The Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development and Milwaukee Area Technical College have introduced a new, entry-level industrial manufacturing technician apprenticeship to help address the skills gap in Wisconsin’s manufacturing sector.
Lisa Boyd, administrator of the DWD’s division of employment and training, said the apprenticeship offers a new pathway to family-supporting jobs with Milwaukee area manufacturers. It will provide entry-level workers an overview of manufacturing, from operating equipment to continuous improvement programs.
The IMT apprenticeship is the first developed in partnership with MATC and the fifth under a $6 million Sector Alliance for the Green Economy (SAGE) grant from the U.S. Department of Labor. It follows a hybrid model in which apprentices are assessed on-the-job using a combination of time and competencies.
The program is structured for 18 months, or 3,000 hours, including 2,736 hours of on-the-job learning and 264 hours of related instruction. As entry-level workers, the IMT apprentices begin a career pathway to industrial skilled trades, such as machinist and industrial electrician.
For more information: http://dwd.wisconsin.gov/apprenticeship/default.htm.
