Machinists Institute Changes Lives with Apprenticeship Programs

At SME, collaboration is one of our core values. Through our series, “Impact Through Connections,” we share the powerful work of partners that advance manufacturing to drive competitiveness, resiliency, and national security.

One of these partners making a meaningful impact, especially with at-risk populations, is the Machinists Institute, based in Washington state.

A nonprofit educational institution serving the aerospace, manufacturing, and automotive industries, the Machinists Institute helps individuals reach their career goals by providing cutting-edge education and training to build a highly skilled and diverse workforce to meet employer demand.

Notably, Machinists Institute offers:

• Six registered apprenticeship programs
• State-approved 12-week pre-apprenticeship program
• Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree -- first vocational school to offer without requiring additional classes

Collaboration through Partnership

“Traditional education doesn't serve all people equally, as we’re all inclined to learn in different ways,” said Shana Peschek, executive director, Machinists Institute. “Apprenticeships are a viable, rigorous educational pathway, postsecondary, to meet people's career needs.”

Through partnerships with community-based organizations and groups such as the Latino Civic Alliance and Puyallup Tribe in Tacoma, Wash., the Machinists Institute is reaching underrepresented populations who need and want the resources to begin their paths to journey-level work in aerospace, manufacturing, and more.

“Apprenticeships change lives generationally, providing a career with wages and no college debt, along with, in many cases, benefits for retirement that allow someone to go into that phase of their life with dignity,” said Peschek.

Location is often a barrier to those seeking training to land good jobs. The Machinists Institute offers multiple delivery models, including virtual apprenticeships for rural areas with a hybrid approach of virtual instruction and in-person lab work. They maintain training facilities with dedicated classrooms and labs.

The Machinists Institute also solves geographic challenges with its Mobile Training Trailers, 40-foot trailer labs that travel to sovereign nations and other remote and typically underserved communities. Equipped with advanced manufacturing machinery and tools, the trailers allow training to be conducted in comfortable environments with curriculum tailored to regional employment opportunities.

Offerings go beyond just technical skills. The Machinists Institute also teaches "essential skills,” including workplace behavior, mentorship, self-advocacy, communication, health and wellness, and financial literacy.

Designing Curriculum to Fit Employer Needs

The Machinists Institute works with employers to design the curriculum, which accelerates the process and ensures students receive the training they need to fill local jobs. Unlike traditional institutions, Machinists Institute can respond quickly to industry changes without lengthy review processes. This speed is critical for employers who are urgently addressing the skills gap, especially due to retirements and the need for upskilling to support technology advances.

“Focusing on employers as our customers makes our students successful as we know exactly what the students need to maintain their careers,” said Peschek.

Joe Arnold, CEM Manager, SSA Terminals, part of SSA Marine, an international marine terminal operator, explained that when he started his job in 2012, he had seven to ten apprentices who would go to the local technical colleges, and the only class offered was welding. Once Machinists Institute was formed, all training went through the organization using a tailored approach.

“Machinists Institute actually formed their curriculum for us based on what we needed out of our apprenticeship program,” said Arnold.

Another local employer, Vulcan Metals, shared how critical a partnership with the Machinists Institute was to the development of their employees and the growth of their business.

Martha Hale, training and development manager, Vulcan Metals, was challenged by a shortage of skilled welders and developed a three-year, 6,000-hour apprenticeship program with the Machinists Institute to bridge the gap between construction-style welding and foundry-style welding.

“The apprenticeship program helps people get the confidence that they need, that they don't have coming in, and it allows employers to also learn how to work with people who don't come in with the skill set that they need, and actually invest in these people, which also plays a role in higher retention for the company,” said Hale.

The program also covers critical areas outside of welding.

“Welding is the smallest aspect of the apprenticeship program,” Hale said. “The highest aspect for me is the mentorship, the guidance, the teaching, the punctuality, teaching the apprentices how to work with other people and how to deal with difficult situations.”

Flexibility, Adaptable Programs

The Machinists Institute emphasizes that flexible programs, built with the feedback of each community, have the most success. For instance, partnerships with community-based organizations are crucial for program design, incorporating culturally relevant elements like prayer time and appropriate food choices for refugee and immigrant communities. 

“Having those really deep partnerships help us ensure students can be successful,” said Peschek.

Due to work or caregiving responsibilities, adult learners often face barriers that prevent them from applying for roles they could perform.

In addition to flexible programs, Machinists Institute offers wraparound services that help with transportation and housing challenges, heading off issues before they escalate and cause students to drop out.

Machinists Institute is tackling one of these barriers head-on with Little Wings Early Learning Academy, a childcare center offering non-traditional hours to accommodate manufacturing shift work. The center broke ground earlier this year and is poised to open in 2026.

Results & Impact

Currently, the Machinists Institute offers programs in four states with a long-term goal of expanding its apprenticeship model across the country. The impact since 2021 has been meaningful:

• 230 students in pre-apprenticeship programs
• 275 students enrolled in/completed skills training in pathways
• 800 incumbent workers received training

Recently, all six graduates from a pre-employment program built for Boeing (BPET Boeing Pre Employment Training) were offered and accepted positions with Boeing.

Ultimately, Peschek said, they would like to fill gaps whether providing curriculum to instructors or holding one-week summer bootcamps to prepare students for the pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship programs.

“Success for us is holistically looking at the student and helping them find out what's right for them, even if it's not with us,” said Peschek.

Machinist Institute’s work shows how apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programs can solve two pressing needs simultaneously: equipping individuals with the skills and confidence to build meaningful careers while providing manufacturers with the qualified workforce they need to succeed.

We hope their story will inspire you.

For more information about pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship programs, please reach out to our Tooling U-SME team.