Learn-on-the-job program results in career advancement opportunities

BROOKVILLE, Pa. – Nov. 22, 2024 – Miller Fabrication Solutions, a leading metal fabricator for global original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), has restarted its award-winning weld school to combat ongoing skilled labor shortages and meet growing business volume. Since June, 11 Miller employees have completed the internal training and are now working as welders in the company.

Miller’s four-week-long weld school, originally launched in October 2018, trains non-welder employees in metal inert gas welding. Full-time employees with the desire and willingness to learn are eligible to participate. Each class includes three students, and sessions begin every other month.

“Miller Fabrication Solutions’ core purpose is to improve our employees’ lives by providing ways for them to advance in their careers,” said Miller HR Director Ashley Lindemuth. “Our weld school

 is one example of how we do that. It provides graduates with new skills and good jobs, while also helping to fulfill our increasing need for quality welders driven by significant business growth over the last few years.”

Weld school students perform their regular jobs for half the day and spend the other four hours with welding trainers. Classes start with planning and layout work before progressing to setting up and operating welding and cutting equipment. Students ultimately learn to read blueprints and better understand metal properties and identification, electrical principles and welding symbols.

Weld school students must pass a weld test to graduate from the program and move to welder positions at Miller. Before the program ceased operation in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, 89% of employees who graduated from the program advanced into welding roles at Miller.

Casey Sharp started at Miller in June 2023 as a paint utility worker with aspirations to advance his career. Sharp recently completed the weld school and now works as a welder at Miller.

“I’ve always wanted to get into welding and was excited for the weld school opportunity,” Sharp said. “It’s a great work environment, where you learn everything you need to know to be successful. This also would be a great program for students coming out of high school.” 

The ongoing skilled labor shortage creates challenges for Miller and other manufacturing companies to fill trained welder jobs and other key shop floor positions. For Miller, company growth and the upcoming opening of its Pine Creek facility has escalated demand for skilled workers. The weld school helps the company meet that need.

Miller’s original weld school landed the company a 2019 National Association of Manufacturers Manufacturing Leadership Award for outstanding achievement in talent management leadership.

About Miller Fabrication Solutions 

Established in 1963, Miller Fabrication Solutions is the strategic fabrication partner for innovative, global OEMs. Miller delivers high-quality metal parts and assemblies through its extensive value-added and manufacturing solutions. With a core focus on modern technology and robotic automation coupled with lean processes, the “Miller Customer Experience” works to ensure that complex project metrics are exceeded now and well into the future. OEMs can learn how to transform their metal manufacturing processes by scheduling a free consultation.

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