MCALLEN, Texas - The executive director of the South Texas Manufacturers Association has given an overview of apprenticeship programs in the Rio Grande Valley.
Mike Willis was a keynote speaker at South Texas College’s 2nd Annual Apprenticeship Summit.
“The apprenticeship program is a proven model that has been used for many years, as Dr. Solis pointed out. In our region, the construction industry continues to use it widely. In Texas and elsewhere, electricians and plumbers are actually required to complete an apprenticeship to even take the state licensing exam,” Willis said.
“In the manufacturing industry, apprenticeship was widely used in the past but some structural changes like outsourcing to smaller and more specialized manufacturing firms, and, of course, the offshoring that's been taking place over the last 20 yeas has made it more challenging but not impossible to support apprenticeship programs.”
The “Dr. Solis” Willis was referring to was Ricardo Solis, president of STC.
Willis said that in 2002 his organization started working on apprenticeships with STC, Texas Southmost College, Texas State Technical College, VIDA and McAllen Economic Development Corporation. “We formed a regional partnership to create, develop and support manufacturing apprenticeship programs across the Valley.”
Willis said STC secured a Department of Labor grant to support the creation of DOL registered, STMA sponsored, apprenticeship programs for industrial machinery mechanics, tool and die makers, and plastic process technicians. He said the grant helped produce highly skilled workers for the manufacturing industry.
“The strategy was to have our organization create regional standards for all the manufacturers in the region,” Willis said.
However, Willis acknowledged, the Valley’s manufacturing footprint has been relatively small. “We have a total workforce now of about 15,000,” he said. “About 30 percent of our manufacturers in the Valley are what we call contract manufacturers. They have lots of customers. They are competing with other contract manufacturers all over the world for their business. This means they have a lot of fluctuation in their work schedules.”
Another challenge, Willis said, is that there’s a lack of national level standards for different manufacturing operation job titles.
“Every manufacturing company can, if they want to, create their own unique DOL apprenticeship standards, or even a company program. So there's inconsistency in the experience and knowledge, skills and abilities of apprentice program graduates. We even seen this in the Valley,” Willis said.
“Manufacturing is a very broad, diverse industry. We always say, even in the Valley, we make everything from potato chips to rocket ships. So it makes it challenging to establish apprenticeship standards here for the same job title as standardized on-the-job training requirements.” Because the on-the-job training again has to be met. It has to be relevant.”
Willis concluded his remarks by saying that, despited the challenges, apprenticeship programs are a great idea. “They're portable. They're recognized by industry, manufacturing and otherwise.” He said apprentices that finish their program have demonstrated and mastered some basic competencies.
“Finally, on the positive side, certainly the apprenticeship model if it is properly designed, maintained, and supported is one of the most effective models anywhere to provide employees with a good career pathway, and to provide businesses with highly skilled employees that are promotable,” Willis said.
“So, it's a great model and I encourage everyone to consider it. I look forward to continuing to work with STC to help make these programs successful. Thank you.”
Editor's Note: Here is an audio recording of Mike Willis' presentation at STC's 2nd Annual Apprenticeship Summit:
