PlastiCert hosts LAHS Career Investigation Classes
Lewiston, MN May 21, 2019 – PlastiCert, approaching 40 years of innovative and quality composite injection molding design and manufacturing services, recently hosted visits from two Lewiston–Altura High School 9th Grade student Career Investigation Classes.
In what has become a standard part of their curriculum, PlastiCert played host to two classes of 9th graders. They spend their quarter investigating various careers, both as a group and working individually. PlastiCert was their only look into the career options available in manufacturing.
PlastiCert President & Owner Craig Porter started out with half the class in the conference room. When queried, very few of the students had relatives that worked in manufacturing, and fewer knew anything about what careers are available other than just “making things.” Porter drew an organizational chart on the white board and provided them with blank charts. He talked with them about an organization that they were all familiar with, a professional sports team. They talked about what people they see on the screen or from the stands. Naturally players, coaches, and officials were their answers. Filling them in on an organizational chart, they started talking about all the other roles that they don’t see, like trainers, planners, purchasing, sales, marketing, and others. Once that organizational chart was filled, Porter started drawing the analogy to the careers available in a manufacturing company. 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. The same as a sports team, there is purchasing, planning, human resources, accounting, sales and marketing, and information technology; as well as shipping and receiving, and inventory control 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.
While Porter was speaking, the other half of the class was on a tour of the injection molding floor as well as in the mold design machine shop. Vice President Ben Ninas 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. Both Porter and Ninas 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 visit”, commented Porter. “Their teacher, 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.
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