Apprenticeship at ABC

Apprenticeship Update

Electrical Update BY: CHAD FOOR, DIRECTOR OF ELECTRICAL

The electrical apprenticeship program at ABC Keystone is constantly working to improve safety and productivity on the job through education and training. This fall, the program has benefited from the support of our partners and has seen curriculum enhancements.

There are many companies that design tools and equipment to accomplish safety and productivity goals. Southwire is one of those well-known companies, and we have the privilege of partnering with them to further train our apprentices at the ABC Keystone training facility. This company has donated approximately $20,000 worth of training tools and equipment for the Chapter's apprenticeship program, and they will be coming to our location soon to perform a demo using Southwire's Conduit Bending Station and MAXIS 6K Cable Puller. This is a great opportunity for our apprentices and their companies to be introduced to some innovative new products that will improve safety and get the job done more efficiently.

The electrical apprenticeship program at the Keystone Chapter has seen some changes this fall. Students are benefiting from making the transition to Mike Holt’s Four-Year Apprenticeship Program and Online Learning Platform, The Capacitor. Our students have expressed a renewed desire to learn not only how to perform electrical installations and calculations in the field, but they have discovered the WHY behind these practical installations. As the Director of Electrical and their full-time instructor, it encourages me to hear students say, “We are really learning a lot this year.” They are becoming competent electricians, and it’s a privilege to play a part in that process.

Plumbing Class Gains Hands-on Experience

BY: D. RANDY DOXZON, DIRECTOR OF HVAC & PLUMBING

The Chapter's Plumbing 2A class was recently given a real-world opportunity to enhance their skills using the hands-on module. The class was given a small drawing of a bathroom with a water closet, lavatory, and a water heater. They used this drawing to create both a materials list and an isometric drawing of how they will do the install.

Later, the class completed the in-wall rough-in by using the code book and plumbing submittals for the fixtures. The students tested both the DWV and domestic water systems and will wait for drywall to be completed before finishing and setting the fixtures.