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Practical AI training for Tennessee manufacturing teams
Artificial intelligence is transforming manufacturing, but successful adoption starts with people. This training gives yours the knowledge to identify, evaluate, and put AI to work on the floor.
Sixteen weeks, fully online and asynchronous, so people work around their shifts rather than against them. Written for engineers, supervisors, technicians, operations leaders, and manufacturing professionals. No coding or technical background required.
Participants who complete the program earn a University of Tennessee certificate. Information on earning academic credit is available on request.
Open for Enrollment
The cohort runs October 1, 2026 through January 15, 2027.
Questions about the curriculum, discounts, or academic credit:
cecspartnerships@utk.edu
Not sure it is the right fit? Contact a Solutions Consultant and we will talk it through.
What the training covers
Five parts, moving from what AI actually is, through the data that makes it work, into applied manufacturing use cases, and closing with a team capstone built around each participant's own job. The curriculum was built by College of Emerging and Collaborative Studies faculty with UT Center for Industrial Services advanced manufacturing, operational excellence, and workforce consultants, informed by input from DENSO manufacturing leaders.
Weeks 1 to 3: AI Foundations in Manufacturing
What AI is, how it differs from the automation already on the floor, and hands-on time with generative AI tools for everyday productivity.
Weeks 4 to 6: Data Literacy for AI
Where plant data comes from, what makes it reliable, and how data-driven decisions actually get made.
Weeks 7 to 9: Core AI Topics Applied
Pattern recognition, anomaly detection, and prediction in plain terms, including where human judgment stays irreplaceable.
Weeks 10 to 13: Manufacturing Use Cases
Computer vision and quality inspection, predictive maintenance and machine health, production optimization, logistics, scheduling, and safety.
Weeks 14 to 16: Capstone and AI Roadmap
Teams build an AI adoption roadmap for their own operation and present it for review by faculty and manufacturing experts.
Built for manufacturing. Informed by industry.
The AI in Manufacturing Workforce Certificate was developed by the University of Tennessee's College of Emerging and Collaborative Studies and Center for Industrial Services to help manufacturing employees build the knowledge and skills to use AI effectively in their work.
The College brings expertise in emerging technologies, AI education, and future-focused workforce learning. The Center for Industrial Services brings decades of experience working directly with manufacturers on workforce development, process improvement, and technology adoption.
Industry perspective was incorporated through collaboration with DENSO. Manufacturing leaders, engineers, and technical experts provided input to help ensure the training reflects the realities of today's manufacturing environment. The program was initially delivered to DENSO employees, providing an opportunity to apply the curriculum with a manufacturing workforce.
The result is practical, industry-focused AI training designed to help employees understand where AI can add value, how to use it responsibly, and how to identify opportunities to apply it within manufacturing operations.
"AI is an important tool for helping our teams work smarter, but it does not replace the knowledge, judgment and creativity our team members bring to manufacturing every day."
Marty Deschenes, North America Chief Manufacturing Officer, DENSO
"CECS's leadership in emerging technology education and CIS's decades of experience serving Tennessee manufacturers create a sustainable model for workforce development."
Paul Jennings, Executive Director, UT Center for Industrial Services
Enrollment is open for the fall cohort
The training runs October 1, 2026 through January 15, 2027, fully online and asynchronous. Partial discounts are available for companies enrolling fifteen or more in a single cohort.
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