Volkswagen is embarking on a hands-on training initiative involving some of its most complex plant machinery that officials say is unique to the auto industry in America.
Gary Booth, manager of training and development for VW's operations in Chattanooga, said the program is at least as good as what VW uses in Germany and might go beyond it.
"It's bringing them on-the-job training," he said. "It's hands-on practical experience."
It's called the Automotive Mechatronics Program, and plans are to bring 60 people through the initiative, or 20 people each year, Mr. Booth said. They'll learn over a three-year period how to troubleshoot and repair some of the most complicated machinery in the plant, he said.
Mr. Booth said the program also will offer classroom experience.
"They'll go through the Volkswagen Academy and work at the plant and get practical experience, then go back to the classroom and then go back to the shop," Mr. Booth said.
Details of the program are being highlighted in the wake of opening ceremonies on Friday for the training academy. People also are already in training at the center that is part of the $1 billion complex that VW is putting in at Enterprise South with the goal of producing a new mid-sized sedan early next year.
The newly announced mechatronics effort is being offered in connection with Chattanooga State Community College and the Tennessee Technology Center on campus.
James King, vice chancellor for the Tennessee Technology Centers, said the VW program is a creative and novel one.
"Our ultimate goal is to start grooming the best employees we could for the VW operation," he said.
Mr. King said VW has unique needs.
"We wanted to develop a program to provide them training and at same time gave them hand-on experience at the VW operation," he said.
For example, Mr. King said, students will learn welding and then go into the plant to apply those skills. Later, they're in the classroom environment to learn the initiative's electrical program and then back at the plant, he said. Finally, Mr. King said, students will learn about hydraulics and other similar systems and then go back to the plant.
Mr. Booth said VW isn't guaranteeing participants a job at the end of the three years but "they'll be in the hunt" for a high-paying skilled industrial maintenance post.
If they are instead hired for a production slot, they'll go straight to the top of that wage scale, or $19.50 per hour, he said.
The students are eligible for scholarships to pay tuition and fees. Mr. King said the students could garner a lottery grant paying up to 70 percent of the tuition as well as for other financial aid.
Also, while students are at the plant, they will be paid at a level starting at $10 per hour, rising to $13 per hour, Mr. Booth said.
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