Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/1516724
62 SMT007 MAGAZINE I MARCH 2024 Cory Blaylock: ere has been a solution in the industry for developing talent that offers career pathways, giving employers what they want as well as catering to developing employees. IPC wants to be the one owning it because we're representing everybody in electronics manu- facturing. Apprenticeships, and workforce develop- ment, in general, are not user-friendly in their current state. ere's a lot of nuance and things that people don't know or understand unless they work in it every day. ey may not under- stand what's required for a registered appren- ticeship concerning the rules and regulations of the Department of Labor. We've worked through all the red tape so it could be utilized without having to go through all the rigamarole. Real Progress Toward Solving U.S. Workforce Problems IPC achieved a landmark in 2023 by creating an apprenticeship program approved by the U.S. Department of Labor. With such a regis- tered framework in place, industry can work through IPC to secure local, state, and fed- eral dollars for workforce development in a way they've never been able to do before. Cory Blaylock, director of workforce partnerships at IPC, has been instrumental in developing and moving this program toward adoption and outlines what companies need to know to get involved. Michelle Te: IPC is not just embracing a change in the revolution of workforce devel- opment but driving it as well. What is behind IPC's efforts? Interview by the I-Connect007 Editorial Team