TRAINING THE YOUNG• ENGINEER.
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The Methods Employed by Leyland Motors, Ltd., for Training Young Men with an Aptitude for Motorcar Engineering in Its Various Branches.
Fr HE apprentice of to-day is the quail tied engineer of to-morrow. Che status of the motor industry in ten or more years tirae.is dependent to a very great extent upon the training and guidance which the young man with an aptitude for automobile engineering receives to-day. Although in past years the training of trade apprentices has been an accepted fact, a number...of manufacturers have not until recent years fully developed the scheme applied to premium or engineer-apprentices. 'One of the first-concerns to realize the necessity for training its students to occupy positions of greater responsibility was Leyland Motors, Ltd., of Leyland, Lancashire. There are, perhaps, few purchasers of motor vehicles who realize that a great deal of the success of any machine can, apart from its actual design, be traced to the general standard of efficiency amongst the workpeople. For some time Leyland Motors, Ltd., have given the subject earnest thought and attention, and the results which have been achietted are sufficient evidence of their well-matured forethought.
The company have two separate schemes in operation—one being for trade apprentices and the other for premium or engineer-apprentices, and the methods adopted in the .case of each are worthy of close perusal. Dealing with the case of trade apprentices, one of the first necessities is to ensure that any applicant is likely to become suitable for the profession which he has chosen, and the first step in this direction is an entrance examination. This comprises net papers on suitable subjects, such as arithmetic, English and drawing, and the manner in which a pupil deals with the subjects enables the company to form an idea as to his particular bent.
A trade apprentice starts at the works at the age of 16, and the course of his training covers five years. In certain instances, where the boy may have had continuous study, such as in the technical schools, the age of entry is sometimes extended to 17 years. Various sections are available, and the student who in the early stages shows a liking for turning is given instructions in full-automatic machines, semi-automatic, and, finally, centre lathes. The youth showing special merit in the works arid at the day continuation school lias an opportunity for securing further experience in the fitting and electrical departments. The fitting section includes work dealing with chassis erection and testing, gearboxes, back axles, inspection, etc.
After 12 months' general training the apprentice is expected to have formed some idea as to his ultimate intentions, and promising students are then given training in the engine erecting, testing and other departments.
A great deal of attention is paid to the temperament of the apprentice, and herein lies one of the reasons for the success of the Leyland scheme. It is sometimes found that the student may not be suited to any of the usual sections, ancleliances are accordingly provided for him.to.secure knowledge relating to work which is carried out in the sheet-metal, coachbuilding, paintwork and sign writing, wood-cutting, wood-machining, experimental „and other departments. Provision is also made for the student to spend a certain amount of time in the foundry and in the pattern shop.
Electrical work is also included in the scheme, and experience can be had in wiring, maintenance of plant, telephones, heating and cooking apparatus, and also in connection with the company's power station, which has a capacity of 5,000 kw.
Should an applicant express a. wish to become a draughtsman, he spends two years in the shops in order to enable him to gain a clear idea of machining, general design, pattern making and foundry work, the rest of the time being spent in the various drawing offices. Every year two scholarships are given to the trade apprentices as the result of an eiamination on past work. The engineer-apprentice section consists of a training centre for students who have had public school or university education. The object of this section is to enable students to gain a thoroughly practical and technical education, and ultimately to adopt positions of greater responsibility, such as departmental heads on the technical, commercial or managerial side of an engineering concern.
Students in this section should not be January 30, 1923. • las than 17 years of age, and they are taken on as indentured apprentices for a three or. four years' course, the three years' apprenticeship costing £400 and the four years' training costing 2500. The three years' course consists of not less than 6,600 working hours and the four years' course of not less thari 8,800 working hours, and these are minimum times which must be kept before •indentures are completed. The wages payable are14s., 16s., 18s., and 20s. per week for each of the four years respectively.
For the benefit of these students the company purchased Wellington House, Leyland, a fine old country residence, -which is delightfully situated, and which they have had fitted up as an hostel and training centre. Accommodation has been .arranged for some 30 pupils, and the house includes a drawing office, experimental laboratory and rooms where lectures are giVen by the warden, the company's chief draughtsman and nu3n of university degree. During the winter months papers are read by the heads of the company's various departments on subjects of engineering and business interest, and subsequently time is given for discussion and debate, when opportunities for airing individeal ideas and securing additional knowledge are provided. The actual working hours of an engineer-apprentice are from 7.30 a.m. to 5 p.m: for five days per week, one hour being given for a luncheon interval, and
from 7.30 a.m. to noon on Saturdays, and of this time two afternoons ter week ere set aside for lectures.
The company set a high value on sports and do not neglect to provide for students in this direction. A Rugby football club of some note in the district has been organized by the students themselves, whilst grass tennis courts are available in the hostel grounds, and opportunity is given in the works grounds for cricket and other recreation.
A trade apprentice, of course, also has exceptionally fine opportunities fur exercise and games, very large sports grounds being attached to the works, in which definite spat* is set aside for outdoor games and in addition equipment for physical culture and boxing is included,