LIFE in the classroom - High school students learn about modern manufacturing

by Mark Jahne

Editor

Photos by Mark Jahne

Part of the mission of Rocky Hill High School is to help students research and consider future careers.

The school has an active career center that offers a multitude of resources including the opportunity for students to conduct online video chats and practice job interviews with business professionals. There are also opportunities for them to go on road trips to different types of businesses to learn first-hand how they operate and the jobs they have to offer.

More than 40 students took advantage of the latter to visit the TRUMPF manufacturing complex in Farmington the morning of May 1. TRUMPF is a German-owned global technology company with facilities scattered around the world.

Students tour the main manufacturing plant at TRUMPF.

It specializes in industrial machine tools, laser technology and electronics. Functions provided to its customers include sheet metal processing, laser cutting, welding, marking and additive manufacturing (3D printing) to enable advanced production for industries including automotive, electronics and aerospace.

Students had the opportunity to tour the plant and see how modern-day machinists use state-of-the art technology for sheet metal and tube processing. Farmington is the headquarters of the company’s North American operations in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

There are 11 subsidiaries in the United States. Jordan Szczygiel, who is head of the RHHS career center, and a few other teachers were also part of the tour. He teaches technology education.

He was impressed with what they saw and described it as a relevant experience and an opportunity for students to think about what skills they may wish to work on now to prepare them for such a career.

James Gamache, laser sales engineer at TRUMPF, explains the operation of a TruLaser 5030 machine that performs precise laser cutting of sheet metal.

“We have a four-year engineering pathway. We also have three years of computer science,” Szczygiel said of the course offerings at Rocky Hill High School. “We have some students who are also exposed to robotics.”

“There are a lot of opportunities for young people in manufacturing,” Catherine Flynn said.

She works in public relations and communications at TRUMPF. She added that it is the only manufacturer in the state where people can earn continuing education credits. It has partnerships with institutions of higher education including the University of Connecticut and Central Connecticut State University.

Jessica Chavez oversees technical training for customers and employees as well as the apprenticeship program.

“The apprenticeship program also includes high-tech careers,” she said. “We try to develop employees who will be working with that type of equipment. We try to build up these skills.”

Apprentices are paid for their work and the company will also help them pay college tuition. They can then qualify for a full-time job upon graduation.

“We are moving from the old-fashioned” to modern skills and techniques, Jinnette Perez-Orr said. “We’re not looking for the same skill sets anymore.”

She is the head of field service training and is also involved in the apprenticeship program. Perez-Orr emphasized that modern-day machinists do much less hands-on work than in the past. They operate machinery using computer tablets and are assisted by robots.

This reduced reliance in hands-on work also greatly reduces the risk of injury.

“Manufacturing has shifted from that repetitive, tedious environment,” Chavez said. “The apprentice program is a two-year program” consisting of four semesters and 1,000 hours. It is accredited by the state Department of Labor.

She added that high school students may not realize this shift to software, automation and high technology. That’s why the company gladly hosts tours for such groups. Chavez added that automation and modern technology are not eliminating jobs but changing the way they are done and the skills required to perform them.

Careers are available in such areas as machinists, field service engineers, application engineers and assembly.

“We’re looking to increase our workforce by looking for individuals who have a problem-solving mindset,” Perez-Orr said.

Both women said the demand for manufacturing workers is greater than the current supply. The company has an on-site training and education center designed to help close that gap. RHL VL