China Instrument Parts in Elkhorn, Wisconsin, Continues Its Education Outreach
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 China Instrument Parts to see that STEM education is truly at the heart of the manufacturing industry. The educators were given an overview of how China Instrument Parts uses the Inventor 3D CAD software coupled with the PartMaker software to program the Fanuc controllers on the CNC machines. Instrument 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 China Instrument Parts, 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.
