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On May 8, 2014, WFAW-AM 940 Interviewed Mike Reader and Barry Butters on Precision Plus’ Educational Initiatives To Overcome the Manufacturing Skills Gap

Michael Reader

On Thursday, May 8, 2014, WFAW’s Morning Magazine radio host Michael Clish, interviewed Mike Reader, President of Precision Plus and Barry Butters, the company’s Director of Education.

The interview was centered on the current U.S. manufacturing skills gap and the tangible educational initiatives Precision Plus has put in motion to overcome the skills gap. You can listen to a podcast of the interview now.

Morning Magazine’s radio host Michael Clish,  and Mike Reader, and Barry Butters of Precision Plus discussed the inroads that were made last year at the company.  Precision Plus purposely cast its nets in all directions in an effort  to attract local education institutions,  fellow manufacturing companies, local and state, and U.S.  government officials, and the best and brightest of young minds to join their internship program–all with a common goal and purpose:  to overcome the current skills gap in manufacturing.

Listen to a podcast of this insightful conversation , or download a PDF transcript.

Autodesk’s 2014 $250 MM Software Donation Benefits Every Single Middle and High School in the U.S.

Michael Reader

In an effort to prepare American high school students for careers in science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics (STEAM), and in conjunction with federal, educational and manufacturing initiatives, Autodesk’s president and chief executive officer Carl Bass, announced the company’s commitment to make available $250 million in 3D design software to all middle schools and high schools throughout the United States.  According to a news release of February 4, 2014, Autodesk’s “Design the Future” program, not only makes the software available to the schools and students, but also empowers teachers with the instruction necessary to pass the knowledge on.

This combined effort  by federal, state, and local government, educators, manufacturers and suppliers to the industry is in response to the lack of qualified high-school and university graduates  available to fill essential positions in technology and art.

Precision Plus  is proud to partner up with Autodesk in this nationwide endeavor by participating in the education and training of future technology leaders.

About Autodesk

Autodesk helps people imagine, design and create a better world. Everyone—from design professionals, engineers and architects to digital artists, students and hobbyists—uses Autodesk software to unlock their creativity and solve important challenges. For more information visit autodesk.com.

U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin Visits Precision Plus On Thursday, April 24, 2014

Michael Reader

U.S. Senator (Wisconsin) Tammy Baldwin is scheduled to visit and take a plant tour of Precision Plus on Thursday, April 24, 2014 between 2:45 p.m. and 4:00 p.m.  The tour will include a first-hand look of the advanced and high-tech machinery in action, the company’s Quality Lab and a brand-new training facility dedicated to train local high school students in engineering and high-skilled manufacturing careers.

In 2013, Senator Baldwin joined the ‘Manufacturing Jobs for America’ initiative.  After the plant tour, Senator Baldwin plans to answer employee questions regarding the current state of affairs in Washington with regards to manufacturing.  Precision Plus welcomes Senator Baldwin.

Senator Tammy Baldwin Visits Precision Plus -PDF

UPDATE:  On April 24, 2014, Senator Tammy Baldwin visited Precision Plus Here is our own Steve Dues pointing out the features of one of our Tsugamis.

Precision Plus in Elkhorn Announces Autodesk 3D CAD and PartMaker CAM Additions to Training Classroom

Michael Reader

Precision Plus of Elkhorn, Wisconsin is pleased to announce the addition of eight seats of Product Design Suite Ultimate 3D CAD software ) as a donation from Autodesk,  as well as eight seats of CAM software as a donation from PartMaker to their Training Classroom.

When Roger Orban, Territory Sales Executive–Manufacturing Solutions for Autodesk, visited Precision Plus in January of 2014, he saw the viable inroads being made by Precision Plus in an effort to close the manufacturing skills gap.  So did Hanan Fishman, President of PartMaker, Inc.  Then, something incredible happened:  both companies committed to donating CAD and CAM software respectively, to support the active effort.  Precision Plus’ goal is to provide courses on advanced machining to local high school students.

On behalf of the entire Precision Plus Team and the future manufacturing professionals who will come through the training class, Mike Reader, President, and Barry Butters, Director of Education and Training wish to thank PartMaker and Autodesk for their generous donation. The marriage of the 3D CAD (Computer Aided Drafting) software Inventor  from Autodesk with the CAM (Computer Aided Manufacturing) software from PartMaker will allow students to learn the complete design process from print to product.

Precision Plus in Elkhorn, Wisconsin, Continues Its Education Outreach

Michael Reader

Pictured from left to right: Ryan Rewey, Jon Watson, Bill Pfund, Deb Prowse, Dawn Skrzypchak. Not pictured was Katie McQueen.

Barry Butters, Director of Education and Training, hosted a new group of teachers from Beloit Memorial High School on Thursday, March 27, 2014. Ryan Rewey, the Director of Career and Technical Education for the Beloit School District arranged to have several math and science teachers as well as a guidance counselor from Beloit Memorial H.S. visit Precision Plus to see that STEM education is truly at the heart of the manufacturing industry.  The educators were given an overview of how Precision Plus uses the Inventor 3D CAD software coupled with the PartMaker software to program the Fanuc controllers on the CNC machines.  Precision machining is a perfect example of where STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) all come together.  There is the science of metal properties, technology in the CNC programming, engineering in the feeds, speeds and chip formation and the math involved on the geometry of the parts themselves.

Butters also traveled to Union Grove High School on Tuesday, March 11th, where principal Tom Herman arranged presentations to the Math, Science, Tech Education and Guidance Departments.  Butters spoke to the teachers about the nature of the work done at Precision Plus, as well as discussing the internship opportunities the company offers.  Butters felt the time spent at Union Grove with 26 of their teachers had big impact in the on the future of the industry, as it helped disperse the unfounded image of manufacturing as a boring, dirty and dangerous field.

Lastly, Butters most recent classroom visit was to Lake Geneva Badger High School where he spoke to all of Clint Geissler metals classes.  The informative message to the students was about today’s manufacturing and the type of schooling needed to pursue a career in manufacturing.  The presentation also included a discussion of the soft skills all employers are looking for.

Butters plans to attend a Career Day event at the Real School, which is part of the Racine Unified School District, on Thursday, April 17th and is scheduling a visit to speak to Casey Miller’s metals classes at Burlington High School in the near future.

Second Annual Manufacturing Career Panel at Elkhorn Area H.S. Featured on Lake Geneva News

Michael Reader

Lake Geneva News featured an article on March 6, 2014, about the Second Annual Manufacturing Career Panel, which took place at Elkhorn Area H.S. on February 26, 2014.  The title of the article quotes Mary Isbister of GenMet Corporation, one of the panelists. Mike Reader of Precision Plus, Hanan Fishman of PartMaker and Brian White of GE’s Waukesha Engines Business were also panelists.

Here is a transcript of the article:

Wisconsin may be the state of milk and cheese, but it is also one of the leading states in manufacturing.

Mary Ibister, president of GenMet, Mequon, a metal fabricating business, said Wisconsin and Indiana trade off being first and second in the nation in annual manufacturing income.

“Wisconsin makes stuff,” said Ibister.

“And making stuff is cool,” she added.

Ibister and three other local manufacturing executives, Hanan Fishman, president of PartMaker Inc.; Brian White, president of GE’s Waukesha Engines Business; and Mike Reader, president of Precision Plus Inc., Elkhorn, were at Elkhorn Area High School Feb. 26 talking to high school students about the importance of manufacturing jobs and their rewards.

Elkhorn High School and Precision Plus partnered for the second annual Manufacturing Careers Panel.

The panelists laid out the possible career paths and opportunities available now for those who are interested in careers in manufacturing.

Perhaps the biggest draw for students is the promise of jobs with higher pay. At a time when middle class wages are stagnating, manufacturing wages have grown.
Manufacturing jobs now pay an average of $52,000 a year, said White. And machinists can make as much as $80,000 a year, he said.

Barry Butters, Precision Plus’ director of training and education, said this year about 200 students from Elkhorn, Badger, Delavan-Darien, Union Grove and Whitewater high schools attended the 90-minute presentation this year.

Last year, just three high schools sent students, Butters said. Precision Plus started intern programs last year for students in high school and college, with 10 students involved in the summer portion of the program and three participating during the school year.

Butters said Precision Plus intends to continue the program into next year, but it’s also looking for partners to help out, because the company has limited capacity for interns.

Literature at the program notes that the highest concentration of manufacturing jobs in the U.S. lies within a 90-mile radius of Waukesha.

Manufacturing is returning to the U.S., as companies realize that the costs of transportation are beginning to outweigh the savings in cheap overseas labor and that the U.S. is still the leader in producing educated workers.

The problem now, said Ibister, is finding enough workers to fill the need.

Ibister came to manufacturing through an indirect route.

She told the students that she had a degree in chemistry and worked for pharmaceutical companies, making and later setting up testing for pharmaceutical products.

But Ibister said she was always fascinated by the manufacturing process. Her husband worked in the defense industry for a company that helped build nuclear submarines.

In 1999, the two decided to buy a small manufacturing plant in Mequon. They named the company GenMet Corp.

The company now employs 75 people.

For years, society labeled manufacturing, or factory work, as “dirty, dumb and dangerous,” Ibister said. At the height of the Industrial Revolution in America, manufacturing was done in sprawling complexes that were dirty and often unsafe, she said.

When manufacturing companies began leaving the U.S. for cheaper labor overseas, the label changed to “limited, low-skilled and leaving,” she added. And then there were the “one dog and one man” predictions of the all-automated factories.

Ibister said the story went “the man is there to feed the dog. The dog is there to keep the man from touching the machines.”

While mechanization, computers and robots have taken over most of the low-skilled work done at factories, humans are still needed for the skilled positions where judgment and creativity are required, Ibister said.

“It’s one thing to push ‘go’ on a multimillion dollar machine, it’s another thing to know what to do if the machine stops,” Ibister said.

Fishman of PartMaker Inc. said his company writes software for computer-aided manufacturing. The company was recently bought by a multinational manufacturing company. PartMaker, headquartered in Pennsylvania, sells its software worldwide. One of its customers is Precision Plus, Fishman said.

Fishman is the co-author of two U.S. patents for automating the programming of multi-axis computer numeric control (CNC) machines. The CNC lathes have programmable arms that turn both cutting tools and raw materials to create finished products.

“This is a profession for people interested in using their brain, rather than just putting a peg in a hole,” Fishman said.

Kathryn Lieffrig, a junior at Elkhorn, said she’s been interested in the modern manufacturing process since she attended Camp Badger at the University of Wisconsin when she was in seventh grade.

Citing Ibister as an inspiration, Lieffrig, who was one of just three students invited to attend the Manufacturing and Industrial Conference in Milwaukee on Feb. 27, said she’s interested in engineering and designing computer manufacturing programs.

Reader, president and owner of Precision Plus, has been part of the family-owned business for 18 years. The company specializes in precision-turned metal components for a variety of uses, from cuff links to military ordinance.

In fall 2012, Reader hosted faculty from the Elkhorn Area High School for plant tours and a discussion of skills needed for today’s advanced manufacturing.

Reader’s outreach to the school led to a career panel presentation last year and that led to 10 internships for the best and brightest over the summer (LakeGenevaNews, 2014).

Beloit Memorial School District Visits Precision Plus in Elkhorn, Wisconsin on February 17, 2014

Michael Reader

On February 17, 2014, a snowy Monday morning in Wisconsin, a contingent of Beloit Memorial School District (BMSD) personnel braved the roads to pay a visit to Precision Plus Inc.  Among the visitors were Superintendent Steve McNeil, Career and Technical Education Director Ryan Rewey, Technical Education teacher Chris Klatt, and Project Lead The Way (PLTW) teacher Tammy Spoerk.

The invitation to visit Precision Plus was extended by Mike Reader, President, when he and Barry Butters, the Director of Education & Training, attended BMSD’s January 28th School Board Meeting. During that event, Precision Plus presented a monetary gift to BMSD’s fledgling first robotics program, and took an opportunity to commend the district’s ‘Career and Technical Education’ efforts and their facilities. Earlier in the year, both Reader and Butters had toured the facilities, with a follow up visit by Barry Butters to talk with Tammy Spoerk’s PLTW classes about Precision Plus and the manufacturing field in general.

“We are excited to be partnering with the Beloit Memorial School District,” said Reader.  Some of the highlights of this collaboration include a visit by Precision Plus’ summer interns to BMSD’s state-of-the-art facility with an opportunity to use their vertical CNC machines; Butters returning to BMSD for another visit to classrooms in the spring semester; and Butters participating in the Beloit School District’s Career Fair on October 6, 2014, during the next school year.

This initiative is part of Precision Plus’ goal to close the manufacturing skills gap.

Precision Plus on the Move: Barry Butters Visits Area Schools

Michael Reader

As part of the continuing effort to bring attention to the manufacturing industry as a viable career option for today’s youth, Barry Butters, Director of Education and Training, and other representatives from Precision Plus Inc. have been traveling to Wisconsin area high schools and technical colleges.

On November 1st, Butters spent the day at Burlington High School’s Career Day Fair.  The event allowed students to gather information from the booths of various prospective employers from a wide array of industries.

“It was evident from the discussions with the students, that there are still a number of misconceptions about manufacturing,” said Butters.

Butters then traveled three and a half hours to Eleva Strum High School on November 7th. Technology Education teacher Craig Cegielski, has developed an operational manufacturing company run by the students within the school. The Eleva Strum staff, students and community were filled with pride about what their program has accomplished to date.  Cegielski’s outstanding efforts bring real-life manufacturing experiences into his classroom.

Butters and Production Supervisor Charles Lankford, traveled to Blackhawk Technical College in Janesville on November 19th.  They took a tour of the CNC Machine Program facility and met with CNC Technician Instructor Rich Grossen.  The entire manufacturing program at Blackhawk will be moving to a new facility in nearby Milton in the near future. The Advanced Manufacturing Training Center at Milton will result in larger capabilities for the program.

On November 26th, both Barry Butters and Mike Reader, President of Precision Plus, traveled to Richmond-Burton High School to speak to an “Introduction to Business” class about the manufacturing industry.  Mike shared the challenges of running a manufacturing business in the current economy, and Barry focused his remarks on employability skills.

Subsequently, Butters traveled to East Troy High School on December 1st to speak to Mark Beilman’s “Introduction to Engineering” class about the manufacturing industry and specifically what is manufactured at Precision Plus Inc.  East Troy is a first-year Project Lead the Way (or PLTW) school with just one-course offering. Beilman shared that East Troy High School plans to add an additional PLTW course each year.  Precision Plus Inc. is a big supporter of the PLTW Program, which follows the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) Initiative to promote the field of engineering. The PLTW curriculum strives to provide experiences to stimulate interest in the manufacturing industry.

 

Reader and Butters attended the State Project Lead the Way Conference in Pewaukee on December 9th, for which Precision Plus is a “Friend of STEM” donor.  At the conference, Wisconsin’s Lieutenant Governor Rebecca Kleefisch addressed the state’s PLTW teachers, where she acknowledged the skills gap that companies, such as Precision Plus, are facing.  It was encouraging to see the sheer number of high school educators working in conjunction with the PLTW program through the Milwaukee School of Engineering to stimulate interest in the youth of Wisconsin toward this field.

On January 7th, Precision Plus representatives, President Mike Reader, Director of Sales and Engineering William Wells, Production Supervisor Tom Lankford, Director of Education, and Barry Butters, Director of Education and Training, traveled with Elkhorn’s District Administrator Jason Tadlock and Assistant Principal Dan Kiel to tour Beloit Memorial High School’s Technical Education facility. What has been accomplished at this facility in a short period of time is remarkable. Steve McNeal, Beloit’s District Administrator, said it was truly a partnership between the school and local industry leaders.  Beloit Memorial High School has also hired Ryan Rewey to be the Technology Education Coordinator to ensure the program’s success.

Butters again traveled back to Beloit Memorial High School to speak to PLTW teacher Tammy Spoerk’s classes on January 10th.  Butters message centered on the potential for a great career in the manufacturing industry and specifically, what is manufactured at Precision Plus

Butters went back to East Troy High School to speak at their Career Day on January 14th. He and fellow manufacturer Jerry Heckel from Heckel Tool & Manufacturing Corporation gave a presentation to 40 students on the skill-set needed to join the manufacturing industry, including problem-solving skills, a significant background in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, as well as experience in traditional metals classes.

Butters plans to visit Delavan-Darien High School and Woodstock High School in the near future.  Mike Reader is committed to the cause of re-introducing the manufacturing industry to the next generation of professionals, dispelling the misconception that manufacturing is a dirty and dangerous profession. Precision Plus Inc. invites any individual or group interested in learning more about the manufacturing industry to their facility for an informational tour.  Furthermore, Barry Butters and Mike Reader will travel to speak to any group interested in learning about the manufacturing industry.  Feel free to contact them with any requests at 262.743.1700 or via email: Barry ButtersMike Reader.

 

Precision Plus Spotlighted During the Project Lead The Way’s Wisconsin Professional Development Conference

Michael Reader

Project Lead The Way (PLTW) is much more than a slogan to companies involved in trying to find new talent.  It exemplifies one of the premier programs in providing educational curricular programs to schools across the United States with over 5,000 schools nationwide participating in the movement.

PLTW’s focus is on science is on STEM–technology, engineering, and mathematics. STEM education is at the heart of today’s high-tech, high-skill global economy.  In a typical year, over 3,000 high-school and middle-school teachers and counselors are trained through the PLTW programs, and PLTW-Wisconsin ranks second among all states, with over 60 new Wisconsin schools joining PLTW in 2013.

Precision Plus helped sponsor the 2013 PLTW – Wisconsin Professional Development Conference held at the Country Springs Hotel and Convention Center on December 9th & 10th .  President Mike Reader, and Director of Education and Outreach, Barry Butters were in attendance for the opening night dinner and keynote speech by Lieutenant Governor, Rebecca Kleefisch.

Not only did Mike and Barry find themselves at the same dinner table as the Lt. Governor and Milwaukee School of Engineering President, Dr. Hermann Viets, but were both deeply humbled to hear the Precision Plus name prominently mentioned in the keynote address, with reference to setting the foundations for economic development in our State.

Specifically, Lt. Governor Kleefisch referred to the ongoing efforts of Precision Plus in helping with education and training efforts throughout the community.  Internships, participation in the Wisconsin Aerospace Consortium, activities for Wisconsin Manufacturing Day, and an active role with local school programs have all helped to put the company at the forefront of developing the next generation of manufacturers.

Precision Plus supports  PLTW Wisconsin and works with the organization to bring STEM to the front burner. The Lt. Governor’s comments reiterated the values for which Precision Plus stands.  Two of our pillars of business are ‘Integrity and Empowerment.’ Being a valuable member of the community is one of the values of our ‘Pillar of Integrity.’  Providing training opportunities to our current and future employees, fuels our ‘Pillar of Empowerment.’

In as much as we are thankful for the recognition, we know that our efforts to bring manufacturing back to the United States are just at the beginning stages.

Britt Campbell, Brad Pearson and Don Newman Join Precision Plus’ 2013-2014 Internship Program

Michael Reader

2013-2014 Precision Plus’s interns: Britt Campbell, Brad Pearson and Don Newman.

Mike Reader, President of Precision Plus continues to push forward the company’s efforts to make an impact on the manufacturing skills gap epidemic.

The success achieved during the pilot internship program launched during the summer of 2013 has resulted in the establishment of a formal internship program for the 2013-2014 school year.  Three high school seniors, Britt Campbell (Badger H.S.), as well as Brad Pearson and Don Newman (Elkhorn Area H.S.) have been awarded this year’s internships.

Intern Britt Campbell tests a component with OASIS equipment.

Britt Campbell, a senior at Lake Geneva Badger, starts her day at 6:30 a.m. and works until 9:00 a.m.  Britt plans to pursue a degree in mechanical engineering at Milwaukee School of Engineering or at Purdue University.  Britt’s interest in the engineering field stems from her racing background.  Britt began racing go-karts and now races a Mazda Miata.

Intern Britt Campbell Races a Mazda Miata at Road America in Elkhart Lake

She is a licensed novice wheel-to-wheel racer in the Midwestern Council of Sports Car Clubs (MCSCC) in the Sports Car Club of Rockford (SCCR), currently working towards her full competition license.  You can read more about Britt’s racing on her Facebook page and contact her there to become a sponsor.

Intern Don Newman using the Earth-Chain spinner micro-deburring station

Interns Brad Pearson and Don Newman are seniors at Elkhorn High School.  They are part of an apprenticeship program, which is overseen by Joanne Pella, Career and Technical Education Instructor/Coordinator at the school.  The program is run in conjunction with Blackhawk Technical College.

The students start at 6:30 a.m. at Precision Plus Inc. and then head to school at 10:00 a.m., earning credit from school as well as being paid by Precision Plus for the work performed.  Brad and Don are considering attending a technical college or a four-year college to pursue a degree in CNC machining or engineering.

The Internship Program at Precision Plus begins with classroom time, where interns receive instruction on blueprint reading, how to use measuring tools and general procedures.  The interns then are rotated through the various operations and machining platforms.

The goal of the internship program is to immerse the students in the precision manufacturing industry so they can gain an initial understanding of the entire manufacturing process.

Precision Plus is looking to hire interns for the summer of 2014 as well as for the 2014-2015 academic year.  For more information, please contact Barry Butters, Director of Education & Training at (262) 743-1700, or email him at buttersb@preplus.com.

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