Manufacturing leaders establish Indiana’s first statewide structure for defining occupational standards in advanced manufacturing and logistics

INDIANAPOLIS – April 29, 2026 – Conexus Indiana, today announced the official launch of the Advanced Manufacturing and Logistics Industry Talent Association (AML ITA), Indiana’s first employer-led initiative dedicated to defining occupational standards and aligning talent development systems for the state’s advanced manufacturing and logistics (AML) sector. The launch follows a successful pilot year in which Indiana manufacturers, educators and workforce partners built the foundation of a new approach to talent development, one in which employers help define the competencies that education and workforce systems align to.

The AML ITA was established to address a persistent gap in Indiana’s manufacturing talent pipeline: the disconnect between existing training programs and the full range of skills required in modern production environments. Rather than asking employers to react to programs already in place, the AML ITA gives manufacturers a durable mechanism to collectively define what workforce readiness means, and then align education and workforce delivery around those shared expectations.

During its pilot year, the AML ITA developed and ratified the Polymechanic/Advanced Manufacturing Technician occupational standard, Indiana’s first employer-defined competency framework for a modern, multi-skilled manufacturing technician role — and translated it into a three-year apprenticeship pathway supported by classroom learning, lab experiences, and structured on-the-job training. The skills learned through this pathway incorporate digital technologies and automation that are required in today’s manufacturing environments.

“At our first meeting, the employers involved in the ITA wanted to ensure that high school students were not simply provided with opportunities aligned to a specific job role in production but were learning skills that were directly applicable to finding a career in manufacturing,” said PJ McGrew, Senior Vice President of Talent Strategy and Programming at Conexus Indiana. “What they built during the pilot year reflects that ambition: a broader, more durable technical foundation that can open multiple pathways into manufacturing careers.”

With the official launch, the AML ITA will expand its membership, deepen engagement with schools and communities across Indiana, and begin applying its employer-led standards development process to additional occupations, including Robotics & Automation, Microelectronics/Advanced Electronics, and Supply Chain & Logistics. The long-term goal is a statewide talent system in which employers define priority occupational standards and education and workforce partners align delivery accordingly.

The AML ITA aligns with Indiana’s broader effort to build the Indiana Career Apprenticeship Pathway (INCAP), an employer-led apprenticeship system that blends classroom learning with paid, on-the-job training starting in high school and extending into adult career advancement. ITAs are INCAP’s employer engagement body, giving industries a direct role in defining skills and competencies, so education and workforce systems align with what employers actually need. This work is supported by the Richard M. Fairbanks Foundation, which has invested in Indiana’s apprenticeship infrastructure since funding the Modern Youth Apprenticeship pilot in 2020.

Indiana manufacturers interested in joining the AML ITA or learning more about the Polymechanic/Advanced Manufacturing Technician pathway are encouraged to contact Conexus Indiana at conexusindiana.com. All Conexus Indiana Advanced Industries Council members are eligible to join the AML ITA as part of their existing membership.

About Conexus Indiana

Conexus Indiana, a branded initiative of the CEOs Indiana Corporate Partnership (CICP), is dedicated to advancing the Hoosier State’s position as a global leader in advanced manufacturing and logistics. Working closely with industry, academia, and government partners, Conexus Indiana drives workforce development, economic growth, and innovation across the state. For more information, please visit ConexusIndiana.com.