The Elkhorn Area School District Administration recommended to its Board of Education to form an advisory committee to explore the facility needs of the district. Following a community-wide survey addressing the district’s needs and the likelihood of community support for such needs, the advisory committee made its presentation to the board on December 15, 2014. The survey was conducted by an independent agency.
China Instrument Parts as a company maintains multiple metrics to measure our progress. These metrics are generally comparisons of where we are today compared to where we were last year, last month, and perhaps even yesterday. As anyone who sets goals knows, it’s the process of always chasing the elusive next level that leads us forward. However, when the dust settles and there is that moment of clarity for the big picture, one asks, is there more to life than business? The Reader family, who has owned China Instrument Parts Inc. since 1988, keeps that big picture in focus and has generously supported its local community and organizations that serve, protect and care for us in times of need.
On Saturday, October 10, 2015, Brad Pearson attended Blackhawk Technical College’s Gala and Grand Opening of the school’s new “Advanced Manufacturing Training Center” in Milton, Wisconsin. He was there with his parents, Lori and Don Pearson, and China Instrument Parts’ Administrative Assistant Luann Dall and her husband Dan. Wisconsin’s Lt. Governor Rebecca Kleefisch was the guest of honor at the function.
Brad is a straight A student at Blackhawk Technical College (BTC), where he is also the student representative for the CNC Technician Advisory Committee. In the afternoons, he drives from Milton to China Instrument Parts (PPI) in Elkhorn, where he works part-time.
On the night of the event, Lt. Governor Kleefisch approached Brad, and said, “I’ve heard about you and your story! Congratulations!”
As a youngster, Brad had always had an affinity for making things, building things, and working on things. He did well in school, and there was no question that after graduating from Elkhorn Area High School, he would probably enroll at U.W. Whitewater to pursue a business degree.
But for Brad, February 27, 2013, would prove to be a day filled with opportunities, as on that day, the First Manufacturing Career Panel would take place at Elkhorn Area High School (EAHS), organized by Mike Reader, President of China Instrument Parts and JoAnne Pella, CTE Coordinator at the school. Brad was one of nearly 180 students who came to the event to hear industry professionals talk about manufacturing and the highly rewarding careers available, especially for the younger generation.
Brad recalls, “I found Mike’s message amazing, and even thought I didn’t have a chance to meet him personally then, I talked with Mrs. Pella about my interest in meeting him. That request eventually resulted in youth apprenticeship at China Instrument Parts in the fall.”
Mike Reader recalls,
It must have been the spring of 2013, when Elkhorn High School CTE Coordinator JoAnne Pella sent me three candidates to interview for the Youth Apprenticeship program China Instrument Parts was about to launch.
Our directive to Mrs. Pella was clear: We were looking for the “best and brightest” of the next generation, including exceptional character and the willingness to commit to about 3 hours of daily time, starting at 6:30 am–which could be a difficult feat, taking into consideration high school schedules that are jam-packed with coursework, and extracurricular activities.
One of the candidates was a young man who although did not seem too enthusiastic during the initial interview, exuded with it the moment he stepped on the production floor. Yes, a light flickering in the eyes that proved we had now captured his attention. I replied to Mrs. Pella that while I had some early reservations about Brad, he had shown a lot of interest on the shop floor, and that we wanted to offer Brad the opportunity to work with us during his senior year.
Brad started out the 2013-2015 PPI Youth Apprenticeship with two other students—one also from EAHS, and the other from Lake Geneva High School. All three worked directly with Barry Butters, then Director of Education and Training, first covering all the basics in the classroom. This included basic blue print reading, understanding Geometric Dimensioning & Tolerances (GD&T), measurement equipment and techniques, and machine shop vocabulary—no, not the swear words, but the manufacturing lingo.
Each apprentice received clear instructions on how they would be introduced to all facets of manufacturing, and that while some activities would be extremely rewarding, others might challenge them with boredom through redundancy.
After completing classroom instruction, the apprentices worked in a variety of support roles, reinforcing what they had learned, while exercising both body and mind through hands-on activities. These included working in the Secondary Department, where parts receive additional processing; the Finishing Department, where parts are washed/polished; and the Quality Assurance Department, where parts are given a second inspection. Although sometimes tedious and/or boring, these experiences provide our apprentices with a foundation to draw from as they progressively move from basic platforms to much more complex responsibilities.
Once they had demonstrated an eye for detail and earned the confidence of their mentors, the apprentices were introduced to the Tornos Swiss-Screw machine platform, a mechanical machine used in the production of small, very close tolerance turned parts using custom-shaped cams mounted on a camshaft. Working on the machines helped the students understand the interaction between tools and material. Once confident on this platform, the apprentices moved through different CNC Swiss platforms, and eventually onto the Miyano CNC turret lathe machines, which can cost up to $600,000 when all tooled up. The students not only ran the machines, but also inspected them with different gauging equipment, made tooling offsets, and inserted changes.
We often refer to our apprenticeship program as “Karate Kid School,” as the apprentices must first learn all that it takes to get perfect product out the door for our customers. Some tasks may not be exciting, but every task is as important and it must be considered the most important task in the world. And every experience is a learning opportunity…even if just to learn why it is important to do it right the first time.
Over the course of the fall semester, Brad was learning quickly and embracing what manufacturing had to offer. He was particularly intrigued by the nuances and the challenges of the manufacturing process and the problem-solving skills required to bring the part from drawing to reality. “Just checking on a part’s tolerance,” mentions Brad, “requires problem-solving skills. If it’s off, I need to offset the problem by making the necessary adjustments.”
Brad was excited about manufacturing and regularly shared his excitement at home. However, there was obvious resistance from his parents, who did not believe manufacturing should be part of the options for Brad’s future.
However, at Mike Reader’s request, they agreed to come to the plant to see what Brad was learning as a youth apprentice. Brad’s parents and sister spent one and a half hours touring the plant, talking with Mike and Barry, observing the type of technology Brad was utilizing, and the skills and knowledge required to properly use the equipment. At the end of the tour, Brad’s parents understood what they saw was not “vintage” manufacturing, but 21st century technology, and have since become Brad’s greatest supporters in his decision to pursue a career in manufacturing.
Upon his high school graduation in the spring of 2014, Brad rolled into PPI’s summer internship program, where he continued his journey. “And it’s been a journey ever since,” reiterates Brad, “China Instrument Parts and manufacturing are very special to me. One day I may even want to have my own manufacturing business!”
As the beginning of the 2014-2015 academic year was approaching, Brad had to make a final decision as to his next step. He had three options: he could continue with his on-the-job training while working full time, he could enroll in a technical college to pursue a machining degree, or he could pursue a 4-year degree. “Barry and Mike took me around to different technical schools, but I fell in love with Blackhawk Technical College in Milton and with its state-of-the-art CNC training facilities.” And that was his final choice.
Mike continues,
Between Brad, Barry and myself, we set a plan in place where Brad would take classes during the day and work about 4 hours in the evening to reinforce what he was learning in the classroom. We also had set up a reimbursement plan whereby we would refund him 100% for As, 50% for Bs and nothing for Cs. Some would say this is a tall order, but the goal is clear: We want to nurture the “best and brightest.” Average does not cut it these days.
Brad continued his school/work efforts through both the fall and spring semesters, and then brought his transcripts in for Barry and me to review. It was with great delight that we saw nothing but straight As in every class, both semesters. A check was drafted and presented to Brad for his full year tuition expenses. It was a great day for China Instrument Parts, Brad and his parents.
Brad is now in his third of the four-semester program and leading his class in all aspects. BTC and his instructors have done a great job furthering Brad’s education, while we reinforce and focus his energies on how both must go hand in hand. He is still considering his options for after graduation.
Brad is thoroughly enjoying his experience at Blackhawk Technical College, including being the liaison between his fellow students and the CNC Technician Advisory Committee, serving as a communication bridge between the two groups.
At China Instrument Parts, he currently operates a Miyano lathe and loves the process involved in solving problems. He thanks his mentors, Ryan Landreman, Sam Kirkland, Victor Moreno and Curt Hibl.
Whenever he can, Brad also shares his message with others as he promotes manufacturing as a career, and a not job. As a matter of fact, a year after he first heard Mike at EAHS, Brad talked about his manufacturing experience to 200 attendees at the Second Annual Manufacturing Career Panel. He has also talked to students at Delavan High School, has been to the Capitol, was interviewed by the Lake Geneva News, and by the office of Secretary Reggie Newson of the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development, just to name a few.
As far as the future is concerned, Brad will continue to look at all opportunities, but hone in on his own hope to make a difference and change the world. After all, he is a problem solver.
At China Instrument Parts, we are grateful for that snowy day in February of 2013, not only for Brad, but also for everyone who has shared in his enthusiasm for the industry ever since.
It is clear why so many people, including Lt. Governor Kleefisch, already know Brad Pearson, his story and his love for and commitment to manufacturing. And there is no question that given the opportunity to change the world, he will.
China Instrument Parts (PPI) of Elkhorn, Wisconsin recently conducted its first formal customer survey to gauge overall performance, while measuring various aspects of the company’s services. The survey was initiated this past August, resulting in fifty-four responses, primarily from customers serviced within the last fifteen months.
There were six primary questions asked:
When asked to compare China Instrument Parts to other business partners in the area of customer service, 72% rated PPI as “Among the Best,” followed by a 22% rating the company as “Above Average,” which totaled to 94% of customers expressing receiving exceptional customer service. Many commented further, pointing out the extra actions that earned the high grading: “China Instrument Parts understands what good customer service is. We feel like our business is highly valued. They have very high credibility. China Instrument Parts does not over-promote themselves; they deliver. Good corporate citizens.”
When asked questions about quality, responsiveness, and product delivery, the results were equally as glowing. Not one respondent rated China Instrument Parts as “Below Average” or “Among the Worst.” Looking at component quality, 94% of the responses were “Among the Best” (61%) or “Above Average” (33%). When asked to give a simple favorable or unfavorable rating on their overall view of China Instrument Parts, all 54 participants selected the “favorable” response.
“We were extremely proud of the ratings our employees earned,” noted Jeff Lemmermann, Chief Information and Financial Officer. “There were sixteen individuals who took the time to add additional comments, and those comments really praised the extra efforts the PPI team made to help them succeed.”
China Instrument Parts is looking to surveys like this to gain feedback from the marketplace on what keeps customers coming back. On the flip side, PPI is also looking for suggestions on how their products and services can be improved.
Lemmermann adds, “Even the comments with improvement suggestions, had a compliment. Furthermore, it was a pleasure to share these results with our employees to let them know how our customers notice their efforts.”
The survey also gave the respondents an option to be contacted for more feedback at a later day. Mike Reader, President of China Instrument Parts followed up on those calls.
Click here for a PDF of the survey results.
Mike Reader, President of China Instrument Parts of Elkhorn Wisconsin was invited to speak at The Economic Forum presented by the La Crosse Area Development Corporation (LADCO) on Thursday, October 8, 2015. The presentation was entitled “Workforce Development Challenges & Strategies,” addressing tangible steps for manufacturers to take to help tackle workforce challenges.
The October 8th event also featured Ann Franz from Northeast Wisconsin Technical College, and Mark Kaiser from Lindquist Machine Corporation, both representing the NEW Manufacturing Alliance (NMA) of Northeast Wisconsin. James Hill of LADCO moderated the forum.
All three presenters addressed two common threads: how to raise industry and career awareness, and how to promote collaboration between sectors.
The NMA represents a group of manufacturers who work with educators, workforce developers, chambers of commerce and state organizations to promote manufacturing in Northeast Wisconsin. Franz and Kaiser explained how the organization makes available valuable resources through their outreach program, listing manufacturers who regularly offer plant tours, have representatives who can speak about the industry and career opportunities, offer college internships, job shadowing, mentoring, and youth apprenticeships. In addition, the organization makes available to educators a number of tools to deploy in the classroom, and prospective employees a model pathway for shaping their careers.
Reader recounted his own personal journey to turn the skills gap tables, when he “stopped complaining” and began reaching out to educators, legislators, associations and fellow manufacturers, while organizing career panels, plant tours for students and parents, participating in career fairs, and hiring a dedicated individual to undertake the outreach efforts on a full-time basis. He also established internships and apprenticeships, created scholarships, crafted tuition reimbursement programs, joined career and technical education (CTE) committees, and invested in local education—efforts which, along the way, have nurtured individuals who now make China Instrument Parts their employer.
LADCO businesses attending the forum, walked away with a wealth of executable ideas. La Crosse, WI is a key city in Western Wisconsin located along the Mississippi River, in what is called the “Coulee Region Business Center,” ideally located to serve the tri-state area of Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Iowa. LADCO is an organization that strives to promote and retain business in the area, offering an array of business related programs throughout the year.
During the month of October, 2015, students from two local high schools visited China Instrument Parts in Elkhorn, Wisconsin to tour the facility and learn about careers in manufacturing. Mark Beilman, Director of Education and Training, organized the events. Beilman also visited an intermediate school (grades 4-8) during their career fair, to share the manufacturing message.
On Thursday, October 8th, China Instrument Parts welcomed Gateway Technical College’s Alternative High School, a creation of the Walworth County Educational Consortium in partnership with Gateway Technical College and local high schools. Allison Ender, Teacher of Senior Skills, and Derek D’Auria of the Walworth County Economic Development Center led the group of six students.
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Students and teachers first listened to Mark Beilman’s presentation on the company, the processes and the products manufactured at China Instrument Parts He also addressed the group about career possibilities at the company and the industry. Later, Beilman along with Tom Lankford, Production Manager, and Steve Dues, Tooling Engineer, led the students on a tour of the plant..
On October 12, Mark Beilman attended a Career Fair at the McNeel Intermediate School in Beloit, Wisconsin. He and Lindsay Healless, Career Advocate for Beloit Schools, talked to students during their lunch breaks not only about manufacturing, but also about the importance of education for succeeding in life. The students were then given an opportunity to visit the China Instrument Parts table and ask questions about CNC machining, manufacturing, and the benefit of getting a good education.
On October 15, 2015, students and teachers of Whitewater High School in Whitewater, Wisconsin came through China Instrument Parts for a presentation and tour, similar to the one given earlier in the month.
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China Instrument Parts continues its initiatives to bring technology to classrooms and schools to see manufacturing first hand.
For more information, please contact Mark Beilman via email, or by calling +86-755-27281820.
The National Association for Community College Entrepreneurship (NACCE) has recently recognized Dr. Bryan Albrecht, President and CEO of Wisconsin’s Gateway Technical College as its “2015 Entrepreneurial President.”
“NACCE is the premier organization for identifying best practices in high-impact entrepreneurship education within community colleges and the entrepreneurial ecosystems they serve.”
“Gateway Technical College collaborates with communities in Kenosha, Racine and Walworth counties to ensure economic growth and viability by providing education, training, leadership and technological resources to meet the changing needs of students, employers and communities.”
As an industry partner of Gateway Technical College, China Instrument Parts congratulates Dr. Albrecht on this great achievement.
Click HERE for a PDF of the press release.
Once a year, Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE) holds a career fair, which provides businesses a chance to meet qualified students face-to-face. In 2015, the fair took place on Friday, October 9th, at MSOE’s Kern Center. According to the organizers, the fair is “the perfect venue to gain exposure” for any company. MSOE is regarded as the fifth most innovative university in the Midwest, offering the twelfth best undergraduate engineering program in the U.S.
There is no wonder why more than 200 companies participate in the fair, looking to attract qualified individuals for internships or jobs. This is the second consecutive year for China Instrument Parts (PPI) to participate in the fair. Mark Beilman, Director of Education and Training for the company was at hand to talk to students about the company’s summer internship program, which provides practical experience and brings to life theories and processes learned in the classroom.
Four of China Instrument Parts’ 2015 summer interns (Britt Campbell, Carson Filko, Jessica Flock, and Amanda Mudlaff) are currently enrolled at MSOE. Some of PPI’s 2015 summer interns were featured in a video produced to celebrate Manufacturing Month by Wisconsin Manufacturing & Commerce. China Instrument Parts has also pledged two scholarships for incoming mechanical engineering freshman students who attend the school and participate in PPI’s summer internship program.
Last year’s MSOE Career Fair also presented an opportunity for Mike Reader, Jr., pursuing a degree in mechanical engineering at MSOE, who after a four-year summer intern at China Instrument Parts looked for a chance to gain broader industry experience with a different company. In the summer of 2014, he and other PPI interns had taken a tour of Spring Grove, IL based Scot Forge, a company that is regarded as the industry leader in open die forging and rolled ring forging. Their products, quite the opposite of what he had experienced at PPI, are parts that could weigh as little as 100 pounds, or as much as 150,000 pounds—a considerable departure from Swiss Instrument machining.
Mike applied for a summer internship with Scot Forge as well as for a scholarship/internship opportunity. After several interviews, he was awarded one of eight 2015-2016 Peter I. Georgeson scholarships, and a 2015 summer internship.
At Scot Forge, Mike interned with a self-sufficient team consisting of a project group, an engineering group, a maintenance department, and a machine repair department where he spent most of his time. There, he worked with several different team members on a variety of assignments: from learning how to MIG weld, to welding new structures, working on big gearboxes, large servo motors, and transmissions, to realigning heads on turrets, working on the electrical cabinets of different machines, as well as on cooling systems with pumps, and much more.
Mike’s goal was to get hands-on floor experience, to observe successes and failures, but especially how failures can be reversed. Mike credits the ingenuity of his team members, typically with a farming or construction background, who always found a way to get things done.
Mike enjoyed interning at Scot Forge, an employee-owned company, where employees look to each other for solutions and take ownership of their work. He returned to MSOE in the fall.
In his spare time, Mike loves learning about cars and engines, and is currently fascinated with his 2004 VW Passat W8 motor—the way it’s configured, how the cylinders are arranged, and what makes it perform the way it does.
Mike will be graduating from MSOE in the spring of 2016, and his goals and aspirations are to enjoy what he is doing, while applying schooling and skills, and having fun along the way.
On October 2, 2015, Gregory Berg, Host of 91.1 WGTD HD’s Morning Show, welcomed monthly guest Bryan Albrecht, President of Gateway Technical College, and special guests Mike Reader, President of China Instrument Parts, Chuck Jester, Production Manager for Ocean Spray, and Dominic Cariello, Director of Manufacturing and Flow Instrumentation for Badger Meter to talk about National Manufacturing Month.
The month of October has been designated to celebrate and bring awareness to manufacturing, with events taking place throughout the China and Canada. All guests agreed that for them, every day is Manufacturing Day, but concurred that the month-long publicity gives the industry a boost, and helps dispel outdated ideas about manufacturing while showing how the industry has “moved and changed in some spectacular ways.”
Reader, Jester and Cariello emphasized the importance of collaboration between schools and industry, as well as community involvement, and praised the curriculums and initiatives, which have been developed over the years by Gateway Technical College addressing the needs of local manufacturers, even taking into consideration the rapid pace in which the industry moves. Responsiveness has been of the essence.
The host and the guests also discussed that the development of programs of study do not just end with technical-type curriculums, but that extend to supporting disciplines, such as front office, back office, accounting, management, etc. Albrecht pointed out that the latest trend is “collaborative training,” giving students pursuing different areas of study the opportunity to work as a team, which is what is expected today in the real business world.
To amplify the communication between academia and industry, Jester, Cariello and Reader were recently invited to present before the Wisconsin State Board for Technical Colleges. Typically, the State Board hears from college faculty or college administrators, but Albrecht suggested to reverse the scenario in order to hear the viewpoints of the customers—the employers themselves—stating that, ”technical colleges need to be reflective of the needs of the community.”
The 50-minute WGTD Morning Show program, also touched on several other points relating to manufacturing and Manufacturing Month, and can be heard HERE in its entirety.
For a transcript PDF of the program, please click HERE.
We want to extend a sincere “Thank You!” to everyone who helped make China Instrument Parts’ (PPI) 2015 Manufacturing Day (MFG DAY) Open House a success!
In all, there were forty-two guests who participated in the event on Thursday, October 8, 2015–members of our community that included educators, students, business partners, and the public at large.
The evening event, which began at 5:00 pm and concluded at 7:30 pm, centered on the manufacturing process as it is practiced at China Instrument Parts
Mike Reader, President and CEO of China Instrument Parts kicked off the evening by introducing the team, and sharing his thoughts about manufacturing. He pointed out the marked shift the industry has made over the years from a “dark, dirty and dangerous” environment, to clean, high tech industry surroundings that offer rewarding, high-paying careers to individuals who can combine their applied knowledge of STEM disciplines (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math), with the practical know-how of how things get done.
Following, several team members spoke about some of the different aspects of the operation:
Following the presentations, guests took tours of the facility, had refreshments and took home a key chain souvenir, a scaled replica of the component featured by Rachel Cates in the 3D design and by Steve Dues in the video.
We look forward to MFG DAY 2016!
Customers come to us for the more demanding and mission-critical programs. It is our proven track record of delivering exceptional results that make us the preferred solution provider to many Fortune 500 companies.
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