Catalyst Connection Celebrates National Apprenticeship Week
Catalyst Connection’s Industrial Manufacturing Technician (IMT) Apprenticeship Program has Four New Graduates
PITTSBURGH, Pennsylvania— Catalyst Connection is proud of our latest apprenticeship graduates. Over the past 18 months, four workers completed their required classroom hours and on-the-job tasks. The graduates are JR, Tom, Chrissy, and Howie from IGS Industries in Washington County (www.igsind.com). After their coursework, the group toured Schroeder Industries to see best manufacturing practices in action.
According to one graduate: “This program helped me learn new subjects and refresh my skills. Just as important, I learned the value of workplace relationships. A supportive team can move mountains.”
Classroom Requirements and Core Skills
Classroom work required passing four national certificate tests. All four workers passed and earned their Certified Production Technician (CPT) credentials. Other vital classroom topics included:
- Lean 101 Manufacturing
- Interpersonal Workplace Skills
- Practical Problem Solving (PPS)
- Training-within-Industry (TWI) routines
Apprentices used hands-on projects to display their new classroom knowledge in real-world factory settings.
On-the-Job Mentorship
On-the-job training covered ten standard manufacturing skills. The company customized over 100 tasks to fit its specific business needs. Each apprentice worked directly with an experienced mentor during normal production hours. Mentors shared constant feedback and signed off on tasks once the apprentice mastered the skill.
The workers finished 264 hours of total instruction. Next, they received state-registered Journeyman Papers for their final certification. Due to this success, a second group of students will start training soon.
About the IMT Apprenticeship Program
This state-registered program fills a vital dual need. It helps employers recruit entry-level workers and gives those workers higher skills. Production teams gain the exact knowledge needed for advanced factory settings. This hybrid plan blends time-based learning with hands-on skills.
Key program features include stackable training tracks. These tracks form the base for college credits and industry credentials. Graduates can easily adapt to different factory sizes and production schedules.
Learn more about the Industrial Manufacturing Technician (IMT) Apprenticeship Program, here.
Watch Apprentice Success Videos
To learn more about other apprentices in our network, watch these short videos:
- Brendon Lewis, Brush GMS: View Brendon’s Video Portfolio
- Brandon Verscharen, Schroeder Industries: View Brandon’s Video Portfolio
- Tyrrell Kuzbicki, Schroeder Industries: View Tyrrell’s Video Portfolio
About Catalyst Connection
Catalyst Connection is a private non-profit group based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. We provide expert consulting and training for small manufacturers across southwestern Pennsylvania. Our programs accelerate revenue growth and boost shop productivity. This work is supported by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the National Institute of Standards and Technology.