refined it over decades. In 2019, Toyota transitioned program stewardship to the Manufacturing Institute while maintaining involvement as a major employer sponsor. Toyota continues to host FAME students at multiple facilities across the U.S.
• Coastal Alabama Community CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary educational partner for FAME Built By Baldwin chapter. The college provides classroom facilities, faculty, and the academic framework for students to earn their Associate degree while working at sponsoring manufacturers.
• BridgeValley Community and Technical CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWest Virginia community college partner for the Kanawha Valley FAME chapter, providing classroom instruction and academic credentials for apprentices.
• Washtenaw Community CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMichigan community college partner hosting the FAME Mitten chapter. The only college in Michigan participating in the FAME program, offering the Advanced Manufacturing Technician apprenticeship.
• Daytona State CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHome of Florida's only FAME chapter (Sunshine Chapter). Provides the academic framework for students to earn an associate's degree in engineering technology while working at local manufacturers.
• Alamo Colleges (St. Philip's College)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTexas community college district hosting the TX FAME Alamo Chapter with a dedicated Toyota Advanced Manufacturing Technician Program. The program was originally supported by Department of Labor funding.
• AmatrolsupportingTechnology or IntegrationTraining equipment provider that has presented at FAME events and provides learning management system content. Sponsored the 2026 FAME National Conference.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Generation: Global nonprofit providing short-duration, employer-aligned training programs across multiple industries including manufacturing/industrial tracks. Comparable in mission and employer-led placement model.
• Genesys Works: Nonprofit providing workforce pathways for high school students including technical and corporate skills training with employer partnerships. Comparable in mission, target population (high school students), and nonprofit employer-led model.
• CareerWise Colorado: Youth apprenticeship intermediary that builds employer-led earn-and-learn pathways combining high school coursework with paid industry experience. Highly comparable to FAME in model design (employer-led, work-based learning, multi-year duration) and target population.
• Year Up: National workforce development nonprofit providing earn-and-learn pathways for young adults into corporate careers. Highly comparable in mission, structure (employer partnerships, work-based learning) and target audience, though focused on tech/business roles rather than manufacturing.
• Apprenticeship Carolina ( ApprenticeshipSC ): State-level apprenticeship intermediary that registers programs, recruits employers, and supports work-based learning across industries. Directly comparable as a competing intermediary in the same U.S. apprenticeship market.
• Per Scholas: National nonprofit providing tuition-free skills training and job placement support, primarily in technology roles. Comparable as a workforce development nonprofit with employer-driven placement.
• Tooling U-SME: Manufacturing-focused training content and workforce development provider serving manufacturers with online and blended learning programs. Comparable as a manufacturing-skills training provider serving the same employer base.
• ICATT (Industry Consortium for Advanced Technology Training): Industry-led apprenticeship intermediary specifically for advanced manufacturing and technology roles, registered through DOL. Directly comparable as a competing employer-led advanced manufacturing apprenticeship model.
• NPower: Nonprofit providing tuition-free IT and workforce training for young adults and military veterans with employer placement focus. Comparable in mission, target population segments (including veterans), and nonprofit structure.

Broad incumbents

• U.S. Department of Labor Office of Apprenticeship: Federal agency overseeing the Registered Apprenticeship system that legitimizes and certifies FAME's apprenticeship model. Comparable as the broader ecosystem participant whose standards and funding flow into FAME.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/fame-usa

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about FAME