Ceramic Machinist Apprenticeship Program Developed

A ceramic parts making subsidiary of Carpenter Technology Corp. has developed a unique apprenticeship program in California. The program is the first of its kind to be established since the 1939 Shelly-Maloney Apprentice Labor Standards Act was passed as a way to initiate and govern apprenticeship programs in California. The program was developed in cooperation with Sierra Community College, Rocklin, Calif., and the California Department of Industrial Relations, Division of Apprenticeship Standards. Completion of the program requires four years of on-the-job training and at least 576 hours of college-level math and technology courses.

“We have structured our program to produce not only skilled tradesmen but also competent and flexible employees able to meet the demand from advanced ceramic companies like ours,” said Jack A. Brothers, president of Carpenter Advanced Ceramics.

Apprentices in Carpenter’s program learn how ceramic powders are processed, formed, sintered and machined. They also learn how to operate a variety of conventional machines—such as lathes, mills, grinders and lapping machines—as well as sophisticated CAD/CAM and CNC (computer numeric control) equipment. The program is designed to train and develop up to five ceramic machinists every four years.

For more information about the program, call Carpenter at (610) 208-3034.