Executing Good Works

US Airways has become my airline of choice as of late. Even with the inconvenience of knowing that I will probably have to connect thru the Charlotte airport, I appreciate the value tradeoff between time and cost. This week, as I was waiting on a flight to take off, I casually picked up the latest copy of the US Airways Magazine and was pleasantly surprised to read the 50 page spread introducing a large audience to the nation’s HBCU colleges and universities and their longstanding traditions of curriculum for STEM (science, technology, engineering, and manufacturing) related careers. To read more about the schools, visit the full article found at

http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pace/usairways_august2013/#/50

Just as I hope the US Airways article helps to shatter myths associated with HBCUs to a broader audience, I feel the need to do a better job of executing our plans of educating the masses about the good works and careers available in manufacturing. There is an information gap about the jobs that are available in the industry. Part of the lack of knowledge is that when people think of manufacturing, the connotation of a dirty, oily, smelly work environment comes to mind. Based on my experiences in manufacturing, I can tell you that:

§  Manufacturing productivity is at an all-time high.

§  Manufacturing jobs continue to pay very competitive wages and benefits.

§  Modernized facilities have excellent working conditions and plant safety procedures have improved.

There are typically four career pathways in manufacturing: production workers, skilled trades, engineering, and support/managerial services (which include a wide variety of functional, professional, and executive-level vocations). What are the typical functions of production workers, whose work is generally a measure of time and cost? In other words, let’s answer the question of what are the best entry level jobs and training to begin a career in manufacturing. For example:

• Assembly Operators tend to manually put together or operate equipment that produces a finished product (just this morning I have seen ads for jobs ranging from assembling Igloo coolers to super microcomputers).
• Packaging and Filling Operators set up or tend machines to prepare industrial or consumer products for storage or shipment.
• Material Handlers or Conveyor Operators control equipment or conveyor systems that move materials or products to and from various production processes or locations within the plant.

So looking at the job functions, I agree that the responsibilities are not exciting, initially. If you can read basic instructions, perform basic math operations, and meet basic safety/quality/production goals, then there are job opportunities waiting for you. What if I re-engineered the job description to read that we are looking for people for good works with the ability to Measure! Anticipate! Communicate! Correct! Execute! Would that get you more excited about the good works that are available?

Most people do not recognize the humility of beginning as an entry level production worker and advancing their way up to executive level. I have gained some of my most insightful experiences in work and life because I have been there, done that, and can call a spade a spade. I value time and cost, two essential elements for executing good works. What do you value, tend to plan/measure, in your pursuit of your purposed work? Feel free to comment, or, send me an email at latanyua.robinson@gmail.com. If you like this post and want to catch up on some of my previous discussions, please visit the full Purposed Work blog at http://ltr-latrobe-mfg.blogspot.com/.