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V O L . X X X N O. X X V I I I D E C E M B E R 1 6 , 2 0 2 4 16 M A N U FAC T U R I N G F O C U S T his fall Deliah Schreiber graduated from an appren- ticeship program offered by Bath Iron Works, a General Dynamics-owned shipyard with 6,500 employees and a ongoing demand for new workers. e four-year program required four days per week on the job and one day in the classroom, providing wages, benefits and advancement opportu- nities from the get-go, a debt-free associate's degree upon completion and the chance to pursue bachelor's and master's degrees. Schreiber (who is not related to this writer) started her apprenticeship with no construction experience. Today, she's an inside machin- ist with "super seniority," meaning she has first dibs on further train- ing and gets a raise every thousand hours of work. "I've definitely learned a lot of skills that I wouldn't have learned had I not taken this route," she says. e apprenticeship program is just one of a slew of initiatives BIW has underway to attract and retain workers. e shipyard invested $11 million in recruiting new workers between 2016 and 2023, and over the past five years spent $90 million on training — more than twice what was spent on training in the prior five years. "Bath Iron Works' ability to be a major driver in the state's manu- facturing economy depends on attracting, training and retaining the workers who make 'Bath built' best built," Charles Krugh, BIW 's president, has said. Krugh said BIW 's entry-level jobs have the potential to lead to "significant earnings and profes- sional growth over time." Ramping up apprenticeships Since 1950, the BIW Apprentice School has produced over 1,200 graduates. Apprentices earn while they learn about shipbuilding trades, marine design and production planning. e program com- bines academic and on-the-job training that, upon completion, provides an asso- ciate of science degree, which can lead to a bachelor's or master's degree. Apprentices receive a certificate of apprenticeship from the state. Premium pay is given for overtime. Additional benefits include paid vacation, paid holidays, pension plans, medical plans, life insurance, workers' compensation, unemployment insurance and Social Security benefits. Wages follow a pay progression. BATH IRON WORKS: BIW, founded in 1884 and situated in a prominent spot on the Kennebec River in Bath, builds U.S. Navy destroyers. It is owned by Reston, Va.-based General Dynamics (NYSE: GD). P H O T O / T I M G R E E N WAY Jared Lebel, a welding instructor, at the BIW Training Academy at Brunswick Landing. Bath shipyard is building a WORKFORCE Bath Iron Works has a slew of initiatives to attract and retain workers B y L a u r i e S c h r e i b e r

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