TTMA Named First Recipient of AMTEC Continuing Education Award
Owensboro, KY (10/21/2026) — AMTEC, a national collaborative of educational and industry partners committed to preparing highly skilled industrial maintenance technicians, recently awarded Toyotetsu Mid America (TTMA) with the first annual Award for Excellence in Continuing Education. AMTEC, housed at Owensboro Community and Technical College (OCTC), has developed curriculum and resources utilized by training departments across the nation, including at the local college’s Workforce Development department. TTMA worked with John Drane, OCTC director of industry training, and instructor, Steve Southwood, to develop a training program that allows maintenance technicians to be on site for eight days over a two-week time period. The focus was to help employees expand their practical skills in Industrial Motor Controls and Ladder Logic/Programmable Logic Controllers as part of TTMA’s Brown Level training.
Jason Simon Appointed to NOCTI Board of Directors
Owensboro, KY (08/03/2026) — Owensboro Community and Technical College (OCTC) is proud to announce that Jason Simon, Executive Director of the Advanced Manufacturing Technical Education Collaborative (AMTEC) has been appointed to the Board of Trustees/Directors for the National Occupational Competency Testing Institute (NOCTI) and Nocti Business Solutions (NBS). Headquartered in Big Rapids, Michigan, NOCTI is the nation’s leading provider of industry-based credentialing and technical skills assessments, serving schools, career and technical education programs, and teacher certification programs since 1966. NOCTI established Nocti Business Solutions (NBS) in 1999, to offer pre-employment testing, technical skills assessments, prior learning assessments, and certifications.
AMTEC and Lowry Controls Launch The CUBE Simulator
Owensboro, KY (06/12/2026) — After 12 years, the partnership remains strong, and both AMTEC and Lowry Controls are excited to announce the launch of a new trainer, The CUBE Simulator. The CUBE is a smaller version of the larger AMTEC V2 Simulator and includes key features: hydraulics, pneumatics, and a conveyor.
Built with industrial grade parts and equipment that technicians will likely experience in industry, The CUBE will allow classrooms and training facilities to provide a modern experience, focused on Industry 4.0 technologies. Incorporating tools with smart manufacturing components also offers students and entry-level technicians an easy transition from the classroom to the factory floor.
Project Dissemination
We want to share our project findings with you. Learn from our recent projects and how they have impacted our community, workforce, and employers by clicking the links below.
Improving Technician Training in Industry 4.0 Technologies Using Competency-Based Education (DUE 2200761)
Learn more about how the I-TEC program helped increase the number of manufacturing technicians skilled in Industry 4.0 technologies through a flexible, competency-based training program serving both incumbent and dislocated workers.
Strengthening the Industry 4.0 Workforce through Virtual Reality (VR) Training (DUE 2142868)
The VR project sought to expand opportunities for manufacturing technician education through development of a VR-based application and curriculum. The focus of the project was developing multi-skilled technicians with the Industry 4.0 skills
needed to increase efficiency and profitability for today’s manufacturers. Click the link above to read our findings and how the project impacted secondary and post-secondary students and faculty.
AMTEC Institute for Industry 4.0 Innovation (DUE 2350012)
The AMTEC Institute for Industry 4.0 Innovation is our current National Science Foundation Award focused on providing Industry 4.0 professional development opportunities to instructors and faculty at high schools, community and technical colleges, and universities. View our current research findings that were shared at the American Society for Engineering Education Annual Conference on June 23, 2026.
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This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Award Nos. DUE 2200761, DUE 2142868, and DUE 2350012. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author (s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.
