Workforce Solutions at Athena Manufacturing Benefit Our Customers and Communities

In an industry as intricate and essential as custom metal fabrication, the skill and dedication of the workforce play an instrumental role. At Athena Manufacturing, we recognize the importance of fostering talent not only as a means of improving our output but also in serving our communities. Our commitment to workforce solutions has yielded remarkable results, benefitting both the individuals who take part in these programs and our valued customers.

We’ll walk through:

  • The workforce programs we offer

  • How our workforce solutions add value and make OEMs eager to work with us

High School Internships

Athena works closely with Elgin High School, offering internships to students who are interested in joining the manufacturing profession. Starting with those in 9th grade, we offer shop tours to underclassmen to show off our impressive equipment and spark interest in the industry. This same year, they begin their coursework at Elgin High (in collaboration with Austin Community College) to ultimately achieve an associate’s degree in welding technology. As part of this program, students can begin their official internship with Athena as early as the spring of their senior year.

Internship Specifics

During the spring semester of their senior year, we introduce our interns to all aspects of our sheet metal fabrication services, spending a few weeks covering each of the following disciplines:

  • Cutting metal with a laser and punch

  • Grinding and detailing metal

  • Welding

  • Preparing parts for finishing

  • Powder coating and painting parts

  • Assembling, shipping and packaging parts to send out to customers

Essentially, our student interns learn the entire life cycle of parts within our facilities. Additionally, we teach our interns about how manufacturing businesses work financially. Through a combination of operational and financial education, these students gain a well-rounded experience that sets them up for success in their future manufacturing careers.

From Intern to Employee

While interning at Athena, high school seniors are simultaneously enrolled in welding courses at the local community college. This means if they work and study hard, they can graduate from high school with an associate’s degree in hand – not to mention, a job offer to join the Athena team as a full-time employee. Since our involvement in this program, we have hired a total of 17 former interns and maintained impressive retention rates among this group.

Apprenticeship Programs

While our internship program is a valuable asset for high school students looking to join the profession, our apprenticeship program offers opportunities to entry-level and career-changing adults. Our apprentices range in age and background, but there’s one thing they have in common: 100% of them have gone on to become full-time employees at Athena.

ACC Partnership

We’ve partnered with the Advanced Manufacturing program at Austin Community College, offering apprenticeships for those interested in the machining side of manufacturing. Our ACC apprentices work full-time at Athena, with custom-fit schedules that we work around their classes.

Skillpoint Alliance

Athena participates in the Skillpoint Alliance, a training program that offers entry-level opportunities to adults in Central Texas, with a particular emphasis on vulnerable members of the community. We are passionate about providing a fresh start to:

    • Individuals whose jobs and skill sets have been replaced by automation

    • Low-income populations

    • Formerly incarcerated people

How Our Workforce Solutions Impact Our Output

There’s no doubt our workforce solutions have made an impact on:

    • High school students whose shop visits at 15 years old inspired them to pursue a career in manufacturing

    • Former interns-turned-employees who now train our current cohorts of interns

    • Community college students who were able to gain hands-on experience in their field of study

    • Individuals with difficult pasts who viewed our apprenticeship program as a “second chance” opportunity and have since transformed their lives.

But Athena’s internship and apprenticeship programs haven’t only helped the people involved in them; they’ve also benefited our customers in both measurable and intangible ways.

Employee Retention → Reduced Bottlenecks

The manufacturing sector is at the forefront of today’s workforce shortage; many manufacturers are having trouble attracting and retaining talent. Fortunately, our internship and apprenticeship programs have given us a leg up in hiring and holding on to passionate team members.

We have experienced incredible retention due to hiring people at young ages. In our experience, when young people commit to a trade as young as 9th grade, they are more eager to pursue the craft for years to come. As a result, we have the staff available to respond to customers’ unique fabrication needs.

Our shop has a pipeline to grow and expand every year as a result of our workforce programs. This solidifies the future of Athena and ensures that we can grow alongside our customers, supporting them in their future endeavors.

Highly Trained Teams → Exceptional Parts

The excellent retention rate we’ve experienced since starting our internship and apprenticeship programs ensures that we have a dedicated, skilled team operating our equipment. Our customers can feel confident knowing that Athena’s workforce is passionate about getting the job done and producing the best possible outcomes on their parts.

Contact us to get started on your next project!

Learn More About Athena’s Internship and Apprenticeship Programs

Are you interested in pursuing a career in precision manufacturing? An internship or apprenticeship at Athena Manufacturing offers the hands-on experience and onsite training you’ll need to succeed. Check out our careers page to get started!

Bill Johnson