Hiring and retaining skilled laborers is harder than ever in manufacturing, with the Manufacturing Institute projecting that there will be 2.1 unfilled positions by 2030. Industry experts say that prioritizing workforce development is key to overcoming this challenge.
“Right now, there is a skill divide between the younger and older generation, and it’s up to industry veterans to bridge that gap by upskilling low- and mid-skilled workers to make room for entry-level employees,” writes Forbes columnist Kevin Stevick, President and CEO of SteelCraft.
“The best way to attract candidates who might not possess all the required qualifications is by providing training opportunities and skill development courses to help grow their careers.”
Ameritex is heeding the call to upskill the next generation of manufacturing workers with the introduction of our Welder Pathway, an innovative new precision sheet metal fabrication training program.
Closing the Skills Gap: Training the Next Great Manufacturers
In recent years, many people have applied for jobs at Ameritex who had basic manufacturing skills but weren’t up to the skill level required for our world-class company. At Ameritex, we pride ourselves on delivering the highest quality precision sheet metal fabrications, so it goes without saying that we have high standards for our employees.
But simply turning away these interested applicants didn’t feel right—especially amid a labor shortage. We thought, “Why not take this opportunity to train select applicants to reach their full potential?” Investing in these applicants would help not only our shop but also the greater manufacturing community.
That’s when we decided to soft-launch AMTX U, beginning with a welding program.
How Ameritex’s Welder Pathway Works: Get Paid to Learn Precision Sheet Metal Fabrication
When an individual applies for a welding job at Ameritex, we give them a brief test to assess their current skill set. If they’re up to our standards, we offer them a job. If they’re not yet up to our standards but show potential, we give them the option of entering our 3-week training program.
For the first week of the program, participants learn the basics of welding on different materials. Then, during the next weeks, they get real hands-on experience in our state-of-the-art precision sheet metal fabrication facility. An entire section of our shop floor is dedicated specifically to AMTX U training. Participants are tested along the way to assess their progress. The goal is to learn everything from the basics of welding to how to perform high-quality production welding. With our lead welder instructing the class, participants are guaranteed to learn from the best!
We’re working with a curriculum instructor who has helped us design, implement, and document the welding curriculum so it’s readily accessible online to all future participants.
Goals for Expanding AMTX U
Currently, AMTX U offers a welding training program once a month. But soon, we plan to offer training programs for other common precision sheet metal fabrication processes, such as laser cutting and bending.
We know that training the next generation of manufacturing professionals is an investment in our success and the success of the industry we love so much, and we’re thrilled to see how AMTX U develops in the years to come!
Interested in working at Ameritex? Check out our open positions!
