Luis - Maintenance Apprentice

Why do you like working with other Team Members?
Everybody is willing to teach and answer every question I have.
What have you learned about yourself while at Niagara?
I get to go out and talk to different operators so I can learn about their jobs so I learned that I can be an extrovert. Since I am curious about what they’re working on, I ask questions and have conversations which taught me how to get out of my comfort zone and talk to new people.

Garrett - Maintenance Apprentice

Tell us about your favorite moment during the Maintenance Apprenticeship Program.
Traveling; I like seeing new places and talking to new people. I also enjoyed all the training and experiences I'm getting while traveling to different plants in the Niagara network. 
Kickoff was great because I got to network a lot. I met Donnie and we bonded over our interest in medival martial arts. Now I want to see the plant he works in and learn more about how it's different than my plant. 
What's fun about being part of this program?
I like the hands-on work. Early on in the program, we got to help bolt stuff down to fix the machines, which was exciting. I get to see the different parts of the plant and provide other Team Members with help. Even if it's small, I find it satisfying to play a part in keeping the lines running smoothly.

Gabe - Maintenance Apprentice

How has the idea of "embracing adventure" helped you?
After getting onto the production floor to work with the machine centers and Team Members, I've been able to throw myself into the deep end and learn a lot more than I would sitting in a classroom. I'm also learning about myself and how I function under stress in a fast-paced environment.
How do you get to be creative at Niagara?
I really like 3D printing because I'm very object-oriented and get excited about designing 3D objects and then creating what i envision. The Maintenance Manager in my plant asked me to help fix our 3D printer and it's satisfying to be part of a solution. I was able to use creative troubleshooting and problem solving to make new parts with a different printer and modified how it'll function based on different inputs.

Eliasa - Maintenance Apprentice

What has been your favorite part of MAP so far?
My favorite aspect of the program is having the opportunity to work with a team of apprentices. This collaborative environment allows us to share knowledge and support one another.”
How do you see MAP helping you in your future career as a Maintenance Technician?
I appreciate that Niagara fosters growth and development by offering numerous opportunities. This program is designed to build us up from the ground level, ensuring that we have significantly more opportunities in the future than when we began. The MAP program has provided a solid foundation for starting my career.

Eric - Maintenance Apprentice

What has been your favorite part of MAP so far?
My favorite part of MAP is that it allows me to build connections with more experienced technicians and managers in other areas, like Continuous Improvement!
How do you see MAP helping you in your future career as a Maintenance Technician?
It allows me to learn the ins and outs of the machine centers from experts in that area. That foundational knowledge helps tofigure out what we can do to  keep the machine running.
Why were you first interested in joining MAP?
I was interested in joining MAP because of the opportunity to take what I learned in school and apply it to my job. Now, I’m confident that I’m gaining the experience to take me to the next level and become a Maintenance Technician after the program.
What have you learned so far in MAP? What do you look forward to learning in the future?
So far, I’ve learned how to run a line as an Operator, work with the rest of the Maintenance team to perform Preventative Maintenance on the filler, and all the technical language and background information to keep up with the experienced Technicians when brainstorming solutions.

Adrien - Maintenance Apprentice

How do you see MAP helping you in your future career as a Maintenance Technician?
In this program, we get to learn about every machine center on the production line! Since we get great instruction and spend a lot of time on the floor, we’ll know the whole line and others can rely on us to specialize in one machine. I can see that when the program is over, I’ll be able to troubleshoot quickly and help others find solutions so we can have a productive shift.
What have you learned so far in MAP? What do you look forward to learning in the future?
I’ve learned to take great notes! We absorb so much information every day that I’m able to apply what I’ve already learned and use it when I’m on the floor gaining hands-on experience. I’ve also taken every opportunity to communicate, be curious and ask questions since everyone at Niagara is always willing to help you grow.