Apprenticeships Pay Huge Dividends for Students

Kalamazoo Valley has a reputation for preparing students for the workplace, that’s why when Chris Orlowski was named general manager of XL Machine, he reached out to the college about an apprenticeship program.

XL Machine in Three Rivers turns out high-tolerance components for automotive, life sciences and other industries. Recently Modern Machine Shop magazine named XL Machine a 2017 “Top Shops” winner in the category of machining technology.

“Together with our parent company, Burke Porter Group, we are passionate about educating our young workforce in the STEM fields,” Orlowski said. “With hundreds of machinists retiring each year and only a handful of new trainees entering the industry, finding new talent goes beyond posting a help wanted sign out front.”

To recruit students, Orlowski joined the Career and Technical Education (CTE) committee for St. Joseph County and the Education for Employment (EFE) program for Kalamazoo County. After talking with other manufacturers and determining the skills they require Orlowski said, “We came up with a good curriculum, and then I approached area colleges. Within a year and a half, we were able to get approved for a federal apprenticeship program through the Federal Department of Labor. We now have an established relationship with Kalamazoo Valley Community College because they have nearly 20 machines between their lathes and mills. They also teach CNC programming, which is essential for our apprenticeship program.”

“Our students truly benefit from these types of apprenticeships,” said Kalamazoo Valley faculty member Bill Kring. “It’s the best of both worlds; students learn in the classroom and have the experience of hands-on on-the-job training. Students are exposed to the real world of manufacturing and potentially secure a job for a lifetime with an employer who truly values their skills and abilities.”

In addition, XL Machine currently works with Vicksburg High School, where students can participate in a co-operative education (co-op) program and work at XL while going to school. With effort and support from the county, more area high schools will join in the future, because the students who have participated couldn’t be more enthusiastic.

“I love the hands-on experience and how many different types of jobs you can run on a single machine,” said Rich Gillies, an apprentice at XL machine. He graduated in May 2017 from Vicksburg High School and now works as a machinist, setting up and running a vertical CNC mill. Occasionally, he checks part tolerances on one of XL Machine’s 10 CMMs.

Gillies learned about the co-op program from a high school friend taking the computerized manufacturing class, and his friend finally convinced him to join. Before starting, he “knew next to nothing” about machining. Now, every day is a learning experience, and he is hooked. “I can take almost any type of metal and turn it into something amazing,” he says. “I’ve learned how to do some programming, and I would love to learn more about that at Kalamazoo Valley. I feel that XL Machine is preparing me for my future by giving me all the knowledge that I need to be able to further myself in this career.”

To incentivize learning, XL Machine will pay 100 percent of the tuition costs at the college for those pursuing an apprenticeship – with some requirements. “Students have to have a little bit of skin in the game,” says Orlowski. “They work regular hours, and a standard week for a machinist is 40 hours plus 10 hours of overtime. They go to school at night or on Saturday. If they maintain a ‘B’ average or better and remain punctual at work, we will pay their tuition.” Levi Van der Loon is a machinist with similar responsibilities to Gillies. He also took the computerized manufacturing class, but he took it all four years of high school because he loved the manufacturing environment so much.

“During my junior year, an instructor from Education for Employment, talked to me. They coordinated a job interview at XL Machine, and I started a co-op placement as a result,” says Van der Loon. “Half the day I would go to school, and I would work the rest of the day. I thought it was very helpful being able to continue with high school and make money at the same time.”

Working at XL Machine within the co-op program helped Van der Loon buy his first car at age 16. Now that he works on high-end CNC machines, he says the trust XL Machine has placed in him makes him eager to learn more. While Van der Loon can set up and run a CNC mill, he only has basic programming skills — for now. After graduating from high school in May 2017, he entered XL Machine’s apprenticeship program with Kalamazoo Valley. Ultimately, he will earn a Journeyman’s certificate while learning how to use CAD and CAM programs.

“Apprenticeship programs provide tremendous opportunities for students who are interested in the earn while you learn concept, as well as those who have an interest in being creative, problem solving, and developing skills which will last a lifetime,” said Prior Learning and Apprenticeships Coordinator LaJoyce Brooks. “In addition to the partnership with XL Machine, Kalamazoo Valley collaborates with nearly 100 other area businesses which provide apprenticeships for more than 400 of our students,” Brooks said.

For more information on how to get started with developing an apprenticeship program, or collaborating with Kalamazoo Valley Community College contact LaJoyce Brooks at lbrooks@kvcc.edu.