DMACC's Industrial Technician program recently developed a partnership with Barilla to increase the number of skilled workers among its Ames site maintenance staff.
Two students earned the 30-credit Industrial Technician Diploma upon completion of the Spring 2026 semester.
The competency-based education (CBE) format of the Industrial Technician courses provided flexibility for the students to successfully complete in-person lab training at the Ankeny Campus while working on site at Barilla in Ames.
Barilla established the Maintenance Apprenticeship Program to support long-term maintenance staffing needs at the Ames plant while creating a clear internal career pathway for employees interested in technical trades.
Like many manufacturing organizations, Barilla faces ongoing challenges related to an aging maintenance workforce, increasing technical complexity of equipment, and a limited external labor pool with ready-made industrial maintenance skills.
Traditional recruiting methods alone have not consistently produced the quantity or experience level of candidates required to support plant operations. In response, Barilla invested in a structured apprenticeship model focused on developing talent from within the organization. The program combines hands-on, on-the-job training alongside experienced maintenance technicians with formal classroom and technical education through DMACC.
This dual approach allows apprentices to build foundational mechanical, electrical, and industrial maintenance skills while gaining direct exposure to Barilla equipment, systems, and safety expectations.
The apprenticeship model is designed to be developmental rather than purely evaluative. Apprentices progress at different paces based on demonstrated skill development, coursework, and on-the-job experience.
Upon successful completion of the program, participants are prepared to transition into Maintenance Technician roles, helping strengthen internal succession planning and reduce long-term dependency on external hiring.