Skilled trades' work and apprentice training in the manufacturing industry with a primary focus on the millwright trade: An inter-generational study

Technology has enabled management to utilize automation in the methods of production, and as such promoted a reduction in the use of traditional skills for traditional skilled trades' workers while narrower task specific apprenticeship training programmes promote the loss of trade knowledge traditionally passed from a trades' person to an apprentice in the manufacturing industry. The purpose of this intergenerational study is to trace the changing skill requirements affected by developing technologies in the manufacturing process focusing on the traditional skills of millwright trade, and associated skilled trades. To place in context the origins of the skilled trades' I have included brief histories of five skilled trades, to represent a selection of skilled trades' often closely connected through their work in the manufacturing industry; the millwright, electrician, welder, toolmaker and machinist. In an effort to also report the possible effects of technology on skilled trade labour from a tradesperson's perspective I have utilised my own experiences and incorporated anecdotal evidence from interviews with certified millwrights and apprentices that are either presently working in the trade, or have retired from the trade in Canada. Interviews with three generations of millwrights assisted in making comparisons of training and expectations of millwright work, together with changes in the control millwrights' exercise over the jobs they perform. The focus of the thesis is the possible effects of technological progress on the required skill sets of three generations skilled trades' with a primary focus on millwright skilled trades'. Restructuring and the utilization of new technologies has facilitated a reduction in the overall number of skilled trades' workers that were previously required when traditional skilled trades' personnel were utilised. Therefore, utilization of technology to lower production costs by modern industry is affecting social structure, in that, traditional opportunities for members of the working class, without the benefit of a university education, are restricted in their ability to obtain well paid jobs as skilled trades' personnel in the manufacturing industry.;Thesis. Technology has enabled automation to be utilized by management in the methods of production, and as such promoted a reduction in discretion and control in the use of traditional skills for traditional skilled trades' workers while narrower task specific apprenticeship training programmes promote the loss of trade knowledge traditionally passed from a trades' person to an apprentice in the manufacturing industry.