WESTFIELD – On Wednesday, December 12, Westfield Technical Academy (WTA) in partnership with the MassHire Hampden County Workforce Board, will host a student showcase to highlight a training program aimed at developing a pipeline of youth and adult workers interested in careers in CNC Machine Technology. The event starts at 10 a.m.
The Manufacturing Technology Program at WTA is a four year program for high school students. Gary Nadeau, Lead Manufacturing Technology Instructor at WTA says, “We have a 100% placement for all graduates who enter directly into the workforce with regional machine shops with good wages and upward mobility opportunities. In addition, the WTA manufacturing program has an Early College articulation agreement with Springfield Technical Community College, which allows our students to get 12 credits toward an engineering degree, if they have a “B” average or better, in five different areas of study.”
However, WTA Machine Technology Program does not close its doors at the end of the traditional school day. For adult learners, the Advanced Manufacturing Training Program offers 245 hours of late afternoon/early evening training to unemployed and underemployed adults seeking training to become CNC operators or entry-level machinists. The next training will take place in January 2019 at WTA.
Larry Martin, Director of Business Services and Market Research at MassHireHCWB, says this program addresses the labor force needs of regional advanced manufacturing firms. “There is a huge need for trained individuals with the fundamental skills that are taught in this program. WTA provides instructors who are experienced with delivering the learning styles of both the youth and adult populations. We have had a successful program with the WTA for the past seven years.”
Adult graduates have been placed as CNC Operators, Complex Machine Operators, Machine Service Technicians, Quality Control Inspectors, and Process Control Technicians.
