What makes the technical college a success?

Pete Uvaas: “ There are several members of our staff who serve on various advisory (FVTC) boards, certainly not just me. We are involved in the automated manufacturing, welding and apprenticeship committees to name a few. There are also numerous other great companies in this area who have qualified participants providing input. The Technical College staff does an excellent job of listening to the needs of these industry representatives, and adapting their curriculum to meet these requirements. The instructors on staff should also be commended for their dedication to continuing their own education in order to keep pace with the escalating demands of the ever changing technologies available to the manufacturing world. Machinery Systems is also an important ingredient to this recipe for success. When the expansion referendum was passed and new machines were being selected, you offered some attractive incentives, which made the approval process much easier for us. My push for Mazak was obviously self serving (editor;  Fox Valley Tool & Die has many Mazak machine tools), but I also know many graduates will be going to other shops besides FVTD, and their exposure to Mazak will be an influence regardless of where they are employed. I think all of us involved promote the trades at every opportunity we see. We have a couple of guys on our shop floor who have presented the career message to their kid's scouting meetings. There are others who demonstrate the machinist/ toolmaker traits by volunteering on projects through school, church, and club events. These guys from the shop floor are equally as good, if not better ambassadors for this industry as a desk jockey like me. It is important to get kids exposed to these kinds of jobs at a young age. You can't consider a career you never heard of.” 

Pete suggested that we go into his shop and interview a school graduate.  We found Chad Diedrick (movie link), a fifteen year Fox Valley Tool and Die veteran.  Chad worked full time at Fox Valley Tool & Die and attended school at the same time.  His passion is contagious!

John Milanowski, President Innovative Machining, Inc. in Neenah, WI, www.innovativemachining.com, and member of a Fox Valley Technical College advisory committee.  

How do you think Fox Valley Technical College has impacted your company?

John Milanowski:  “With the pace of change in machining today we at Innovative Machining Inc. have worked hard to stay close to our customers, vendors and community technical college. The shortage of machinists in the Fox Valley is growing and at the same time job shops have needed to make greater capital investments to compete in this complex global market. Fox Valley Technical College has played a very important role in our growth. They have worked with our people in their Appleton and Neenah locations, as well as in our own building. Most companies understand and take advantage of their programs for training qualified machinists, but they offer much more. At Innovative Machining we have worked with them to help us develop our ISO, CAD/CAM and apprenticeship programs. They trained our people in First Aid, Lean Manufacturing, Human Resources, Geometric Tolerancing as well as developing the test we use to evaluate new employees. For more than ten years they have provided a great service to us and we see even greater opportunities in the future. “

Wayne Van Zeeland, Vice President of Van Zeeland Mfg., Inc. (VZM) in Little Chute, WI, www.vzmsprockets.com, and also a member of a Fox Valley Technical College advisory committee.

How does Fox Valley Technical College continue to impact the Fox River Valley community?

The Machine Tool Operation and CNC programming area is one that we at Van Zeeland Mfg. can speak for.  Starting with the curriculum from the basics of machining to advanced CNC programming, FVTC is a great match for the manufacturing industry in the valley.  The instructors have a real passion for their jobs and the CNC machining field.   They truly care about the students’ futures and want them to succeed in the job market.

The machine shop facility at FVTC is equipped with the latest and greatest CNC machine tools available in the market today.  It is clean, well lit, and organized which creates a great environment for learning.

FVTC has turned out many well-rounded, trained students and we at VZM have hired a number of them.  The students gain the knowledge and machining fundamentals at school, so we can train them to fit our processes and niche market.  In addition, they provide a great resource for advanced and specialized training to meet all our current and future needs.

Van Zeeland Mfg. was fortunate to sponsor and be involved with two high schools in the pioneer program at FVTC for designing and building mini-choppers.  This project came from the TV show, “Orange County Choppers”.    Students started with ideas about the sponsor’s logos and products, and then along with their high school’s mascot figure, had to incorporate these ideas into their design.  Students worked with instructors to completely:  design, budget, fabricate, machine, purchase components, electrical wire, paint, and then final assemble. This process gave students hands-on experience in the manufacturing environment by producing a complete product.  It was an awesome experience and VZM was proud to be a part of the project.

In closing, we are very fortunate to have a facility like FVTC in our area to enhance and develop one of the strongest assets at VZM, our employees.  We must continue to keep the valley strong in our manufacturing base by working together with local high schools to promote the trade programs.  Thanks to FVTC for their continued success in producing quality, skilled individuals ready to meet the demands of a very competitive market. “

Our government alone will not make this happen.  Private industry, schools and government must find a way to work together for the good of all.  They must be patient (results like this could take a generation).  They must donate personal time, talent — and money to make it work.  And finally, they must expect and demand a quality product (productive, creative, enthusiastic employees) from their partnership.