NIMS/NTMA Apprenticeship Competition Held in Arizona

The top ten machining apprentices from around the country converged on Gateway Community College in Phoenix Arizona May 3-6 at the annual NIMS/NTMA Apprenticeship Competition. 

Juan Munoz of Kamashian Engineering walked away with the first

place trophy and over $18,000 in gifts and scholarships. He received a three-piece Gerstner & Son’s tool chest, a $300 Granger catalogue certificate, a copy of Gibbs 3D Milling and Turning CAD/CAM software, a $600 scholarship to ToolingU, and a $100 scholarship for NIMS credentials among other prizes.

Edward Sauder of Accu Die & Mold in Stevensville, MI took second place and won the annual “Eagle Eye” award for measurement.  Third place went to Jeff Washburn of Metalcraft, Inc.  Jeff is a high school senior with Level II NIMS Credentials.  Both Edward and Jeff received Gerstner Tool Chests, Gibbs software, and prizes from Granger, ToolingU, and NIMS.

“These apprentices represent the hope we have to be globally competitive,” said Harry Moser, President of Agie Charmilles Corporation and the Team Leader of Education for the NTMA.                    

The competition had four parts; performance tests in Grinding, Milling, and Turning, as well as a written theory exam.

“They need all rounded skills,” said Swain Cox of Kamashian Engineering.  Mr. Cox attributes Juan Munoz’s ability to learn and excellent listening to his win.  “He’s so versatile; we’ve had him doing everything.”

Jeff Meade of Metalcraft, Inc. in Phoenix, AZ lauded Jeff Washburn’s efforts.  Mr. Mead said that Jeff works under three journeymen with over 100 years of combined experience, but that it was “mostly Jeff’s efforts” that helped him win third place.

Second place finisher Ed Sauder was the winner of his regional competition through the Michiana Chapter of NTMA. “Excitement permeated through the shop,” said Dan Reifschneider, President of Accu Die & Mold. The apprentices at Accu Die & Mold finished 1, 2, and 3 at the regional competition.

This was the first year that holding a NIMS credential was an eligibility requirement.  All apprentices earned Level I Measurement, Materials and Safety. NIMS waived registrations and test fees for the 10 regional champions to complete the Level I credential requirement; Measurement Materials and Safety.

In a separate contest also held that weekend Donald Stegner of Penn United Technologies in Cabot, PA was awarded the first place in the National CNC Competition.  Penn United is a member of the Pittsburgh Chapter of NTMA.  Don holds a NIMS Certificate of Special Merit for earning all of NIMS level I credentials. 

The apprentices were not the only recipients of prizes.  Thanks to Juan Munoz’s first place finish, Kamashian Engineering won a Charmilles Form 20ZNC EDM valued at $35,000 or a discount of up to $100,000 off the price of most other Charmilles EDM or Mikron HSM or 5-axis models. Don Stegner’s National CNC Competition win awards Penn United Technologies a discount of 40 percent on most Charmilles Machines.

The Arizona regional winner, Jeff Washburn, qualified for the competition based on achieving two Level II NIMS credentials (Milling and Grinding). He is the Skills USA State Secondary Champion in Precision Machining Technology for two consecutive years.

Kennametal provided financial support as premier sponsor ($15,000) and donated all consumable tooling for work stations. For the first time, the host committee was able to provide complete tool kits including all measuring instruments at the work stations so competitors did not have to carry their own tool boxes to the event. LS Starrett donated all necessary manual measuring equipment.  

NIMS provided credentialing scholarships for the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place sponsor companies as well.