PlastiCert hosts LAHS Career Readiness Classes
Lewiston, MN October 31, 2016 – PlastiCert, a 35 year veteran of innovative and quality plastic injection molding design and manufacturing services recently hosted visits from two Lewiston –Altura student Career Readiness Classes.
In part of their celebrating Manufacturing Month, PlastiCert played host to a group of 8th graders learning about different manufacturing careers and what is necessary to prepare for them, followed by a high school group of Juniors and Seniors focused on medical careers. Touring PlastiCert allowed them to see the workings of a manufacturing company and the types of careers available.
PlastiCert President & Owner Craig Porter started out in the conference room, using an organizational chart to orient the students as to what types of careers are available in a manufacturing company. When queried, very few of the students knew anything about what careers are available other than just “making things.” He stressed that while there are the obvious positions that directly make plastic and composite parts and assemblies, there are a myriad of “in-direct” opportunities as well. All those positions support or add structure to the manufacturing function itself. He talked about purchasing, production planning, shipping and receiving, inventory control, human resources, accounting, sales and marketing, and information technology opportunities. All of these positions he emphasized, perform their functions so that the people that make the product, have what they need, whether that be raw materials or customers. He also emphasized that although manufacturing is a technical field, there are far more “non-technical” careers in manufacturing.
For the group of students researching medical careers, he pointed out that medical is not just human services, i.e. doctors, nurses and administration. Medical product design and manufacturing is more a possibility for them than students in other regions. Minnesota claims to have the most densely concentrated medical device community in the world. Porter had samples of examples of ambulatory drug pumps and implantable portals from his past 
experiences. He also described the process of designing and making heart valves, pacemakers, peripheral vein grafts and other devices he had first hand experience in. “You don’t have to be a doctor or a nurse to have a hand in saving someone’s life”, commented Porter. “It is an extremely gratifying career working in medical device manufacturing.”
He then led the group of students on a tour of the injection molding floor as well as in the mold design machine shop. Porter covered the principles behind plastic injection molding, the equipment used, the different plastics and composites, the molds and their design and build. They discussed the education and training utilized by the various personnel on the floor, and the types of customers and their products being manufactured. Porter explained how PlastiCert is a custom service molder, meaning they have no products of their own and everything they make is for the numerous OEM (original equipment 
manufacturer) customers to facilitate assembling their products. Therefore, PlastiCert is all about service and providing technical services in a discipline that their customer has chosen not to want to support directly, but is widely available in the supply chain. As such, service and the business relationship is what differentiates you from your competition. “Practically none of them knew what we did coming into the tour”, commented Porter. “Their teacher Mr. Dickey, who had requested the tours, pointed out to them the diversity that PlastiCert adds to Lewiston. Diversity helps make it possible for people that want to stay in Lewiston have more options.”
About PlastiCert
PlastiCert was founded in 1981 and is a privately held corporation with headquarters and manufacturing in Lewiston Minnesota. Initially a custom molder targeted at the electronics industry, today PlastiCert is a one-stop shop for OEMs and entrepreneurs in telecom, industrial, computer, avionics, medical markets and more. PlastiCert provides both mold development/build and custom plastic injection molding; including insert molding and over molding. Also available are a compliment of value add capabilities including decorating and electro-mechanical assembly. For more information on PlastiCert and the opportunities we present users of custom molded plastic components, visit www.plasticert.com or call 507-523-2300.