Ferrosilicomanganese isn’t a word uttered in everyday conversations. Most people probably haven’t even heard the multisyllabic moniker, let alone know what it means. But ferrosilicomanganese is a critical component in steel production, improving the stiffness, strength, toughness and wear-resistance of steel used across the world.
West Virginia is one of only two locations in the United States where ferrosiliconmanganese is manufactured. Along a bend in the Ohio River in northern Mason County, Felman Production produces 65,000 metric tons annually. Its employees smelt iron ore, manganese ore and quartz in gigantic electric arc furnaces to produce the alloy.
Steelmakers across the country and around the world rely on the alloy produced by Felman’s 105 employees to manufacture the highest-quality steel for everything from bridge and building construction to shipbuilding and automobile manufacturing.
To keep production humming, Sue Blankenship, Felman’s Human Resources Manager, will tell you that a knowledgeable workforce is key. But finding employees with the right skill sets can be challenging.
Like manufacturers across the country, Felman has had to get creative to bridge the manufacturing skills gap. The company recently established an apprenticeship program through Apprenticeship Works, the National Advanced Manufacturing Apprenticeship Partnership at the Marshall Advanced Manufacturing Center (MAMC).
“Our region faces a significant shortage of skilled electricians who possess the expertise Felman requires,” Blankenship explained. “The apprenticeship program addresses that gap by equipping workers with the specialized skills essential to our operations.”
Felman currently has three electrician maintenance apprentices in the four-year program. Apprentices receive 8,000 hours of on-the-job training under the direction of experienced mentors and 576 hours of related technical instruction online.
MAMC helps companies establish their apprenticeship programs, provides onsite train-the-trainer services to mentors, helps track the apprentices’ progress and serves as a liaison between companies and the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL). Because Apprenticeship Works is funded entirely through grants from the DOL, there is no cost to employers through 2028.
After completing their apprenticeships, individuals earn nationally recognized journey worker certifications from the DOL. The company, in turns, gains a more highly skilled workforce, which studies show improves retention, efficiency and safety.
Blankenship said Felman hopes to expand the MAMC apprenticeship opportunity to other workers and occupations. “I would like to integrate all our employees into some form of apprenticeship program,” she said. “My ultimate goal is to cultivate a skilled workforce across all roles, from production workers and heavy equipment operators to lab technicians.”
“The Apprenticeship Works partnership aligns perfectly with Felman’s need for skilled industrial electricians,” she explained. “It provides an excellent opportunity not only to enhance the skills of our existing workforce but also to train new employees to meet the evolving demands of our industry.”
MAMC’s Apprenticeship Works assists companies across the U.S. – including many in West Virginia – in meeting workforce challenges through customized apprenticeship programs. Felman is one of the most recent Mountain State companies to take advantage of MAMC’s proven approach to workforce development, said MAMC Director Derek Scarbro.
“Felman Production is a valued West Virginia manufacturer, a company that produces a unique product right here in Mountain State that is in demand worldwide,” he said. “We want to do everything we can to help them succeed and grow. This starts with workforce development. Our proven apprenticeship model is a flexible, customized framework for developing a skilled workforce through industry-vetted, DOL-registered apprenticeships.”
Dec. 16, 2024
