Die-Matic Tool and Die – Wyoming, MI
Many organizations face the challenge of keeping employee skills up to date while recruiting talent familiar with both new technologies and the industry. As a result, many of these organizations have had to rethink their talent recruitment and staff development strategies. Many of them have found success through apprenticeship programs, which enable them to play a more active role in shaping the talent they need while also building a culture of ongoing learning and innovation.Die-Matic Tool and Die Inc. is a die design and manufacturing company that supplies the automotive, appliance, and consumer products industries with progressive dies, line dies, and transfer dies. They invest time and other resources into their apprenticeship program, which provides long-term paid work-based learning opportunities and structured educational curricula that ensures participants gain education and hands-on experience in the industry.
A Talent Development Approach
Die-Matic’s apprenticeship program offers a talent development approach that allows them to onboard more diverse talent and internal infrastructure to create a learning culture. Their program has been around for about six years, and they’ve had great success with it. Apprentices must be registered for 8,000 hours and complete classroom and on-the-job responsibilities, which takes the average student about four years. Program participants can select 13-14 classes based on their personal preferences. They can choose from various machining, welding, and safety classes. From there, the state approves which courses they can take.
The apprentices are paired with a seasoned die maker and also have the chance to cross-train with other apprentices and full-time employees at Die-Matic. They have found that the apprentices like this learning style, as it gives them a sense of ownership. Program participants are also largely motivated by the reimbursement opportunities that Die-Matic provides. For example, once they finish the program, the company will reimburse them as they remain an employee.
Modernizing Education
Die-Matic promotes its program in various ways, including speaking at job fairs and creating relationships with the local tech schools. In addition, they are constantly trying to educate students, parents, and counselors to show that there are other opportunities out there for kids besides the traditional college route. According to Eric Bragg, Vice President of Sales at Die-Matic, they focus on modernizing education. “We want to give these kids access to the skillsets that people in our industry are hiring for,” he said. “The sky is the limit.”