Specializing helps Michigan workers find niche, further their careers

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – As those across the nation know, America has experienced record unemployment numbers over the past few years. In Michigan, it’s approximately 10.4 percent. As a result, those employed, unemployed and underemployed alike have been forced to get creative to stay viable in their career fields. Enrollment at continuing education institutions goes up as people search for a way to reinvent themselves.

In the sheet metal industry, some workers are finding their niche by taking classes and improving their skill set.

Matt O’Rourke and Mike Stolber of Michigantook their sheet metal careers into their own hands when they made the decision to specialize in testing, adjusting and balancing (TAB), which assures proper air flow and circulation in buildings. With the jobless rate inMichiganthe sixth-highest in the nation, finding work was their job and they hoped this would be the niche they needed.

Both men are members of Sheet Metal Local #80 in Detroit, but O’Rourke is a fourth-year apprentice while Stolber is a seasoned journeyman. Other than their local, the men also had something else in common – the need to succeed and be happy doing it.

While they were laid off, they each enrolled in their first introductory TAB technician training course offered by the International Training Institute, the education arm of the unionized sheet metal and air conditioning industry. The training was made possible by a $5 million Energy Training Partnership grant awarded in 2010 through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act).

The 120-hour class taught the theory of heat transfer, psychrometrics, related math formulas, proper procedural usage of instruments, development reporting and hands-on industry standard testing, adjusting and balancing techniques. From then, they were hooked.

“I got the temporary lay-off at the shop the same week they were offering the class. I wasn’t even sure there would be room,” O’Rourke said. “It fits my capabilities.”

Stolber was interested in TAB from the beginning. Not only did he complete the 120-hour TAB course, he went on to graduate from the TAB supervisor, and TAB commissioning supervisor courses.

“I’ve always been interested in it, and I took the course hoping it would help my job chances,” Stolber said. “In TAB, you learn more about how a system actually works instead of just doing ductwork.”

With their corresponding TAB certifications under their belts, O’Rourke and Stolber each found jobs at Enviro Aire Total Balance in St.ClaireShores, Mich., about 19 miles northeast of Detroit. Networking with instructors and fellow classmates helps in the job process following graduation, O’Rourke said.

“They gave me the basics of everything I do,” added O’Rourke, who has one more year of apprenticeship. “I’ve done a lot of learning on the job, and I’ve got a lot of learning to do, but they did a great job in my preparation. I try to encourage everybody to take classes. It’s not a quick fix. You may not find a job as soon as you graduate, but it’s something you’ll learn … and it looks good to potential employers.”

Unionized sheet metal workers in good standing can attend the TAB 120 course inCleveland, St. Louis, Detroit and Southern California. Once participants finish the course, they will be given the opportunity to take the TAB technician written certification exam, which must be passed to move on to the hands-on performance portion. If all exam aspects are passed, participants can exit as a certified TAB technician.

“These are only two examples of how constant training and diversification can truly help sheet metal workers stay working,” said John Hamilton, chief operating officer of TABB (Testing, Adjusting and Balancing Bureau). “Education will move any industry into the future, and it’s no different in sheet metal. These two men are examples of how dedication to your career and the ability to be flexible can really pay off.”

The next 120-hour TAB courses are set for Sept. 11 through Oct. 2 inSt. Louis, and Oct. 9 through Oct. 30 in Southern California. The application deadlines are Sept. 1 and Sept. 29, respectively.

More than 15,000 apprentices are registered at training facilities in theUnited StatesandCanada. The ITI is jointly sponsored by Sheet Metal Worker’s International Association (SMWIA) and the Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors’ National Association (SMACNA). ITI supports apprenticeship and advanced career training for union workers in the sheet metal industry throughout theUnited StatesandCanada. Located inAlexandria,Va., ITI produces a standardized sheet metal curriculum supported by a wide variety of training materials free of charge to sheet metal apprentices and journeymen.

For more information about ITI, visit www.sheetmetal-iti.org or call 703-739-7200.

Sheet metal workers get educated to keep working

Testing, adjusting and balancing certification fills niche for Michigan workers

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Matt O’Rourke and Mike Stolber of Michigan took their sheet metal careers into their own hands when they made the decision to specialize in testing, adjusting and balancing (TAB). With the jobless rate in Michigan the sixth-highest in the nation, finding work was their job and they hoped TAB would be the niche they needed.

Both men are members of Sheet Metal Local #80 in Detroit, but O’Rourke is a fourth-year apprentice while Stolber is a seasoned journeyman. Other than their local, the men also had something else in common – the need to succeed and be happy doing it.

While they were laid off, they each enrolled in their first introductory TAB technician training course offered by the International Training Institute, the education arm of the unionized sheet metal and air conditioning industry. The training was made possible by a $5 million Energy Training Partnership grant awarded in 2010 through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act).

The 120-hour class taught the theory of heat transfer, psychrometrics, related math formulas, proper procedural usage of instruments, development reporting and hands-on industry standard testing, adjusting and balancing techniques. From then, they were hooked.

“I got the temporary lay-off at the shop the same week they were offering the class. I wasn’t even sure there would be room,” O’Rourke said. “It fits my capabilities.”

Stolber was interested in TAB from the beginning. Not only did he complete the 120-hour TAB course, he went on to graduate from the TAB supervisor, and TAB commissioning supervisor courses.

“I’ve always been interested in it, and I took the course hoping it would help my job chances,” Stolber said. “In TAB, you learn more about how a system actually works instead of just doing ductwork.”

With their corresponding TAB certifications under their belts, O’Rourke and Stolber each found jobs at Enviro Aire Total Balance in St. Claire Shores, Mich., about 19 miles northeast of Detroit. Networking with instructors and fellow classmates helps in the job process following graduation, O’Rourke said.

“They gave me the basics of everything I do,” added O’Rourke, who has one more year of apprenticeship. “I’ve done a lot of learning on the job, and I’ve got a lot of learning to do, but they did a great job in my preparation. I try to encourage everybody to take classes. It’s not a quick fix. You may not find a job as soon as you graduate, but it’s something you’ll learn … and it looks good to potential employers.”

Unionized sheet metal workers in good standing can attend the TAB 120 course in Cleveland, St. Louis, Detroit and Southern California. Once participants finish the course, they will be given the opportunity to take the TAB technician written certification exam, which must be passed to move on to the hands-on performance portion. If all exam aspects are passed, participants can exit as a certified TAB technician.

“These are only two examples of how constant training and diversification can truly help sheet metal workers stay working,” said John Hamilton, chief operating officer of TABB (Testing, Adjusting and Balancing Bureau). “Education will move any industry into the future, and it’s no different in sheet metal. These two men are examples of how dedication to your career and the ability to be flexible can really pay off.”

The next 120-hour TAB courses are set for Sept. 11 through Oct. 2 in St. Louis, and Oct. 9 through Oct. 30 in Southern California. The application deadlines are Sept. 1 and Sept. 29, respectively.

More than 15,000 apprentices are registered at training facilities in the United States and Canada. The ITI is jointly sponsored by Sheet Metal Worker’s International Association (SMWIA) and the Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors’ National Association (SMACNA). ITI supports apprenticeship and advanced career training for union workers in the sheet metal industry throughout the United States and Canada. Located in Alexandria, Va., ITI produces a standardized sheet metal curriculum supported by a wide variety of training materials free of charge to sheet metal apprentices and journeymen.

For more information about ITI, visit www.sheetmetal-iti.org or call 703-739-7200.

BIM software certification becoming more necessary for detailers

Knowledge keeps workers competitive, employable during down economy

ALEXANDRIA, Va. ‑ Technology today plays a key role in many businesses, and the sheet metal industry is no different. When it comes to building information modeling (BIM) software, knowledge can be the deciding factor in a project’s success.

Benchmark (formerly CCS) is the International Training Institute’s proprietary BIM training software, offering modules in detailing and fabrication with additional modules on the horizon. Once apprentices and journey persons become trained and certified on the software, it makes them more employable, allowing them to hit the ground running on whatever commercial BIM software program a contractor is using. 

As more and more contractors transition into a BIM environment, certification becomes increasingly important. Without certification, contractors are left to guess the detailer’s level of knowledge, which can impact a project’s bottom line.

“A good detailer can save a contractor and the project a lot of money. A bad detailer can cost them money,” said David Eisman, applications support for Dynamic Systems Inc. in Austin, Texas. Experience is one thing, but certification means something much different. “This way, the contractor who hires the detailer knows exactly what they’re capable of doing.”

There are currently five regional JATCs, or training centers, offering the week-long BIM certification courses at various times of the year. Training is free of charge to all Sheet Metal Workers International Association (SMWIA) members in good standing, although some prerequisites, such as working knowledge of AutoCAD, are required. The training centers are located in Cleveland, St. Louis, Detroit, Los Angeles and Albuquerque.

Dave Wessel, HVAC designer and detailer with National Heating and Ventilating in Albuquerque, NM, attended the first detailing class with 12 other detailers in St. Louis in 2009. The course served a need for his employer, but in the process, Wessel became a valuable asset. Detailers who graduate from the course receive the Benchmark software.

“We had wanted to design in 3D and download to the plasma cutter, but we didn’t have the means,” he said. “We were talking to some companies … and we were looking at $30,000 for the software, so it was worth our while to do it. We have had jobs we couldn’t have done without the software and training I received. We would’ve been dead in the water. The training has not only opened the doors for me but the company as well.”

Sean Murck, HVAC designer and detailer for NAC Mechanical and Electrical Services in Vadnais Heights, Minn., is constantly looking for ways to improve his education and gain opportunities. When business is slow, he also is a consultant for Benchmark.

“I think if I was still drafting 2D I wouldn’t be employed anymore,” he said. “It’s huge for your employment to have this training. You get a whole drafting department in one move when it normally takes years to build one with talent and software.”

When working on a project, Murck finds it easier and less expensive to fabricate in his company’s shop and transport to the jobsite instead of creating in the field. This way, hiccups are found earlier on and the client is happy because the work is moving at a quicker pace.

“You can’t prefabricate projects without using BIM or 3D,” he added. “Anything you can fabricate in the shop costs you a third less than to do it in the field. Your time in the field is much shorter, and the customer is happy because one day they barely have walls up and soon after your part is almost complete.”

Certified detailers will likely be more in demand in the coming years, as the need for their skill set is on the rise. More private sector and government projects require certification as part of the bidding process.

“Software certification adds credibility to a member’s knowledge and makes him or her more employable than someone without the certification,” Eisman said. “It also identifies workers who care enough about their careers to go back to school and increase their skill levels.”

More than 15,000 apprentices are registered at training facilities in the United States and Canada. The International Training Institute (best known as ITI) is jointly sponsored by Sheet Metal Worker’s International Association (SMWIA) and the Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors’ National Association (SMACNA). ITI offers apprenticeship and advanced career training for union workers in the sheet metal industry throughout the United States and Canada. Located in Alexandria, Va., ITI produces a standardized sheet metal curriculum supported by a wide variety of training materials free-of-charge to sheet metal apprentices and journeymen.

Those interested in earning Benchmark training software certification should visit the International Training Institute website at www.sheetmetal-iti.org or call 703-739-7200.

Training center coordinators receive top safety honors

Houston, Detroit and Pittsburgh centers earn awards for programming

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – This fall, three coordinators from training centers across the United States were honored with Safety Awards from the Sheet Metal Occupational Health Institute Trust (SMOHIT). Annual recognition was awarded to Bill Yester, from JATC #12 in Pittsburgh; Stephen Murzen, from JATC #80 in Detroit and Richard Stanfield, from JATC #54 in Houston. The awards recognize outstanding contributions in expanding health and safety programs for sheet metal workers across the country.

“Nominees are selected from submissions from contractors, regional coordinators or their peers through the e-mail process or letter of recommendation,” said Gary Batykefer, administrative director of SMOHIT. “They are selected on their merit annually for exemplary training initiatives, outstanding program implementation or any safety initiative that requires recognition on a national level. These programs represent some of the best in the business.”

Yester, honored with the Fire Protection Award, brought his training center up to code for National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards for electrical work, shared the information with other regional training centers and created classes to teach sheet metal workers safety when working around and with electrical panels. JATC #12 was one of the first to comply with NFPS 70E, which addresses electrical safety requirements for employee workplaces. The classes are now a part of the center’s apprenticeship, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and journeymen training programs.

“It’s a win-win for everybody involved,” Yester said. “It lets the membership know what injuries can happen when working with electricity. It also shows them how to protect themselves, how to calculate the risk. The better trained our workers are when contractors hire them, the safer they’re going to be. When all is said and done, if the contractor gets benefits – and they do – that’s good, but the workers certainly do, because they’re saving their own skin.”

Murzen and Stanfield were awarded the OSHA Training Award for innovative teaching of the OSHA guidelines for safety on the job site.

Murzen took training classes in Detroit one step further by offering accelerated courses which allowed sheet metal workers to attend at their convenience. For instance, classes have been offered at the rate of one night per week for 12 weeks; two nights a week for six weeks; and, for the unemployed, one solid week of instruction.

The classes were scheduled to allow all members to take advantage of opportunities, Murzen said.  “A lot of our members see the opportunity in the day class, night classes. We try to get as many of our members through to make them as marketable as we can.”

Stanfield changed with the OSHA requirements this year and offered OSHA30 (where OSHA10 was previously required). In Houston, journeymen receive 10 continuing education classes per year and apprentices finish their first year with OSHA10 training and American Red Cross CPR certification.

“We’re open arms to anyone who wants to get more training,” said Stanfield, whose training center # 54 has received the OSHA Training Award twice. “Safety is such a big issue these days; there is so much safety covered in each class. We always emphasize training in our shop and welding classes.”

The Sheet Metal Occupational Health Institute Trust (SMOHIT) was founded in 1986 to address the impact of decades-long asbestos exposure on those working in the sheet metal industry. To date, more than 45,000 sheet metal workers have been screened as part of its ongoing Asbestos Screening Program.

SMOHIT has since expanded its mission to include health and safety training products, health and safety training curriculum, and health and safety services. SMOHIT works directly with the International Training Institute (ITI) to offer the training programs.

For more information on SMOHIT visit www.smohit.org or call 703-739-7130.