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Welcome to FLATE

The Florida Advanced Technological Education Center (FLATE), a National Science Foundation Center of Excellence in high-technology manufacturing, is the go-to organization for manufacturing and advanced technical education, best practices and resources supporting the high performance skilled workforce for Florida’s manufacturing sectors. FLATE provides exemplary industry partnerships, workforce opportunity, and educational synergy throughout the state of Florida by connecting industry and workforce needs to targeted educational endeavors at many community and state colleges across Florida.

Made in Florida

FLATE has built a web portal for students in middle and high schools where they can learn about the wonderful, profitable opportunities in considering manufacturing as a career choice. Every day, we enjoy things that many people don’t realize were made in Florida. Behind every product and technology we use, there is a world of manufacturing. Today, in Florida, more than 20,000 different companies and 380,000 people work in the manufacturing field. The site has areas of information and resources for students, educators and industry. Visit MadeInFlorida.org

Florida Manufacturing Month – 2020

MFG Month Webinar for Educators

Get Ready for MFG Month

Now available on demand.

Series 1: September 10th
Series 2: September 24th

For more info on this webinar, click here.

Join FLATE, FAITE and FCPN at the 54th FACTE Conference – November 16-18

WHAT’S NEW

NEWSLETTER

Robotics Camp Information

FLATE Impact Video

FLATE Videos Page

Miscellaneous Resources & Professional Development Opportunities

EXPLORING ADVANCED MANUFACTURING FREE online course open to all.

Resources for ET CORE and Machining NIMS Alignment

WHITE PAPER: Manufacturing Day Tours: Student Feedback Shows Huge Impact

Sustainability in Manufacturing Lessons

Celebrate National Apprenticeship Week: Share your Experiences

15 October 2020 - james.vandenbosch@floridamakes.com

This year, National Apprenticeship Week is on November 8 – 14 and FloridaMakes is celebrating by celebrating you and your apprenticeship journey! We invite you to share your story by recording yourself and highlighting how your apprenticeship has impacted your life, your career and why others should consider apprenticeships. This recording will be shared across our state-wide network and will live on our website and social media channels. Read More

FLATE Joins the FloridaMakes Network, Partnering with the Florida Department of Education

14 October 2020 - james.vandenbosch@floridamakes.com

Today, FloridaMakes and the Florida Advanced Technological Education Center (FLATE) announced a partnership that brings together the manufacturing and education community aimed toward creating economic opportunity in Florida’s growing manufacturing sector. This partnership, made possible through a financial commitment between the Florida Department of Education and FloridaMakes, ensures the continued operation of Florida Advanced Technological Education Center (FLATE) and its mission of supporting advanced manufacturing education on the state. The partnership project will focus on regions that have specific skills gaps and an insufficient supply of workers with those needed skills. Based on the 2019 Career and Technical Education (CTE) state audit and the priorities outlined by the Florida Advanced Manufacturing Workforce Leadership Council, the project will bring together key stakeholders aimed at the following goals: develop an asset map of educational resources for manufacturers; review industry credentials alignment to industry needs; develop curriculum for advanced technologies and entrepreneurship; provide professional development for educators including the ET Forum; and, support manufacturing student organizations. Read More

Winners of the 2020 Florida Sterling Manufacturing Business Excellence Awards Announced

1 October 2020 - james.vandenbosch@floridamakes.com

The Florida Sterling Council and FloridaMakes announced today the five manufacturing companies that have been named as winners for the Florida Sterling Manufacturing Business Excellence (SMBE) Awards. The winners, chosen from among ten finalists, were announced at the 2020 Sterling Manufacturing Business Excellence Awards Virtual Celebration on October 1. The Florida Sterling Council and FloridaMakes collaborated on these statewide awards to recognize the state’s high-performing manufacturers. Companies were judged in six categories of criteria, including leadership, strategic planning, customer and market focus, measurement, analysis and knowledge management, workforce and operations. Read More

Governor DeSantis Issues Proclamation in Honor of MFG Month in Florida

1 October 2020 - james.vandenbosch@floridamakes.com

Governor Ron DeSantis issues proclamation in honor of Manufacturing Month in Florida. Read More

FloridaMakes Appoints Joe Mayer, Lockheed Martin Space to Statewide Board of Directors

25 August 2020 - james.vandenbosch@floridamakes.com

FloridaMakes, the official representative of the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) National Network in the state of Florida, a program of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, an agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce, has appointed Joe Mayer, Director of Government Relations - FL, Lockheed Martin Space to its board of directors. FloridaMakes is a statewide, industry-led, public-private partnership operated by an alliance of Florida's regional manufacturers associations with the sole mission of strengthening and advancing Florida’s economy by improving the competitiveness, productivity and technological performance of its manufacturing sector, with an emphasis on small- and medium-sized firms. Through Florida’s regional manufacturers associations and participating partners, the network provides technology adoption, business growth and talent development services that are customized to meet the needs and opportunities of individual companies. Read More

The United States Department of the Air Force – Boeing X-37B Team to Receive the 2019 Robert J. Collier Trophy

16 August 2020 - james.vandenbosch@floridamakes.com

The National Aeronautic Association (NAA) is pleased to announce that the United States Department of the Air Force – Boeing X-37B team has been named as the recipient of the 2019 Robert J. Collier Trophy for “… developing and employing the world’s only reusable, autonomous spaceplane, which logged more than 2,865 days in orbit across five missions, changing access to space and serving as the nation’s workhorse in space experimentation and technology.” "The X-37B team win of the 2019 National Aeronautic Association, Robert J. Collier Trophy exemplifies the kind of lean, agile and innovative technological development our nation needs to secure its interests," said U.S. Space Force Chief of Space Operations, Gen. John "Jay" Raymond. "The ability to test new systems in space and return them to Earth is unique to the X-37B and enables the U.S. to more efficiently and effectively develop spacepower to maintain superiority in the space domain." The Collier Trophy is awarded annually for the greatest achievement in aeronautics or astronautics in America, with respect to improving the performance, efficiency, and safety of air or space vehicles, the value of which has been thoroughly demonstrated by actual use during the preceding year.” The list of Collier recipients represents a timeline of air and space achievements, marking major events in the history of flight dating back to 1911. Read More

FloridaMakes Receives Grant from the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity to Assist Florida Defense Contractors Comply with New Department of Defense Regulations

5 August 2020 - james.vandenbosch@floridamakes.com

The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) has awarded funding to FloridaMakes from a grant it received from the Department of Defense (DOD) Office of Economic Adjustment (OEA), for the creation of the Florida Defense Cybersecurity Training Program. Funding will be used to administer programs and trainings that assist small and medium-sized defense contractors in becoming aware and compliant with the DoD’s Regulations for Cybersecurity, including the DoD’s new Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) standards for cybersecurity. FloridaMakes will work with DEO to conduct a series of educational and engagement events and training modules for companies within Florida’s defense industrial base and provide Cyber Physical Security (CPS) assessments for small and medium manufacturers in the defense supply chain. Making use of curriculum and best practices developed through its partnership with the Manufacturing Extension Partnership network, FloridaMakes will support greater awareness of and ability to comply with the DoD’s cybersecurity requirements of the DFARS 252.204-7012, NIST SP800-171 R1, and the CMMC. The Florida Defense Cybersecurity Training Program will assist in strengthening, protecting and growing Florida’s aerospace and defense supply chains. Read More