AJAC Advanced Manufacturing Apprenticeships

08/31/2026

Want to see what apprenticeship training actually looks like?

Come to the machine shop.

Thanks to everyone who stopped by our Yakima Training Center open house this month for a hands-on tour of our shop and our longtime partnering employer, Pexco Aerospace.

We love showing people what we’re building in Central Washington and how we’re preparing the next generation of apprentices right here in Yakima.

If you’re a business or community partner in the area, come check us out. The doors are open.

08/27/2026

What do two best friends who grew up together do when they both want to get into machining?

Become AJAC apprentices at the same time, of course.

Congrats to Quinton and Aiden, who enrolled in AJAC’s machining apprenticeship this month through Acro Machining.

And yes, that’s Aiden in the Iron Maiden shirt. We’re not saying “Run to the Hills” is his career plan, but he is off to a pretty good start.

Best friends. Same shop. Same apprenticeship. Not a bad way to start a career.

08/24/2026

Last Friday, AJAC traded the shop floor for the fairway (didn’t hit too many fairways tbh) at PNAA’s annual golf tournament, helping support their scholarship program.

Hitting a driver off the deck? Bad move.

Supporting manufacturing education? Now that’s a solid swing.

Thanks to PNAA for another great day on the course. We promise to be better next time!

08/20/2026

Four days. One focused skill. A team of manufacturing professionals putting it into practice.

Yesterday, Onamac Industries wrapped up four days of GD&T training with AJAC.

This is what our new FAST (Focused Applied Skills Training) Certificate Courses are built for: focused training that helps manufacturing teams strengthen the skills they need.

Thanks to the Onamac team for having us in!

Learn more about FAST: ajactraining.org/employers/fast-certificate/

08/18/2026

Congrats to Ron and Mark, who signed on the dotted line last week to officially begin their machining apprenticeships with AJAC through their company, Onamac Industries!

They’ll start AJAC classes next month with Engineering Drawings, a 50-hour course covering both theory and practical application, including dimensioning, tolerancing, lines, symbols, scales, datums and more.

There’s still time for manufacturing companies to enroll new apprentices for fall quarter. Tell us about your workforce needs, and our team can help you find the right training solution: https://www.ajactraining.org/employers/

07/28/2026

The world needs more Rosies.

Four years ago, Kayle Arneson took a chance on an apprenticeship. She became the first woman on the shop floor at K&N Electric Motors and built a career as a skilled machinist.

Today, she’s an AJAC Class of 2026 graduate with the skills, experience, and confidence to take her career anywhere.

Her message to other women considering a career in manufacturing? You absolutely can do it.

This is Kayle’s story: https://www.ajactraining.org/blog/the-world-needs-more-rosies/

07/21/2026

Parents Now Believe the Skilled Trades Offer a Better Return on Investment Than College by Nearly 3 to 1.

More than half (55%) of parents believe schools still do not take the trades as seriously as university pathways, and 80% believe giving college and the trades equal promotion would encourage more students to consider skilled trade careers.

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In the age of AI, the trades offer a proven way for Gen Z to thrive in the face of automation, instability, and student debt. So why aren’t they choosing them? We surveyed 1,000+ Gen Zs and and 1,000+ parents of Gen Zs to find out.

07/21/2026

What makes a great instructor? It's not just teaching the material. It's believing in people before they believe in themselves.

Meet Jason Vice, AJAC's 2026 Instructor of the Year, and hear why he's spent the last 14 years helping apprentices build skills, confidence, and careers in manufacturing.

07/20/2026

Congrats to Tyrel and George, who officially became AJAC apprentices last week through Toolcraft!

Tyrel is starting his journey in our Production Technician Youth Apprenticeship, balancing high school, part-time work, and college level classes at Sno-Isle TECH Skills Center. George is beginning our four year Machinist Apprenticeship and will start earning on the job training hours and taking classes this fall.

Thinking about apprenticeship? AJAC doesn't have an application process. If you work for one of our employer partners and they're ready to sponsor you, we'll take it from there.

Learn how enrollment works: https://www.ajactraining.org/enrollment/

07/17/2026

Washington is home to more than 8,200 manufacturers, and every one of them depends on skilled people to keep things moving.

This recent The Seattle Times story shines a light on the manufacturers building our state's economy. At AJAC, we're proud to help build the workforce behind them through our registered apprenticeship programs.

It's a great reminder that strong manufacturing starts with a strong workforce.

Small manufacturers Misty Mountain, Rite in the Rain and Goodwin Composites share how they found their niches and how they survive as tariffs rise and consumer interests change.