In Yakima, Washington, the pathway to a rewarding career in manufacturing is only 10 weeks away. Through AJAC’s Manufacturing Academy, local residents are gaining hands-on training, industry-recognized certifications, and the skills they need to thrive in one of Washington’s most critical sectors.
At the heart of the program is Steven Meiser, a Yakima native and longtime manufacturing professional whose passion for the trades is now shaping the next generation.
“My career began at Perry Tech in the machining program,” Steven shares. “From there, I worked at Genie Industries making welding fixtures and CNC tooling, then spent 17 years running the machine shop at Pexco Aerospace.”
Now, as the lead instructor for AJAC’s Yakima Manufacturing Academy, Steven is taking his decades of experience and translating it into real-world education for his students.
What Is the Manufacturing Academy?
AJAC’s Manufacturing Academy is a free, full-time, 10-week training program that prepares individuals for entry-level jobs in the advanced manufacturing industry. The program is designed for anyone—whether they’re looking for a new career path, recently graduated from high school, or want to gain technical skills that employers are actively hiring for.
Through hands-on shop instruction, students become proficient in:
- Manual milling and lathe operations
- CNC machine programming and setup
- Using G-code, setting tool and work offsets
- Reading blueprints and understanding shop math
- Maintaining equipment and workplace safety protocols
“We start students on the manual mill, teaching setup, maintenance, and basic operation,” Stephen explains. “Then we move on to projects that simulate real manufacturing work. We do the same with the manual lathe before introducing CNC equipment and programming.”
But technical training is just one piece of the puzzle.
Graduates also earn essential certifications that employers require, including:
- OSHA-10 Safety Certification
- Forklift Operation
- CPR/First Aid
- Ready for the Shop Floor on Day One
One of the biggest advantages of the Manufacturing Academy is the job readiness students bring to their first day of work.
“The benefit to hiring one of our students,” Stephen says, “is that they can hit the shop floor running. We take care of that beginning training so employers don’t have to.”
With Yakima’s growing manufacturing sector in need of skilled, dependable workers, AJAC’s Manufacturing Academy is bridging the gap—helping local employers fill vital roles while giving students a real shot at long-term success.
