I served my first apprenticeship as a mold maker. I thought as a journeyman mold maker it would be a simple transition to becoming a journeyman machinist. It didn't take long to find out that was not the case. I am now a Journeyman Mold Maker/Machinist, and have been for several years. Lots of college and lots of OJT certainly, IMHO, does not make me "overpaid". With the amount of schooling I have had, I still make less as a skilled tradesman than others with similar education. But this job puts me much closer than I ever was before. I don't feel a bit bad taking my pay every week because I know the owners are reaping the rewards of my hard work, education and dedication.
We agree that unions, specifically the IAM, are a mere shell of what they used to be. As far as apprenticeships, they still serve as a "college" to learn the trade. We have 3 apprentices at our small shop now. Not quite the percentage it should be, but when things pick up in the manufacturing industry then so will the number of apprenticeships.
ISO, TE and others, 9001/9002 is a standardized accounting method used to assure that a shop in St. Louis is adhering to the same quality, inventory, etc. standards as a shop in New York or New Zealand. It goes much deeper than that, but hopefully you get the idea. Basically the same thing is lean manufacturing and six sigma for those that manufacture millions of parts.