While
Massachusetts sees a shortage of employees for advanced manufacturing jobs,
Tegra Medical is creating its own skilled workforce with its Toolmaker
Apprentice Program.
Advanced manufacturing combines
information technology with advanced machinery, and requires highly-skilled
employees. The four-year program, which has been implemented in Tegra Medical’s
Franklin location and may be extended to other locations, accepts two students
who are required to enroll in engineering programs at local colleges. The
company pays their tuition and a salary, then promotes them to journeyman
toolmaker positions when they graduate.
Apprentices spend 40 hours a week
in Tegra Medical’s GENESIS Tech Center® (GTC), which is devoted to prototyping
and product development. They learn all aspects of machining including how to
plan a machining job, programming the machines, and doing CAD drawing and solid
modeling. At least 95- percent of the apprentices’ time at Tegra Medical is
spent on the job. They juggle these responsibilities with their college course
load.
“We put apprentices right into
the thick of things at our GTC,” said Brian Rua, Director of Support Services
and the apprentice program manager. “Here, the apprentices are exposed to every
kind of machining we do. They’re working on real projects, and learning from
all the engineers, toolmakers, maintenance, quality and program managers who
are refining customers’ medical device designs and figuring out the most
efficient ways to manufacture them.”
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Antonio Bettencourt, the first apprentice program participant and Brian Rua, Director of Support Services and founder of the apprentice program. |
Tegra Medical is unusual in
having this apprentice program. This makes it a popular choice for students
graduating from local vocational high schools.
“It’s a great way to help a young
person find his niche,” said Rua. “We had one apprentice who was so “green”
when he started that he hardly knew what any of the machines were for. Today he
is excelling in the program. With what he has learned here combined with a
self-starter attitude, he can now take a project from start to finish with
minimal help. He is working on some of the most advanced systems in the shop
and has done research and presented suggestions for new equipment upgrades and
more.”
The first graduate of the
apprentice program, Antonio Bettencourt, received his certificate in April. He
was also presented with a beautiful oak Gerstner tool chest with felt-lined
compartments to protect his tools for years to come. The second graduate, Nick
Voyer, is due to complete the program in July.