About AJAC

AJAC Offers European Companies Opportunities to Train Their Employees in Washington State

SEATTLE, WA – June 20, 2011 – The Aerospace Joint Apprenticeship Committee (AJAC), developer of Washington State registered aerospace and advanced manufacturing apprenticeship programs, today announced that it is offering apprenticeship and training programs to European Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM) who operate in Washington State. This will give these OEMs the opportunity to join the other 650 Washington State Aerospace Companies who rely on the number one strength of Washington State's aerospace industry: nearly 84,000 highly skilled workers.


"This announcement by AJAC makes Washington state that much more attractive to those companies wishing to locate or expand here," Governor Chris Gregoire said. "Our highly-skilled aerospace workforce is one of our state's strongest selling points. By expanding these training programs, we're telling potential new companies that you'll have the skilled labor needed to succeed – and ensuring those companies that are already located here have the workforce to expand. And that means more employment opportunities in Washington State."


AJAC will enable European firms to create their next generation of experts using programs developed with industry input and emerging practices from their Washington State counterparts. These local employers have contributed time, expertise and knowledge to curriculum development and mentor programs, advisory committees and equipment and technology donations.


"AJAC is excited to share Washington's wealth of training and education resources that has produced some of the most highly skilled and best trained aerospace and advanced manufacturing experts in the world," said Laura Hopkins, Executive Director of AJAC.


AJAC's industry-driven programs now offer European aerospace and manufacturing companies the opportunity to build a well-qualified and experienced workforce in Washington State by enrolling current employees in the AJAC apprenticeship program to earn journey-level certification or identifying new candidates. A total of 10 registered aerospace and advanced manufacturing occupations training programs are available including: aircraft-oriented machining, composites, and aircraft interiors assembly mechanic.


Hopkins added, "I am looking forward to working side by side with Europe's aerospace and manufacturing companies in order to advance industry training, creating a world-wide standard of cutting-edge training programs."


In addition to obtaining journey-level certification as a master craftsperson, AJAC's unique program sets the apprentice on a path towards an associate's degree that can articulate into a four-year degree. European companies will find that AJAC also differentiates itself from other apprenticeship programs by:


  • integrating competency based learning into its programs,
  • implementing instructor training to develop the next generation of trades instructors that utilizes master craftspeople,
  • partnering with employers, community and technical colleges and other partners across Washington to implement innovative training models that establish career pathways from K-12 through master craftspeople,
  • working with certifying agencies to enable apprentices to achieve multiple certifications, and
  • offering hybrid online/in-person classes

As well as its core apprenticeship programs, AJAC is also developing and implementing signature programs that European companies operating in Washington State can benefit from:


  • Advanced Inspection and Manufacturing Mobile Training Unit (AIM-MTU) – A 53' classroom on wheels will travel across Washington State to employer work sites and community/technical colleges to provide apprenticeship and just-in-time technical short-term training to the next generation of advanced manufacturing tradespeople.
  • Fighting 147s AMTS Program – Washington State's Aviation maintenance Technicians Schools (AMTS) Development Force, who has created one common integrated curriculum in order to increase transferability and accessibility at the five AMT community/technical colleges in Washington State. To find out more about the Fighting 147s, watch this video.
  • Employer incentives – AJAC is working with Washington State to offer employers participating in a registered apprenticeship program a $5,000 (per apprentice) tax credit. The purpose of this employer incentive is to reduce Unemployment Insurance (UI) spending and increase jobs through apprenticeship, sustaining the Washington State economy.
  • Teach Tech – Professional Technical Teacher Education Program that will offer people who have a two year technical degree and two to five years of technical work experience, the opportunity to upgrade to a bachelor's degree in teaching and become a technical education instructor at the postsecondary level. Upon completion, students will earn a Bachelor's of Applied Science (BAS) degree and a Washington Professional Technical Instructor's Certificate.

The Aerospace Joint Apprenticeship Committee (AJAC) is a statewide, state-funded, non-profit organization that develops and implements Washington State registered apprenticeship programs. AJAC provides advanced manufacturing employers with their next generation workforce by offering a method to capture the knowledge and the trade secrets of a master tradesperson. Apprenticeships combine supervised on-the-job training experience (93%) with classroom instruction (7%) that includes theory and hands on learning. For more information about AJAC, visit: www.ajactraining.org


Contact Information:
Lisa Van Dyke
Communications Specialist
Aerospace Joint Apprenticeship Committee (AJAC)
Phone: 206-764-5832
Fax: 206-764-5329
lvandyke@ajactraining.org
www.ajactraining.org