Parker Hannifin - EPS Division's Apprenticeship Program
Parker Hannifin utilizes the machinist apprenticeship program plan to train and increase the skills of employees to the journeyman level. As a journeyman machinist, knowledge of and the ability to operate manual and CNC lathes, manual and CNC mills, and grinders to shape and form metal into plastic and rubber molds is Parker’s objective. This four-year apprenticeship program combines on-the-job training with increasing responsibilities supported by related training provided by applied technology colleges or community colleges. When training is completed to the satisfaction of the trainer, the apprentice receives his/her journeymen machinist certification.

Nolan B. Costley, Tooling BU Manager, oversees the machinist apprenticeship program at Parker Hannifin’s EPS Division in Salt Lake City. Nolan shares that apprenticeship is a highly flexible training model in which his company has ultimate control. “Parker controls who goes into the apprenticeship program, evaluates the training progress and establishes when the training is complete to the journeymen level.” This level of control allows Parker to provide the highest skill level training by utilizing the company’s best qualified/trained journeymen to mentor their apprentices. Remember that, “you are supported by BAT as a resource and the local community colleges as a related training provider, but it is your program.” The federal government (BAT) is not in place to make red tape for employers. Instead, BAT provides administrative functions that:

• Help you set up the program,
• Answer questions,
• Monitor progress annually by circulating questionnaires for verification of related training, and
• Issue certification upon completion of training to the journeymen level.

“Once you sign up as a sponsor, it is your program to administer, control and evaluate. “

Employers should recognize the apprenticeship training model is an employers’ best friend. “Established programs can plug into your business and provide training guidelines for two, four or six-year programs by simply utilizing standard information from BAT.” Your program is site specific and can be as narrow or as broad as required to provide the tools and talents for the employee to contribute to the company. “Trained associates have an allegiants to the company because of the investment and confidence you have in them and their skill level. “

Now is the time to seize the chance to get involved with apprenticeship! It is an opportunity to “train employees to a standard accepted throughout the USA” while you determine when the apprentice has achieved that standard. “Because you are in control of the program and evaluate your employee’s progress, you know how well they understand and complete on-the-job tasks. You can direct more individual training when it may be required or when they are competent to move to the next level of training.”