Apprenticeship competition highlights importance of manufacturing in Southwestern Pa.

Local manufacturing apprentices put their skills and knowledge to the test Friday in a competition to determine who is best at metal working in Southwestern Pennsylvania.

The competition, hosted annually by the Pittsburgh chapter of the National Tooling and Machining Association, featured eight apprentices from six local manufacturing companies.

This year’s competition took place in Westmoreland County Community College’s Advanced Technology Center, located at the former Sony plant in East Huntingdon. The center serves as a 73,500-square-foot manufacturing hub and includes specialized labs, instructional spaces and classrooms.

The apprentices kicked off the event with a written exam, followed by an extensive hands-on portion during which participants had to make two parts — one with a lathe and the other with a milling machine. They had four hours to make each part using blueprints that they had never seen before.

The competition “mirrors real life” for manufacturers, according to David Holm, a representative from Kiski Precision Industries.

Louie Brooks, a representative from Penn State Tool & Die, said the competition serves as a “huge stepping stone” for the participants.

“It’s probably the first time that they got a picture of a drawing and they started manufacturing without any leadership,” Brooks said. “It’s like taking the first step into responsibility.”

If a participant completed a piece before the deadline, they earned extra time-saving points, said Liz Blashock, the program and events coordinator for the Pittsburgh Chapter National Tooling & Machining Foundation.

Blashock, who manages NTMF’s apprenticeship program, said the apprentices exhibited a mix of excitement and nerves before the event.

Two NTMA member companies will judge the apprentices based on knowledge, skill and efficiency.

The competition’s winner will be announced June 8 at the chapter’s annual NTMA Apprentice Graduation Banquet. In addition to the title of best metal working apprentice, the winner also will receive an H. Gerstner & Sons toolbox valued at $1,495.

Participating apprentices include Charles Shiring and Timothy Sheffler from Kiski Precision Industries in Leechburg; Brandon Richards and Glenn Robaugh from Penn State Tool & Die, which has shops in North Huntingdon and Mt. Pleasant; Dominick Rucker from CP Industries Holdings Inc., McKeesport; Tyler Barker from Penn United Technologies in Butler County; Shane Feher from Hamill Manufacturing Company, Trafford; and Zaiah Zieger from Jatco Machine & Tool Company, Bellevue.

Each participant will receive a certificate for completing the event. Roxanne Shurtz, a NTMF steering council member and representative from the Kurt J. Lesker Co., said many employers will value the apprentices’ initiative to compete.

“The competition not only is a good thing for (the apprentices) to see where their skill set lies and where they need help. But also, as an employer, I’m going to look at (competing) as initiative,” Shurtz said.

The competition also showcases the skill sets and benefits of manufacturing.

High school and middle school students might not realize that manufacturing is a career path with minimal debt and good pay, according to Holm. When he has the opportunity, Holm encourages students to consider pursuing manufacturing as a career.

Edward Sikora, NTMF’s executive director, said competitions like this continue to spread the word that manufacturing is important.

“(The apprentices are) in a career that most people don’t understand,” he said. “(The competition) is giving them the exposure and giving the industry the exposure.”