Robotics Business Review

AutoGuide Mobile Robots Hires Retrained Coal Miners as Robotics Technicians

Organization: AutoGuide Mobile Robots
Country: United States
State: MA
Website: www.agmobilerobots.com
Year Founded: 2018
Number of Employees: 60+
Innovation Class: Business & Management Innovation
Innovation Subclass: Social Good

Re-skilling helped AutoGuide fill labor shortages and positioned dislocated coal miners for future career success.

Description:
AutoGuide Mobile Robots, a Massachusetts-based developer of autonomous mobile robots, and its premier integrator, Heartland Automation, have hired 25 former coal miners to fill labor shortages. The displaced miners were retrained and graduated from the Haas eKentucky Advanced Manufacturing Institute (eKAMI) in Paintsville, Ky. Students train on state-of-the-art CNC equipment and are taught soft skills for professional development. 

AutoGuide was acquired by Teradyne in October 2019 for potentially $165 million.

Analysis:
eKAMI was started in 2017 by Kathy Walker, who spent many years in the coal business herself, including 15-plus as a member of the National Coal Council, a federal advisory committee that helps shape policies about matters relating to coal. Many coal miners are born into the business, and those living in Appalachia often live below or straddle the poverty line. In 2008, regulatory pressure from President Obama forced many coal mines to close. The industry coined this the “War on Coal.”


Robots are often viewed as a threat to human jobs, but not in this case. This is a great example of how re-skilling helped AutoGuide fill labor shortages and positioned dislocated coal miners for future career success. It also provides a potential blueprint on how to re-skill more displaced coal miners and diversify the local economy by creating additional advanced manufacturing opportunities. - Steve Crowe


 Former coal miner Matt Neace is now installing and servicing AutoGuide's mobile robots.
 
Search Robotics Business Review