The issue: the manufacturing shop floors in our region have aged to the point of crisis. We have arrived at this place largely for two reasons.
The first, is the lack of concerted action within our manufacturing base to look at the problem straight-on and begin to deal with it. Though there are some companies that have put in place programs to attract younger people and assimilate them into their workforce, they are in the minority. The vast majority of the industry has not found the time, or understood the importance of this kind of initiative.
Whether it has been through frustration – they often don’t know where to turn to find good people, a sense of helplessness –“no one wants to work anymore so what’s the use in trying?”, or plain ignorance – “we have always done it this way in the past, so why change?”we have arrived at this very unfortunate juncture for our industry, and our region.
The second reason is the poor perception many within the general populace has of the industry, and the erroneous thought that the only way to get ahead in life, or career, is to get a college degree. The “dirty, dark and dangerous” stigma that is attached to the industry has made many who would have previously explored manufacturing as a viable career pathway, steer clear and head for college. This change in the flow of young people toward manufacturing contributes to the feelings of frustration and helplessness that the business owners feel (mentioned above) and creates a sort of vicious circle – where fewer good people in the potential labor pool causes increased feelings of frustration and helplessness, and ultimately apathy, which then furthers the poor perception that those outside the industry have of the industry, which makes less want to look at it as a potential career, and so on….
Our aim through this apprenticeship initiative is to break this vicious circle by at once breaking the “dirty, dark and dangerous” stigma attached to manufacturing, 
while showing the excellent career opportunities that exist within the industry. We will attract talented candidates, vet them for markers of industry success, give them a high level overview of the industry, get them employed and offer the possibility of advanced accreditation or degree for those that are motivated to pursue it. It is interesting to note that EVERY agency, or program, that would be required to institute this initiative, and make it successful, already exists in the Greater Delaware Valley region. The agencies or programs just need to be linked together, and communicate with one another to operate in UNISON, not independently, as they have for decades, in many cases.
The NTMA Tri-State Apprenticeship Program (NTAP) will, at this time, be focused only on “precision machining”, and have two main pieces – a Pre-Apprenticeship Program and a DOL sanctioned Apprenticeship Program. Both are critically important for the success of the program as a whole. The geography included under this program will be; SE Pennsylvania (Philadelphia, Chester, Delaware, Bucks, Montgomery and Berks Counties), S. New Jersey (Camden, Gloucester, Burlington and Mercer Counties) and Northern Delaware (New Castle County)
The Pre-Apprenticeship Program is based from a program that is already operating with a high degree of success in Bucks County, PA. This program would do the following:
- Workforce Development Boards (WDBs) in each county will send unemployed, or underemployed workers that meet criteria for manufacturing to the county community college, or an NTAP designated training center. These candidates will be subjected to rigorous testing for mechanical aptitude, drug and alcohol and lift testing (physical). Upon passing of these tests the candidates will be interviewed in a “speed-dating” format by a panel of representatives of manufacturing employers. This is an incredibly important piece of the puzzle. Employers MUST be deeply involved in the interview/vetting process.
- Successful completion of the vetting tests and employer interview process would signal a high degree of potential success in manufacturing, and gain the candidate acceptance into the Pre-Apprenticeship Program. Classes are limited to approx. 15 students.
- The Pre-App Program runs 12 weeks, 8 hours/day, Mon-Thurs each week. Friday is left for “field trip” like visits to involved manufacturing companies by the class. This class is treated like a job, and though it is funded by the County or State, attendance is mandatory. Unexcused absences would result in expulsion from the program. The Pre-App program will cover basic elements of: shop safety, shop math, blueprint reading, precision machining, welding and sheet metal fabrication. Upon completion of the class the students may take a NIMS (National Institute for Metalworking Skills) level 1 accreditation test and earn a certificate.
- The candidates then will interview for jobs – largely in companies that support the program – in the areas of manufacturing that most interest them. 90%+ of the candidates through Bucks County Community College Metalwork Program have found employment through this process.
** A note of interest – a second potential source for candidates into the Pre-App Program is being explored in conjunction with the Department of Defense (DOD). The “Hiring Our Heroes” program helps retiring military personnel to transition into good paying career pathways with bright futures. The NTAP is in deep discussions with the DOD about being a potential career path for those veterans that would like to explore manufacturing. The DOD’s understanding of the importance of the industry to the nation aligns well with the NTAP mission.
Once hired by a manufacturer, the candidate would be eligible to enter into the full apprenticeship piece of the program. The Apprenticeship Program is based on a NIMS textbook that is considered a standard across the region. The format of the App. Program is based on an NTMA program that originated in Arizona, and has been replicated successfully several times in other areas around the country.
- The curriculum of the Apprenticeship Program (yet to be fully determined) will be flexible – some in classroom, and some online – and will be competency-based. This means that the App. Program will NOT be tied to a set number of hours that most App. Programs required in the past. If a student tests out of certain aspects because they already know the material then they are credited for that, and are allowed to move on. This can drastically reduce the amount of time that a student will take to complete the program. The goal is to get these people to a highly functional level within their employers company in the shortest time possible – so the program cannot operate as these programs have for previous generations. We have to do things differently – we no longer have the luxury of time.
- While the students take courses they will not only be employed and earn good wages and NIMS accreditations, but they will also be earning college credits. These credits, depending on the motivation of the student, can be applied to Associates degrees, and even a Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering Technology through Drexel University or Temple University. This opens new doors for young people exploring manufacturing as a career pathway – this is vital to attract and retain the young people that the industry needs to survive, and to thrive for generations to come.
- It is intended that the program will be administered by a 3rd party company to smooth the high degree of communication that will be required to standardize this program all across portions of three states and eleven counties. The administrator will also ensure that all Department of Labor (DOL) requirements are met for the program, and will drastically reduce the amount of paperwork that each individual company will have to file in order to offer the apprenticeship track to their employees. Since the NTMA will be the central sponsor of the program, no company will be required to file with the DOL as having an apprenticeship program.
A final – very important – aspect about this program is that it is being built in a way that will serve all sectors of manufacturing in the future. The basic model of both the Pre-Apprenticeship and Apprenticeship Programs will be able to support registered apprenticeships in ANY skill within manufacturing, not just precision machining. A curriculum change is all that would be required to change this from a program for precision machining to mold making, mechatronics, industrial maintenance, etc… This program is being built with an eye for the future, and truly for the good of the industry and the good of the region.