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AJAC's 2017 Winter Newsletter - Made to Spec: Manufacturing our Future.
AJAC's quarterly newsletter provides an insiders look at the impact our apprentices, employers, community partners, and our organization are making on the local aerospace and advanced manufacturing industries. Do you have a story to share? Let us know about it!
Two employees at Toolcraft, Inc. in Monroe, Washington determine the measurement of a part.
 
Youth in Manufacturing: Closing the Skills Gap
 
There are many careers in STEM occupations which young adults can train to. For manufacturing, there are an estimated 3.5 million job openings in the next ten years!

Hear from Toolcraft, Inc.'s employees on why young adults are becoming successful in the aerospace and advanced manufacturing industries. In this video, we speak with a 17-year old high school student who launched his career in high school. We also speak with Toolcraft's Operations Manager and Foreman. 
Danica Hendrickson, AJAC's new Program Manager of Instruction.
 
5 Questions with Danica Hendrickson - AJAC's New Program Manager of Instruction
 
She may be new to skiing but you won’t find a yard sale when it comes to growing AJAC’s curriculum. Meet our new Program Manager of Instruction, Danica Hendrickson!
 
Matt Poischbeg speaking during his 2017 TEDx talk on apprenticeships and workforce training.
 
TEDx: Apprenticeship Career Paths Are Critical for Young People
 

Matt Poischbeg, VP and General Manager of Sealect Plastics Corporation, spoke during the Sno-Isle Libraries TEDx about apprenticeships, and specifically, his experience working with AJAC Aerospace Joint Apprenticeship Committee and the bright future of Youth Apprenticeships!

Matt believes secondary education systems should restore apprenticeships as school-endorsed paths to career and life success. We agree.

Watch...

 
AJAC's first Youth Apprentices pose outside the classroom for a picture during their OSHA-10 training.

 

AJAC's First Youth Apprenticeship Program Launched in January


AJAC's first Youth Apprenticeship Program launched in January at Tacoma, Washington's Lincoln High School. Pictured above are a handful of the students during their first night of OSHA-10 certification.

RELATED: AJAC Talks Youth Apprenticeship on KBTC-TV's "Northwest Now"

Once enrolled, the Youth Apprentices will complete their high school credits, earn tuition-free college credits, and work 2,000 hours at an AJAC employer, providing them with mentorship and structured on-the-job training from industry professionals.  

Continue Reading...

180 girls packed a downtown movie theater on Monday, Jan. 16, 2017, for inspiration from the Hollywood blockbuster, "Hidden Figures" and motivation from women successful in their science-based fields.

 

AJAC Speaks at Techbridge Girls 'Hidden Figures' Panel


AJAC was honored to speak at the Techbridge Girls 'Hidden Figures' panel discussion on MLK Day at Seattle's Pacific Place. The purpose of this event was to engage hundreds of girls and encourage them to consider careers in STEM fields.

The panel discussion immediately followed the free screening of "Hidden Figures" - a movie about three African American women who served as the brains behind one of the greatest operations in history: the launch of astronaut John Glen into orbit. 

Watch...

Mentorship Matters - Six Simple Steps for a Stronger Industry.
 
New Mentorship Matters Training for Employers

80% of learning takes place on the job and AJAC is a firm advocate of equipping our mentors with the tools to become proficient in passing on their knowledge to the next generation of workers.  

With our new Mentorship Matters training, we offer three courses designed for the following skill-levels of your employees:
  1. Adult Mentorship for Journey-Level Workers
  2. Adult Mentorship for late-term apprentices, mid-level administration and owners 
  3. Beginner Mentorship for new apprentices

If you would like to participate in AJAC's Mentorship Matters Training Program, please contact us today!
What's New: A Distillation of Industry News
Sean Masters, an AJAC Machinist Apprentice graduates during one of his RSI classes at AJAC.
Company Hires Inmates Hoping to Reclaim Life
Pioneer Human Services was featured on Seattle's KING 5 News to highlight their mission of  of providing formerly incarcerated individuals with a second chance at life.
Inmer Villeda (left) and Nick Berni look over an engine for course work Thursday afternoon at Meadowdale High School in Lynnwood. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)
There's Good Money to Be Made in Non-College Careers
Auditors found that 2012 and 2013 graduates had similar success rates whether or not they took CTE courses. However, among graduates who did not enroll in a college or university, those who had taken CTE classes were “significantly more likely to achieve in terms of employment and apprenticeships” than those who hadn’t.
Young students look at how parts are made during a tour of a manufacturing site.
Creating a Skills-Based Labor Market
Microsoft is one of several major companies making a push for apprenticeships and new post-high school educational steps. A new video created by the tech giant dives deep into the demand for a skills-based labor market.
Assuming college is always the best option turns career-minded students away from true learning.
The Need to Validate Vocational Interests
As much as parents, educators, and school systems proclaim the importance of a college degree, according to Gallup, only 14 percent of Americans believe that college adequately prepares students for success in the workplace.
Davelyn Patrick, an AJAC machining apprentice working on her manufacturing skills.
Manufacturing Industry Recruiting Women Amid Worker Shortfall
80% of manufacturers report a shortfall of qualified and skilled applicants. Over the next decade, companies face a 2 million worker shortfall. The industry desperately needs dedicated and intelligent workers and they want to fill many of those positions with women. 
Workers at GM Nameplate create prototypes using a screen press. Advanced manufacturing jobs like these will require changes in workforce development and education, to fill growing needs within the next decade.
Gearing Up for Advanced Manufacturing
Washington manufacturers and a Puget Sound nonprofit representing the industry recommend utilizing tuition reimbursement programs for current employees, retraining returning military members, and partnering with local high schools and community colleges to better meet changing employer needs. They say another priority is tackling a negative image of manufacturing. 

 
A woman packages manufactured parts at Orion Industries.
Mukilteo Aerospace Supplier Has a Social-Service Mission, Too
Unlike its competitors, Orion Industries is not simply serving its bottom line. It is a nonprofit that combines commercial success with a social mission. The Auburn-based company provides counseling and job training for people who have challenges to landing a job on their own, challenges such as neurological, developmental or psychological disabilities. 
A young machinist learns from his mentor during a Youth Apprenticeship program.
Youth Apprenticeship Programs: The Return of the American Dream
As a nation, we’ve regrettably and mistakenly devalued apprenticeship training programs. It’s through apprenticeship training that we change the negative stigma vocational occupations have acquired over the years, and fill talent pipelines with experienced and eager candidates. The solution to the skills gap lies in public-private partnerships.
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