Millwrights

Masters of Precision

Millwrights are members of an elite construction industry subspecialty that works primarily in metal and precision machinery. Millwrights install conveyor systems, giant turbines, and electrical generators. They install and maintain factory machinery, and perform much of the precision installation and maintenance work in nuclear power stations.

Apply Today

Apprentice Millwrights Curriculum

Safety courses include:
FIRST AID, CPR, AND AED
Students learn basic first aid, adult CPR procedures, and how to use the AED. Included are the responsibilities of the first respondent, Good Samaritan Laws, and Duty to Act.
CONSTRUCTION FALL PROTECTION
The Construction Fall Protection Course is designed to help workers recognize working conditions that may lead to falls and to understand the methods available to prevent falls. This course addresses the use and functions of Personal Fall Arrest Systems and PPE.
HAZARD COMMUNICATION AND CHEMICAL SAFETY
This workshop meets the training requirements of OSHA’s updated HazCom standard, 1910.1200, except those requirements dealing with the employer’s job-specific chemical hazard information. Participants learn to read GHS-compliant chemical labels and SDSs and to recognize chemical hazards on the job.
JOBSITE SAFETY
All classes include the currently accepted safety procedures and PPE requirements applicable for that specific course or subject. The students must successfully complete a series of online safety awareness modules, OSHA 10, and Millwright 16-hour safety programs.
MILLWRIGHT 16 HOUR SAFETY AND OHSA
The comprehensive safety courses focus on the OSHA construction regulations. These courses will discuss safety and health problems affecting Millwrights and methods to prevent serious illnesses and injuries.
TOOL SAFETY
The students are taught the safe use of hand and power tools used by the tradesmen on jobsites. Choosing the right tool for the job and the safety features of power tools is discussed.

General studies include:
CONVEYORS
The student shall examine the layout methods and installation procedures of monorail and power and free conveyor systems and their components. Included is a study of component characteristics of trolleys, chain, product carriers, vertical curves, horizontal turns, drive units, and take-ups. Building truss designs, conveyor structural support steel and its layout, and bracing requirements are also studied.
HISTORY OF THE TRADE
How the millwright of yesterday evolved into the tradesman of today is studied along with the history of our union, safe working rules, and the workers’ responsibilities to their employers.
ESSENTIAL MILLWRIGHT SKILLS
This course reviews and teaches the fundamental skills required to excel as a millwright. Materials covered include precision layout and measuring, drilling, reaming, gear installation, setting backlash, sharpening tools and drill bits, math, print reading, and optics.
LAYOUT
Methods of layout for machinery installation and conveyor support fabrication are taught in this class. Included is how to use the basic layout tools and how to incorporate basic geometry to establish parallel, perpendicular, and angular lines. A series of hands-on projects must be successfully completed by the students.
MATH
This course reviews basic arithmetic, fraction addition and subtraction, measuring devices and how to use them, square roots, and simple gear ratios. Geometry and how to apply it to the jobsite and project material estimation are both studied.
MILLWRIGHT THEORY
The theory of strength of materials, basic structural shapes, types of metal, anchoring devices, threaded fasteners, drilling and tapping and studied in this course.
OPTICS
The student is instructed on the proper set-up procedures and use of the optical level for establishing elevations and layout lines. The two-peg test for instrument accuracy verification is also taught.
PRECISION TOOLS
The student learns how to use precision measuring tools such as the micrometer, vernier caliper, dial indicators, telescoping gauges, depth gauges as well as other precision tools.
PRINT READING
The student learns the meaning of symbols and lines on mechanical drawings, title block information, zone numbers, and reference numbers. Typical jobsite prints are studied including plan views, layout views, cross sections, and detail drawings. Each student will complete a series of worksheets and written tests.
SHAFT ALIGNMENT
The principles of straight edge, dial indicating, graphing, thermal growth, and laser alignment are taught. The students put these principles to use aligning a variety of motors, pumps, and coupling styles. Included are explanations of soft foot, offset and angular misalignments, and when to use each method. An understanding of precision measuring tools is required.
TOOLS
The students will learn the safe use of the hand tools and power tools they will encounter in the workplace. These power tools include the disc grinder, magnetic drill, hand drill, bench grinder, and drill press. Each student must successfully pass a safety test for each of the power tools before they are allowed to use them.
TORCH CUTTING
The students learn the fundamentals of how to cut metals with an oxyacetylene torch. Safety and equipment set-up procedures are stressed. This hands-on course will teach the proper procedures to cut metal, sweat apart welded joints, and pierce holes in plate.
WELDING, ADVANCED
This class is for the advanced welder with a goal of welder qualification following AWS D1.1 requirements. Each successful welder will complete weld testing in the 2G, 3G, and 4G positions on one-inch plate coupons. After the successful plate tests, the welder will be eligible to practice and then perform a 6G test on 2.750, .625 wall thickness pipe.

Qualification level courses include:
AERIAL LIFT OPERATOR
Following OSHA regulations and ANSI standards, the student will develop the skills necessary to safely operate self-propelled elevating work platforms and boom supported elevating work platforms.
CONFINED SPACE
This course describes what a confined space is, the common hazards of a confined space, and the equipment required to work in a confined space. The student learns about safe entry procedures, monitoring principles, entry permits, the roles of attendants and entrants. Hands-on exercises will introduce the student to SCBA, SAR, and air monitoring equipment.
HUMAN PERFORMANCE
The goal of this class is to build the skills and practices necessary for the worker navigate through an error possible situation without causing harm to her/himself, to others, or to related equipment. A worker’s anticipation of possible action/reaction scenarios is discussed. Each student must successfully complete a series of group activities.
HYTORC BOLTING TECHNICIAN
The safe use of HYTORC bolt tensioning equipment is examined along with a hands-on project. A hard hat, work boots, safety glasses, and gloves are required for the hands-on portion of the HYTORC project.
POWERED INDUSTRIAL TRUCK OPERATOR
The PITO course covers Industrial fork trucks in accordance with CFR 1910.178, ANSI standards (B56.1 - 1969) and ASME (B56.6-1992). The training is a combination of formal classroom instruction, practical hands-on training and evaluation of the operator’s performance.
RIGGING
This course addresses the safety regulations and rigging practices. Hands-on inspections and rigging projects are stressed. Each student must demonstrate the ability to tie a series of knots and know the appropriate use of each knot. Hand and voice signals or commands are extensively reviewed. This course exceeds ANSI A10.42.2000 “Qualified Rigger.”
FLOWSERVE PUMP REPAIR TECHNICIAN
This pump repair technician class covers single stage overhung centrifugal pumps, braided rope packing, and mechanical seals. The class includes theory, pump operation, pump curves, trouble shooting, impeller setting and design, bearings, mechanical seals, and use of precision tools.
TURBINES
The principles of operation, installation and repair procedures of gas and steam turbines are examined in this class. Included in this course is the safe use of HYTORC bolt tensioning equipment, safe rigging practices, and safe work practices specific to turbines. The turbine training will be completed with a hands-on turbine class at the UBC International Training Center. The gas turbine and the steam turbine completion courses are each an additional 40 hours of student participation.
Millwright Training Locations

Detroit Union Carpenters & Millwrights Training Center
11687 American Ave
Detroit, MI 42804
(248)-541-2740

Negaunee Carpenter & Millwright Training Center
370 U.S. Hwy. 41 East
Negaunee, MI 49866
906-228-2913

Wayland Carpenters and Millwrights Apprentice Training Center
500 Reno Dr.
Wayland, MI 49348
269-561-8115