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Manufacturing

The Manufacturing industry is a major source of new technology. This technology is seen through equipment and material production in areas of transportation, health care, energy, electronics, metal working, etc. In the United States manufacturing firms employ more than 14 million people, making the industry one of the country’s largest employers. Approximately one-quarter of all the goods and services produced in the U.S. economy are the result of manufacturing activities. In Wisconsin manufacturing ranks 6th in the top ten industries ranked on greatest employment.

Manufacturing establishments engage in the mechanical, physical, or chemical transformation of materials, substances, or components into new products. Furthermore, all manufacturing workers need to possess flexibility of skills in order to respond to rapidly changing industry demands. Therefore, the Manufacturing Youth Apprenticeship (YA) program was structured to require industry-wide foundational skills and industry-specific technical skills.

This school-to-work program offers a variety of experiences and possible job placement settings and is applicable for a student who has expressed an interest in a manufacturing or engineering career, or skilled machinery trade. Students will also take related classroom instruction at the local high school, technical college or at the worksite.

Work-Based Requirements

Industry mentors are trained to teach youth apprentices the skills and knowledge needed to find entry level employment in the manufacturing/machining industry (see Skills Standards Checklist).

The Manufacturing program has two options available. The ne-year option includes two semesters of classroom instruction which support a minimum of 450 work hours. The two-year option includes four semesters of classroom instruction, which support 900 work hours.

Worksites for Manufacturing YA can be chosen from any number of the manufacturing sub-industries such as Chemical, Computers & Electronic, Food & Beverage, Furniture, Machine, Plastic & Rubber Production, Primary & Fabricated Metals, and Wood. Materials processed include a variety of different raw materials such as Metals, Polymers (Wood, Textiles, Plastic), Finishes (Wood Finishes, Metal Finishes) and Food & Beverage

Manufacturing YA students are required to perform all of the Core Employability, Safety, and Manufacturing Fundamentals skills at the worksite. In addition, Level One (one-year) YA students choose additional technical competencies from a MINIMUM of ONE of the Manufacturing Pathways while Level Two (two-year) YA students complete competencies from a MINIMUM of TWO of the Manufacturing Pathways.

Manufacturing Pathways
Assembly & Packaging	Molding
Casting	Separating
Conditioning	Machining-Grinder
Filling	Machining-Lathe
Finishing	Machining-Machine Center
Joining/Combining	Production Operations Management

SkillCertificate and Advanced Standing

After successful completion of the requirements for a high school diploma and the school-based and work-based requirements for Youth Apprenticeship, the students receive a Certificate of Occupational Proficiency from the Department of Workforce Development.  Students who complete the two-year Manufacturing Youth Apprenticeship program may receive advanced standing credits from a Wisconsin Technical College offering related associate degree programs.

Downloadable Documents

• Skills Standards Checklist
• Order Form from Dept. of Administration Document Sales Unit
• Manufacturing Program Guide
• Manufacturing Youth Apprenticeship Program Brochure
  
• MSSC Overview Flyer
• Dane County YA MFG Program
• MSSC Student Brochure
• Advanced Manufacturing YA Program Flyer

Additional Links

• MFG YA Training Web cast
• On-line Learning tools
• Manufacturing Skill Standards Council (MSSC)