soft skills like the importance of being on time, how to navigate a multigenerational workplace, and how to solve problems as a team. The apprentices aren’t the only ones who benefi t from the program—MTU team leaders love the opportunity to teach and often learn new things from the apprentices. Three days a week, apprentices spend half a day in school and the other half at the Aiken County Career and Technology Center, the region’s vocational training center. The other two days are spent on MTU America’s shop fl oor. During the sum- mertime, the apprentices work full-time, earning a wage and chipping away at the 1000 hours required to graduate. Here’s a look at the program’s curriculum, year by year:
9th Grade
Students are introduced to the MTU Aiken plant via plant tours and presentations, with the goal to motivate students to stay in school by previewing the apprenticeship program.
10th Grade
The student selection process begins with teacher nominations. MTU conducts presentations at the Aiken Career and Technology Center as well as all high schools serving Aiken County to introduce the program to students and parents, who are also invited to tour the plant. Math assessments and interviews are conducted. Final selections are made. Students enroll in the program during spring semester of sophomore year.
11th Grade
As high school juniors, students attend high school classes, career center training sessions and work limited hours at MTU during the school year, as an elective students work full-time at the MTU Aiken plant during the summer.
12th Grade
Students attend high school and career center training sessions while continuing to work limited hours at MTU dur- ing the school year. Students now rotate through various de- partments at the plant to increase their holistic understanding of MTU America’s operations. Students continue working full-time at the plant during the summer.
Final Exam
Students who complete the program will receive certifi ca- tion as an industrial mechanic (Basic), a skillset that is a com-
December 2016 |
AdvancedManufacturing.org 79
Students who complete the program will receive certifi cation as an industrial mechanic (Basic).
While not the immediate goal, the return on investment is
impressive. According to Nicholas Wyman, the CEO of Insti- tute Workplace Skills & Innovation, employers can earn a 36% return on their investments on apprentice training—higher than just about any investment a company can earn on its capital and far higher than the 10% typical among S&P 500 fi rms.
mon thread between other manufacturing companies in the region that is recognized by both the State of South Carolina and the US Department of Labor. Those who successfully complete the optional fi nal exam—comprised of a practical exam, a written exam and an oral exam—will also receive certifi cation as a skilled metal worker, which is recognized within the United States as well as Germany.
Paths to Success MTU has had more than 30 students go through the
program. At graduation, apprentices often have more doors open to them than the valedictorian. They can choose to work for MTU full-time if there’s opportunity on the shop fl oor or they can choose to continue their education at two and four-year higher education institutions.
Jeremy Diebel is Sr. Manager Machining and Apprentice Coordinator at MTU America Inc.
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84
