At A.R.E. Manufacturing, we believe in building careers, not just offering jobs. Our rigorous training program epitomizes this mentality.
We don’t want our people to simply act as button pushers and material handlers. We encourage our people to learn the ins and outs of each stage of precision machining and gain expertise at various levels. That’s why we don’t refer to our new team members as operators; we call them “machinists-in-training” to emphasize the knowledge and experience they’ll gain through hands-on training.
Let’s dive into A.R.E.’s training program, an ongoing system that encourages our team members to continuously learn and develop their skills, and consider how it allows us to exceed customers’ standards better than ever before.
Step-by-Step Training
Rather than hiring level 3 machinists, a difficult feat in today’s job market, A.R.E. builds our teams from the ground up. Starting as young as high schoolers through our Tiger Manufacturing partnership and working with staffing agencies to hire machinists-in-training have produced a loyal, long-lasting workforce.
The steps a machinist-in-training goes through are as follows:
Employee Onboarding
We kickstart training with a versatile onboarding process. For three months, we focus on fundamental skills such as measuring, visually inspecting, handling, and loading parts. After this initial phase, which exposes them to the ins and outs of component manufacturing, individuals enter our comprehensive training program.
Advancing from a Level 1 to Level 2 Machinist
This next stage of leveling up comprises four segments, each focusing on specific machine operations. These include:
Simple gang tool lathes
Vertical mills
Multi-axis lathes
Horizontal mills
This progression typically occurs over two years. During this period, these talented individuals become fully-fledged Level 2 machinists capable of setting up any job, running machines, and understanding the nuances of each process. The rewards go beyond intrinsic accomplishment — as they master each segment, their hourly earnings increase.
Level 2 to Level 3 Machinist
Our training isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach. We tailor it to each individual’s aspirations and commitment level. Whether they aim to become Level 2 machinists or strive to advance their programming and prototyping roles, we provide personalized guidance and support to each team member.
While growing into a Level 2 machinist is a more structured training process, progressing to a Level 3 machinist is more self-paced, leveraging mentorship and hands-on learning.
Beyond Training: Continuous Improvement at A.R.E. Manufacturing
The A.R.E. team encourages experimentation and innovation, fostering a culture of continuous improvement. While many of our team members will stick with us for life, we understand many of our people are interested in entrepreneurship. That’s why we offer an open shop floor, encouraging employees to utilize our facilities after hours to pursue side projects or even start businesses.
Alvin, our founder, believes in empowering individuals to flourish. Just as he started A.R.E. Manufacturing while working full-time for a shop, he encourages individuals with similar goals to do so.
How Rigorous Training Benefits Our Customers
Consistent Results
Our expert workforce ensures consistent quality and on-time delivery, no matter how quickly customers need parts. Our thorough training program ensures that customers can rely on our teams to meet their needs reliably and efficiently.
Lead Time Flexibility
With a skilled team capable of handling expedited orders, A.R.E. offers flexibility and agility in delivering parts on time. Our extensive training ensures we have competent machinists ready to tackle any challenge. It’s part of the reason we maintain an impressive 96% on-time delivery rate.
Unmatched Reliability and Dependability
Since we started this program 15 years ago, we’ve had no problem hiring and retaining team members. With no hiring discrepancies or employment gaps, our customers can expect on-time, consistent, reliable, and dependable service from the A.R.E. Manufacturing team.
Partner with Our Expert Precision Machining Team
Through rigorous training in conjunction with our “Machining-by-Number” solution, A.R.E. Manufacturing offers exquisite quality and timeliness for customers and employment longevity for our people. Of our 40 employees, we currently have six 30-year team members and multiple 20+ year machinists. This wouldn’t be possible without the culture of continuous improvement and supportive culture that makes working here an exciting career rather than simply a job.
Partner with the A.R.E. team for excellent results by our outstanding team.