MACOMB COUNTY, Mich. - Earn while you learn -- those four words can be music to your ears if you're exploring a new career path.

We're taking a look at a Macomb County program that combines classroom instruction with on-the-job training.

Inside the PCS Company, the power of Michigan manufacturing is on full display. There's drilling, hammering and cranes lifting heavy metal as workers focus on their roles in the American plastics industry.

"We supply to molders and mold makers," said PCS President Angela Elsey. "So anybody that brings plastic parts to the industry would have a need that PCS can satisfy."

PCS manufactures mold bases, which are essential for producing items like the insides of deodorant sticks and the Otter Boxes that many Apple customers use to protect their iPhones. Elsey understands that the future of manufacturing relies on a pipeline of skilled workers, which is why PCS teamed up with Macomb Community College to create an apprenticeship program.

"I really enjoy learning new things every single day," said Jordan Monto, a CNC apprentice. "It keeps me moving, and I'm always down to do something new or try something new here."

"From the day they come in, they'll work on a certain schedule that we have set for a three-year program to complement what they're learning in class," Elsey said.

We spoke with two apprentices, both excited to learn new skills. For 37-year-old John Martinez, the program has become a key turning point in his life.

"I was not good in school when I was younger," Martinez said. "So this has given me an actual goal to do better and better myself, especially with starting a family pretty soon."

The apprentice coordinator at Macomb Community College, Vikki Gordon, pointed out that skilled trades can offer brighter futures for those who may not know what to expect.

"There's still a misconception that these are dirty and dark environments in which people work," Gordon said. "You get the impression you have this ball and chain on your ankles dragging around the floor. It's not like that anymore."

The modern environment at PCS is one reason the community college chose it as one of its hubs to help more people enter the skilled trades.

When asked how they feel about the process so far, the apprentices expressed enjoyment.

"I'm enjoying going through the process of school, learning all the things and getting something out of it," Martinez said.

"It's a great opportunity," Monto said. "You meet a lot of cool people. You can't go wrong with a trade."