Three years ago, MassMEP partnered with Worcester Technical High School to deliver incumbent and new hire training to Worcester County employers. That Workforce Competitiveness Trust Fund Grant ended last month. The final report included placement data on the 95 dislocated workers who received vocational training through a collaboration between MassMEP, Worcester Technical High School and Worcester Polytechnic Institute.
Despite the economic collapse, 77% of graduates entered employment!
As many of you saw in the NY Times …“Factory Jobs Return, but Employers Find Skills Shortage” (July 1, 2023)…companies say there is a mismatch between the kind of skilled workers needed and the ranks of the unemployed.
Pre-employment training provides a “tune up” for dislocated workers who may have held their previous positions for many years. By upgrading technical and work readiness skills, and focusing on the mechanics of a job search, participants are better able to compete in today’s especially competitive job market. Candidates interested in the training program must pass an Adult Basic Education test for reading and math, a basic dexterity test; and an interview to assess attitude and motivation. Successful applicants then take a multi-stage, 7 week course to prepare them for careers in manufacturing.
Seven weeks of hands-on training before someone even hits the shop floor.
Course components include:
80 hour Critical Occupational REadiness (CORE) Skills Training—An intense, focused practical skills, theory, and hand-on curriculum conducted over two consecutive weeks. The curriculum is instructor lead with self paced computer training modules. The program involves comprehensive training in shop math, blueprint reading and metrology, computer numerical control (CNC) machine milling and turning, as well as fundamental manufacturing skills. Each module contains a series of tests to measure each student’s comprehension of the material. The unique “fast track” training process is designed to produce basically trained employees for manufacturing companies.
100 hour Advanced CNC instruction at WPI—More advanced CNC training, focusing on set up, fixturing, tool selection and advanced inspection techniques.
40 hour MasterCAM programming component — Baseline instruction in the concepts and practices associated with using MasterCAM. Students develop competencies in the following areas: geometry, wireframe creation, surface/solid modeling, toolpath generation, 2D & 3D functionality, tool selection, posting the program code.
10 hour OSHA General Industry card
Great people are the secret to a company’s success. Equipment is equipment–it is the skill and knowledge of the employees that distinguishes one company from another.
The next class starts October 12th. If you are looking for trained workers, contact MassMEP at 508-831-7020.
Candidates interested in the training program must pass an Adult Basic Education test for reading and math, a basic dexterity test; and an interview to assess attitude and motivation. Successful applicants then take a multi-stage, 7 week course to prepare them for careers in manufacturing.