A Teacher Tell-All on Metal Fabrication at Wyoming Machine, Inc.

How Government Grants are Building Interest in Manufacturing Careers and Helping Reduce the Labor Shortage

Jacob Krautkremer, Industrial Technology Teacher at Roseville High School

 

When people order a part from Wyoming Machine, they usually think quality, timing and price. What people seldom think, is just what it takes to make a part that meets exacting specifications. Lori and Traci Tapani, Co-Presidents of WMI, recently got a fresh reminder of that when Jacob Krautkremer, a Roseville, Minn., high school industrial technology teacher, spent three days with Wyoming Machine. He came to absorb what metal fabrication entails, from start to finish. According to Jacob:  “I had no idea how many people it takes to manufacture a part. So many people need to work so well together to create a perfect part.”

 

WMI employees from the Tapani sisters and engineering, to production, quality control and packaging, eagerly assisted Jacob. He even toured a WMI vendor’s painting facility.

Government Grants Doing Good

Jacob’s internship was made possible via funding from the Perkins Career and Technical Education Act IV, passed in 2006. Its purpose is to fund programs to enhance secondary and post-secondary education and career development for technical education. Funding is channeled to career and technical education consortiums across the country at the secondary and post secondary levels. Jacob’s internship will help him develop a manufacturing curriculum for Roseville High School which he will lead, pending the passage of a bonding bill.

 

According to Jacob, “We’re even hoping to include internships at manufacturers so our students get real world experience that will help them know if manufacturing is a viable option before they graduate.” These days Roseville schools are encouraging students to learn about careers as early as seventh and eighth grade beginning with student interest surveys.

Wyoming Machine at the Forefront

WMI has sent employees to share manufacturing career experiences with eighth graders in area schools. And school tours at WMI? For many years. In fact, the Tapani sisters are national leaders in workforce training and development having won numerous national honors. It’s all a part of helping students find good-paying careers without a four-year degree. It’s also about filling the Manufacturing Institute’s estimate of 2,000,000 manufacturing jobs going unfilled in the next 10 years.

 

Reaping Results at Pine Technical and Community College

Such efforts are beginning to pay off. Pine Technical and Community College (PTCC) in Pine City, Minn., is experiencing record enrollment this fall. President Joe Mulford believes that the increased emphasis on uniting high school and technical college teachers with employers is creating better curricula and more inspired students. The increased enrollment is proof of that.

PTCC even “shares” equipment with area high schools. “We take it to them,” said Joe. “We load it in a trailer—lathe, mill, desktop CNC controller—for student exposure. They keep it for a month to try it out. No one school can purchase it all. But in a region—we can help all. We share curriculum with people, host technical education events, and bring possibilities to small schools that wouldn’t have previously dreamed of such a thing. We’re all coming together.”

Employee Development Also a Winner

Employee growth is also a factor. “The Tapani sisters have made employee development a part of their soul. It’s a foundation of their company,” Joe said. “You can get a job, but if you want a career, you’re going to need training,” Joe said. PTCC’s enrollment has increased so much that they’re adding night classes for their advanced manufacturing major. Everyone wins.”

In fact, Wyoming Machine hosts virtual classes on Interactive Television (ITC) from PTCC for employees wanting to advance their careers. They can learn and earn degrees without commuting to PTCC.

 

Jacob’s Take-Aways

The biggest surprise for Jacob? Size and speed. ”I knew it would be high-tech, but some equipment was as big as my living room—humongous! These are automatic and hydraulic operated machines. We use hand tools,” said Jacob. The capabilities nearly dumbfounded him. Employees demonstrated their standard brake press, and then showed Jacob their new CNC model with automatic tool loading. “It was shocking. Whereas the old press took maybe 30 minutes to prepare for a run, the new CNC press was ready in less than five minutes.”

While few high schools will have the large machines Jacob saw, Jacob learned plenty about things he can teach. Welding and blueprint reading are two good examples. “If my students are reading blueprints and know how to do the small stuff,” Jacob said, “they can learn the big stuff.”

Jacob’s biggest take-away? “Given all the people involved in producing a part, I now know my students will have to learn to work well together…Students need to learn efficiency—time is money in manufacturing,” Jacob exclaimed. “So my trip to Wyoming Machine was a real eye-opener,” Jacob said.

 

The Secret to Inspiring a New Generation of Manufacturers: Amber Carlson

As programs ensue to showcase manufacturing careers to middle and high school students, the question remains, “How do you get kids who know nothing about manufacturing to be interested in simply checking it out?” There are a variety of ways, but if you’ve got one hour to inspire 10 eighth grade young women, bet on Amber Carlson, Wyoming Machine’s project analyst, to make it happen.

When Rich Wessels, Career Navigator for the Manufacturing Careers Pathway program at White Bear Lake, Minn., Public Schools, invited Wyoming Machine to speak to eighth grade women about manufacturing careers, he needed someone who could relate to these young students, and motivate them. The Pathway program at WBL is a manufacturer’s dream-come-true. In addition to a new curriculum that appeals to both hands-on types and math lovers, WBL School has equipment the envy of schools everywhere including CNC machines, a virtual welder and 3D printers—talk about real-world manufacturing experience. WBL’s 25-year veteran technology teacher, Delroy Nyren, is well-suited to lead the program. Thus, their need to inspire younger students to pursue these classes.

Amber, 29, has risen through the ranks of manufacturing in 13 short years. Since beginning as a “wire wrapper” summer high-school intern, Amber has worked in thin film production, logistics/shipping, production planning, customer service and now, a project analyst.

As Traci Tapani, co-president of Wyoming Machine with sister Lori Tapani, said, “Amber’s knowledge, years of experience, and ability to relate to a younger audience all played into why she was asked to speak with these young ladies. You often hear that people don’t become what they can’t see. Giving young women the chance to see another young woman who is successful and excited about manufacturing increases the chance that manufacturing or engineering might become part of their dreams for their future.”

Excited about manufacturing? To put it mildly. As Amber exclaimed, “I have always loved that in manufacturing you can take very simple materials or components and make them into something that could help protect our armed forces, for example…If you look around, everything is manufactured, from every aspect of the room you are sitting in, to the car you are driving, clothes you are wearing, and the tools you use. It is amazing to think about how much impact the manufacturing industry has on our daily lives, and I am proud to say I am part of that industry.”

Knowing that eighth graders knew little about manufacturing, Amber brought along small parts and products made at Wyoming Machine. She started with a miniature metal bike and frog, describing all the processes involved in their production, from the request for quote through packaging and shipping.

Central to engaging all the young women was convincing them of the many skills and talents that manufacturing needs—not just math geeks and hands-on people, and not just men, but women, too. Likewise, Amber sought to overcome internal objections girls lacking self confidence may have. She shared that just because they haven’t earned high grades, doesn’t mean they can’t work in manufacturing. As Amber explained, “I didn’t get the best grades in school—but once you get passionate about something, everything just clicks.”

Internet Television Classes: A Game-Changer at Wyoming Machine

Sue & Bradley – ISO Internal Auditing

Dani

Zach

auditing class

It’s no secret that technical college customized training is a life-saver for manufacturers. What you may not know is that Lori Tapani and Traci Tapani, Co-Presidents of Wyoming Machine, helped make that happen in Central Minnesota. Now they and their employees—are reaping the benefits.
For 21 years, Lori and Traci have worked closely with Pine Technical and Community College in Central Minnesota. Because WMI hires many carefully selected low-skilled workers and promotes them, training is vital. Ten years ago, a consortium of five manufacturers including Wyoming Machine, began brainstorming how they could collaborate to train workers for technical and managerial jobs.
The consortium helped write a grant. According to Lori, “We shared what types of training we needed and how it could be accomplished via the ITV (Internet Television) system. We also made a commitment to match the grant funds ‘in kind’ by paying employees during work time to take the classes.”
Lori added that when Pine Tech received the grant, the companies offered input for training needs. Pine Tech chose courses most helpful for the majority of the companies. After the initial roll-out, individual companies could request specific classes and either pay for them, or share costs with other companies needing the same classes.
Customized training brings classes to worksites via ITV. WMI employees take Pine Tech classes at work and can gain college credits and/or a certificate. Employees enrolled love that there’s no commute to school. In fact, even text books and materials are sent to WMI. It’s a true turn-key program. Classes are offered all four quarters. Subjects range from print reading, auditing, quality, safety, maintenance and manufacturing processes, to managing and much more.
Best of all, courses apply directly to work. According to Dani Guy, a parts finisher at WMI who is taking a manufacturing process class, “You learn things you’d learn on the floor—but before you deal with it. I love the classes. I use the skills every day.”
In fact, approximately 25 employees at WMI have taken the classes. Adam Peterson, production manager, facilitates the program. He sees a real difference in those who enroll. “They’re more engaged and conscientious after taking classes. It’s nice to see the transformation. ”You can see that they take additional pride in their work after their additional learning.”
Traci sees the difference, too. “I think for low skilled employees, in addition to improving job knowledge and skills, it helps to build confidence. Many people are surprised to learn that they can be successful taking college courses. Additionally, the added training gives our newer employees some ‘street cred’ or respect from more seasoned sheet metal fabrication workers.”
Heidi Braun, Program Director at the college, sees two-way benefits. “Our success has led to participation in another statewide department of labor grant to continue the program. As we grow, we hope to add welding and other training programs that will benefit industry in this region. They [the Tapani sisters] are a real inspiration.”
According to WMI employee Jill Clark, “I’d love to take more classes. The professors are very good. Now I’m looking at print reading; I hope to advance at WMI.”