PlastiCert hosts Lewiston-Altura High School Career Investigations Classes
Lewiston, MN January 15, 2018 – PlastiCert, a veteran of innovative and quality plastic injection molding design and manufacturing services for over 35 years, recently hosted Lewiston-Altura High School’s Freshman Career Readiness Classes.
PlastiCert played host to two classes of high school freshmen, learning about different careers and what is necessary to prepare for them. The Lewiston area is mostly an agricultural economy. Touring PlastiCert allowed them to see the workings and career possibilities within a manufacturing company. When queried, the students had heard of PlastiCert but knew little of what PlastiCert did and of manufacturing in general. Their impression was that manufacturing jobs were mostly technical and that manufacturing careers involved “making things.”
One class size dictated being divided into two groups. One group accompanied Direct or Operations Ben Ninas on a tour of the facility. The other group participated in a presentation and discussion on careers in manufacturing with PlastiCert President & Owner Craig Porter. The groups traded places halfway through their class period.
Ben Ninas and students in front of a 440 Ton Injection Molding Press
For both classes, during the tour they were exposed to the equipment being utilized and the various tasks and responsibilities being carried out on the production floor. In the classroom, Porter explained PlastiCert’s business model as a technical service provider, 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.
Ben Ninas explaining to students the injection molding process of converting composites resin into custom parts
To highlight careers in manufacturing, Porter laid out an analogy of professional sports teams and what the students see “on the playing field” when they watch sports. Players, coaches and officials, the “technical knowledge” people was the common response. Asking a series of questions about how the teams treat injuries, make travel arrangements, perform equipment acquisition and maintenance, ticket sales and team marketing, pointed out to them the people behind the scenes on sports teams. Porter then drew the analogy to manufacturing and while there were people actually making the product (players), supervisors directing work (coaches) and quality people (officials), there are also Purchasing, Production planners, Sales and Marketing people etc., that help make a manufacturing company work. “I drew a rudimentary department organizational chart on the white board and then covered the types of positions in each department,” said Porter. “Then really stressed how many positions in departments like Human Resources, Purchasing, and Materials Management that are non-technical positions. They discussed the education and training utilized by the various personnel.
“None of them knew what we did coming into the tour”, commented Porter. “Their teacher Thomas Dickey had requested the tour to come and see what is done in their own home town. They had prepared questions asking about careers, amount of education, classes we would recommend for preparation to work at PlastiCert. Some questions centered on college, where to go and how to pay for it. While Porter provided answers regarding managing college, he pointed out many careers within PlastiCert and its service providers did not require a 4 year degree.
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.