General Machinist PMC

Holland Code: RCI (Realistic, Conventional, Investigative)

What academic skills do I need to be successful in the program?

Arts & Literacy Good reading skills are necessary.

Math & Science Good math skills are necessary. If you are currently attending high school, you may benefit from enrolling in a Manufacturing Specialist High Skills Major Program.

Technology Basic computer skills required (Microsoft Office, email, Internet, checking student portal for course material). You will learn to use computerized numeric control (CNC) systems.

Apprenticeship programs are run at Fanshawe College in partnership with the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities. You can not apply to an apprenticeship program through the Ontario Colleges Application Service. Your first step is finding an employer who will support you in your apprenticeship training. The employer must register you as an apprentice with the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities. For more information on the process, please see please see the Fanshawe Apprenticeship website.

Do not have an employer?

Fanshawe College’s Continuing Education department offers the in-school course work portion of the industrial electrician apprenticeship. At the end of the course work, students can write an exemption test. See the Continuing Education’s Industrial Craftsperson (General Machinist) website for more details.

What personal qualities should someone interested in this career have?

• The ability to use their hands skillfully and quickly
• Mechanical ability
• The ability to estimate and measure sizes and distances accurately
• The ability to work independently at tasks that require concentration as well as physical effort
• Enjoy doing creative work with machinery that requires a high degree of skill and precision
• The ability to keep up to date with changing technology
• The ability to get along well with co-workers

What kind of work could I do when I graduate?

Graduates of this program may go on to become a

Machinist, CNC machinist, Red Seal machinist.

Places you may find yourself employed include

Large organizations such as government departments, or repair and maintenance companies (wherever equipment is manufactured or repaired).

Typical working conditions for this kind of work:

• Shops may be noisy or dusty and have materials that may be dirty
• Often stand for long periods of time and may work in a rushed environment
• Work a 37.5 to 40 hour week, usually five weekdays, but may be required to work overtime in emergency situations
• Night or evening shifts are common in some shops
• May be required to lift and move items that weigh over 20 kilograms

Tasks a graduate may do in the workplace

• Determine dimensions by logic or by measuring samples using instruments such as micrometers and vernier calipers.
• Study specifications, charts, drawings or sample parts to determine the machining operation to be performed
• Calculate dimensions and tolerances, and prepare working sketches if necessary
• Measure and mark metal and other materials
• Set up and operate tools, which may be computer numerically controlled, to perform precision machining operations
• Fit parts to mechanisms and verify dimensions
• Understand the effects of heat treatment on metals and be skilled in heat treatment processes
• Make a wide variety of repair parts for different types of machinery and industrial equipment in different situations
• Produce parts using mass production methods including CNC machining and other tools
• Make parts when it is impossible or too costly to purchase them

Helpful links for further research into this Fanshawe College program and career opportunity

Links to learn more about apprenticeship in general

• www.apprenticesearch.com
• The Apprenticeship Network
• Apprenticetrades.ca
• Ontario College of Trades
• Employer apprenticeship incentives

Links to learn more about this apprenticeship program

• Canadian Tooling & Machining Association (CTMA)
• Ontario Provincial Council of Machinists

The National Occupation Classification (NOC) system is used by the Canadian government to provide detailed information on careers. Click on the links below to learn more about careers associated with this Fanshawe College program. Please note: These codes are listed here for information purposes only. Fanshawe College does not guarantee graduates careers in these fields.

NOC Code 7231 Machinists and machining and tooling inspectors.

The Working in Canada website is an excellent resource for labour market information (wages, jobs available). Go to the website, type in the NOC code from this program and your postal code to get detailed information.

Last Modified: June 1, 2022