MCCTC Trains Valley's Next Generation of Machinists
CANFIELD, Ohio -- To many, a small, nondescript slab of metal is just that – a piece of metal destined for the scrap pile.
But Jessica Richards, a junior enrolled in the precision machining program at the Mahoning County Career & Technical Center, sees something quite different. To her, that chunk of metal is a blank canvas that can be formed, drilled, scaled and milled into a practical component that could be put to use in any number of ways.
“It’s awesome,” she says, holding that piece of metal. “It’s amazing to take a block of steel and make it into something someone can use.”
Such is the core of the machine trades, and is precisely the interest local manufacturers would like to see increase among young people, especially in this region, says John Zehentbauer.
Zehentbauer is career technical director at MCCTC. “Two years ago,” he recalls, “we almost closed the program” for want of interest.
Since then, the number of students in the program has climbed to 22 juniors and seniors combined – not a sellout, but enough to keep the precision machine program alive and well, Zehentbauer says. “There’s a lot of work out there for these students,” he points out.
Just two days before Christmas break, students were working on developing new, metallic fasteners for dial test indicators to replace some of the plastic indicators that kept breaking. Dial indicators are critical in machining because they gauge the proper alignment of a component in a lathe or milling machine.
“I always thought this field would be interesting,” says Richard Scott, also a junior. “There’s a lot of call for machinists in the job field and it’s just something I always thought I could do.”
The dial indicator project is just one of several hands-on learning experiences students can expect during the course of the program, Scott says. “They’re individual projects to challenge our abilities and familiarize ourselves with these machines,” he says.
MCCTC’s Zehentbauer says the course uses both the CNC machines as well as the older, manually driven equipment.
“There are manufacturers we’ve talked to who say they just want CNC operators,” he elaborates. “And there are some who say they’ve got to understand the speeds and feeds of tools, and the basic concepts.” Some concepts can be grasped only through the use of the older machines, he says.
While the machining program has steadily gained traction among high school students, Zehentbauer says the new welding program at MCCTC has created a big draw with younger people looking to enter the workforce.
“The school has dedicated about $200,000 to developing this program,” Zehentbauer says of the new welding curriculum. The program started in 2012, “so there’s a long way to go.” The new program has 18 students enrolled.
Interest in the welding program stems in part from oil and gas exploration in the region, Zehentbauer reports, although he concedes that few local jobs would probably be available directly with constructing the large pipeline networks.
Even so, demand for welders and machinists would likely come from those companies supplying the industry in other ways. “Indirectly, [exploring for oil and gas] just drives it,” he says. “From what I understand, every well site needs a welder nearby, because they’re constantly fixing things.”
Demand is also on the increase for skilled tradesmen in other industries, Zehentbauer relates. “Our aviation program is the best I’ve ever seen it,” he reports. “We never placed students right into the airlines from high school, but [US Airways Inc.] out of Philadelphia is saying, ‘If you’ve got a good kid, we’ll take him,’ “ he says.
Other programs geared toward manufacturing include Project Lead The Way, a national effort to introduce young people to engineering. Lead The Way allows students to earn college credit in some of the more advanced courses,.
“They do a variety of projects,” Zehentbauer says, including robotics, electronics, civil engineering, mechanical engineering.
The most important objective of these courses, he emphasizes, is to make industry partners aware of the talent being groomed in the manufacturing trades and to persuade younger people that a career in manufacturing can be rewarding both financially and creatively.
“We have a placement coordinator who’s met or been in contact with every manufacturer in the area,” Zehentbauer says. “And, if we haven’t, we want to.”
Editor's Note: This story first appeared in the January edition of The Business Journal, which focused on the work of the Mahoning Valley Manufacturers Coalition and the Industry Partners of Mercer and Lawrence Counties. CLICK HERE to subscribe to our twice-monthly print edition.
Copyright 2013 The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.