Supply lines are not simply a matter of raw materials and logistics; they are also a matter of a skilled workforce. At Multicut, our apprentices receive training on up-to-date machinery and equipment, preparing them for an automated future. For their benefit and for ours.
We recently invested in two new machines for our facilities in Vildbjerg: a Mazak Integrex i-630V and a Mazak Integrex i-200ST. The acquisition of these multifunctional machines is not only a question of capacity in the short term, but a strategic investment as well. ”Our range of machinery is one of the parameters we can use to attract the best apprentices,” says Ronni Tipsmark, responsible for the apprentices, and he adds, “The gear is new, and we are continuously acquiring more.”
The foundation of everything we do at Multicut is M·Sys™ – our Industry 4.0 production setup. “The acquisition of these new machines is to be seen in the light of our M·Sys™ setup,” Ronni Tipsmark explains. “The whole idea is that our apprentices learn how to use the machines from the very beginning of their apprenticeship.”
“We are also doing this for our own sake. The more they learn during their apprenticeship, the easier it gets to set them up for the next step in their career,” Tipsmark says.
“More often than not, they are more or less ready to be integrated in the actual production after their apprenticeship,” Tipsmark explains, and he elaborates: “Of course, there will always be things that only experience can teach you, but we prepare them well for what awaits them in our automated setup.” And by doing so, we ensure a steady supply line of a highly skilled workforce for our M·Sys™ production setup.
As mentioned in a recent blog, Tipsmark himself has served his apprenticeship at Multicut. It was 20 years ago, and things have changed since then. “Today, the apprentices learn a lot more. And I mean a lot!” he stresses. “They’re granted a lot more freedom, and they get to program the machines on their own. That wasn’t the case during my apprenticeship,” Tipsmark recalls.
It is not necessarily a question of attitude as much as a question of the very nature of Multicut today compared to just a few decades ago. “Maybe it’s related to the simple fact that Multicut has grown and evolved as a business, and of course, that’s reflected in the demands of our present apprentices,” Tipsmark reflects. “Most of our apprentices are in the production engineering department, where we make our fixtures. We simply didn’t have a department like that 20 years ago.”
The investment in new machinery is about more than just capacity; it is about continuity. By giving apprentices access to the same advanced equipment that powers our production, we are not only strengthening their skill sets but also laying the foundation for our future workforce.
When apprentices are trained in a realistic, automated production setup from early on, they do not just complete an apprenticeship; they become ready to contribute. For Multicut, that means securing the skilled workforce required to support our continued growth, technological development, and M·Sys™.