Real Progress Toward Solving U.S. Workforce Problems
March 6, 2024 | I-Connect007 Editorial TeamEstimated reading time: 1 minute
IPC achieved a landmark in 2023 by creating an apprenticeship program approved by the U.S. Department of Labor. With such a registered framework in place, industry can work through IPC to secure local, state, and federal dollars for workforce development in a way they’ve never been able to do before. Cory Blaylock, director of workforce partnerships at IPC, has been instrumental in developing and moving this program toward adoption and outlines what companies need to know to get involved.
Michelle Te: IPC is not just embracing a change in the revolution of workforce development but driving it as well. What is behind IPC’s efforts?
Cory Blaylock: There has been a solution in the industry for developing talent that offers career pathways, giving employers what they want as well as catering to developing employees. IPC wants to be the one owning it because we're representing everybody in electronics manufacturing.
Apprenticeships, and workforce development, in general, are not user-friendly in their current state. There's a lot of nuance and things that people don't know or understand unless they work in it every day. They may not understand what's required for a registered apprenticeship concerning the rules and regulations of the Department of Labor. We’ve worked through all the red tape so it could be utilized without having to go through all the rigamarole.
Te: Can you define an apprenticeship?
Blaylock: An apprenticeship is an earn-while-you-learn model. Traditionally, we think of apprentices in jobs like plumbing and HVAC. IPC is joining that space to expand and diversify pathways into good jobs and careers in advanced manufacturing.
Continue reading this article in the February 2024 issue of PCB007 Magazine.
Suggested Items
EIPC Issues Letter of Urgency
04/29/2024 | Alun Morgan, EIPCThe European PCB manufacturing industry and its supply base has been steadily shrinking since the dot com crash at the start of the millennium. European demand for PCBs and assemblies has, however, continued to grow, thus creating an ever widening gap between European domestic capacity and consumption. The risks posed by this imbalanced supply and demand pattern came into sharp focus during the Covid-19 pandemic which caused chaos in extended supply chains across the world and resulted in widespread shortages.
Arlon Electronic Materials Awarded Requalification to IPC-4101 QPL for All Polyimide Specification Sheets
04/29/2024 | IPCIPC's Validation Services Program has awarded Arlon Electronic Materials Division, an electronics material manufacturing company headquartered in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., an IPC-4101 Qualified Products Listing (QPL) requalification for the third time.
I-Connect007 Editor’s Choice: Five Must-Reads for the Week
04/26/2024 | Andy Shaughnessy, Design007 MagazineIn this week’s roundup, we have a variety of articles covering everything from design through assembly, and even box build. I’ve always wondered whether box build was all it was cracked up to be. Do customers really pick one EMS provider over another because one company offers box build? And if you’ve ever wanted to volunteer, IPC’s Thought Leaders Program is looking for a few good technologists to help them on their mission. Check out Stanton Rak’s article, which was published in the spring issue of IPC Community.
Stan Rak: Elevating the Ideas and Insights of IPC's Thought Leaders Program
04/25/2024 | Stanton Rak, SF Rak CompanyAs a member of the IPC Thought Leaders Program (TLP), I am responsible for identifying knowledge-sharing opportunities that can generate ideas and insights that strengthen the IPC community as well as create a sustainable and lasting future for its members. I am delighted to highlight some of my recent contributions as a member of the TLP.
Alternative Manufacturing Inc. Awarded QML Requalification to IPC J-STD-001 and IPC-A-610
04/24/2024 | IPCIPC's Validation Services Program has awarded an IPC J-STD-001 and IPC-A-610 Qualified Manufacturers Listing (QML) requalification to Alternative Manufacturing Inc (AMI).