New Jersey Manufacturing Extension Program, Inc. (NJMEP) Receives U.S. Department of Labor Approval to Offer Registered Technical Sales Representative Apprenticeship Program

NJMEP releases new apprenticeship program to help meet the needs of today’s advanced manufacturing jobs.

CEDAR KNOLLS, N.J. (October 15, 2018) – The NJMEP Technical Sales Representative Apprenticeship Program has been registered by the U.S. Department of Labor, and will help expand opportunities for New Jersey incumbent workers and new employees in high-wage skilled trade jobs.  The pilot program will launch later this year.

Supported by New Jersey manufactures, employers confirmed the value and need for Technical Sales positions.  Technical Sales staff is needed in the manufacturing and wholesale industry. In New Jersey, there are 47,000 employees in these occupations, and about 42,000 open positions.

Technical Sales Representative Apprenticeship Program:

• One Year Apprenticeship for Incumbent or New Employees
• 2,000 Hour Program
• 152 Classroom Instruction Hours (19 Days Total – One Training day in 14 Workdays)
• 25 Online Manufacturing 101 Training Hours (SME)
• 1,848 On-the-Job Training Hours
• NIST MEP Industry Valued Credential
• Fully Developed On-the-Job and Classroom Curriculum (Blended Learning)

“Apprentices are full-time employees of their employers, and participants receive a wage and enjoy the other company benefits. The company supports the education, following the apprenticeship curriculum; and they build their workforce while reducing turnover costs,” said Patricia Moran, Director of Apprenticeships, NJMEP.  Following the apprenticeship, graduates usually stay with the company and have the opportunity to further qualify through training opportunities and higher education.

While popular in Europe, companies with a U.S. presence have traditionally offered a relatively low number of apprenticeship programs, leaving a critical skills gap in key industries such as manufacturing.  Manufacturers are increasingly finding that applicants lack the necessary skills for the positions they need to fill. This “skills gap” is only expected to grow over time if left unaddressed.

“We’re committed to providing job and training opportunities through a range of initiatives. Starting with apprenticeships, our goal is to bridge the worlds of education and work and set the foundation for a successful career within the manufacturing industry,” said Robert Stramara, Chief Operations Officer, NJMEP.

Torsten Schimanski, Sr. Consultant – Apprenticeship & Training, NJMEP, is in the process of registering two additional apprenticeship programs for both the manufacturing and logistics industries. With the Certified Production Technician and Certified Logistics Technician apprenticeship programs, the focus will be on shop floor and warehouse staff.  Both apprenticeships are based on nationally accepted, industry-valued credentials by the Manufacturing Skill Standards Council (MSSC). NJMEP is a training and assessment center for MSSC in NJ.

About NJMEP:

NJMEP is a private, not-for-profit organization that improves the profitability and competitiveness of New Jersey’s manufacturers. Backed by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), NJMEP enables organizations to enhance their productivity and efficiencies, reduce costs, and improve employee performance. For more than 20 years, NJMEP has used its extensive network of connections and proven track record of success to help manufacturers adapt to the latest innovative technologies and best practices to realize more than $3.8 billion in value. Services are categorized into the following three areas: Operational Excellence, Innovation and Growth Strategies, and Workforce Development.