28 MiMfg Magazine October 2020
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MFG Work
What ’ s Happening in Michigan Manufacturing
Member-Led “ Woodwork Manufacturing Specialist ” Apprenticeship Approved by DOL
A cross-country collaboration led by MMA member Burke Architectural Millwork ’ s Kelly Victor-Burke has resulted in the approval of a new Competencybased Occupational Framework ( CBOF ) for Woodwork Manufacturing Specialist by the U . S . Department of Labor .
The new apprenticeship was created to address the employment gap in woodworking and manufacturing industries through cross-training and upskilling new and existing employees in a combination of CAD , mechatronics , wood processing operations , carpentry , coatings , estimating and project managing .
“ Woodwork manufacturers need to attract workers who are flexible , innovative critical thinkers , willing to master a variety of skills necessary to become valued employees within their organization ,” said Victor-Burke , majority owner of Michigan ’ s first WBENC Certified Women ’ s Business Enterprise ( WBE ) producing custom architectural millwork . “ This registered apprenticeship allows these employees to become leaders in their workplace . As well , this combination of highly sought after and in-demand technical skills will result in an employee earning a higher median rate of pay throughout their career , which will help with retention .”
Livonia-based MMA Member Burke Architectural Millwork already has the country ’ s first apprentice , Logan Leinbach , registered in the new occupation .
Kelly Victor-Burke , owner of Burke Architectural Millwork in Livonia , with the country ’ s first Woodwork Manufacturing Specialist Apprentice Logan Leinbach .
Leinbach had been enrolled in a similar apprenticeship while Burke worked to get the Wood Manufacturing Specialist approved .
See burkemillwork . com for more .
General Motors Helping Communities Through COVID-19
General Motors and other companies have been the forefront of providing critical equipment to frontliners since the beginning of the pandemic .
GM and partner Ventec Life Systems recently delivered their 30,000 th critical care ventilator to the U . S . Department of Health and Human Services in early September . At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic , GM and Ventec collaborated to rapidly scale up production of critical care ventilators to deliver life-saving technology within a month and completing the full federal order in just 154 days ( producing a ventilator about every seven minutes ).
“ Our drive to put critical care ventilators into production was fueled by thousands of people at GM , Ventec and our suppliers who all wanted to do their part to help save lives during the pandemic ,” said Mary Barra , GM Chairman and CEO . “ It was inspiring to see so many people achieve so much so quickly .”
In other community news , GM recently donated two million face masks to Michigan public schools as part of the State of Michigan ’ s MI Mask Aid partnership . This is in addition to four million masks already donated by the automotive manufacturer from their Warren facility .
To help provide face masks to the communities where GM employees live and work , the company is currently producing face masks in the U . S ., China , Canada , Mexico and Brazil . In addition , GM shared its mask production plans with more than 300 companies through a collaboration with the Original Equipment Suppliers Association and MMA to help other manufacturers ramp up their own production efforts .
Learn more at media . gm . com .