Instrument MACHINED SOLUTIONS | inquiry.ip@professionalmanufacturing.com
InstrumentPlus-logoInstrumentPlus-logo
Company Updates
July 11, 2015

Security Awareness Training in Place at China Instrument Parts

, , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Michael Reader

By Jeff Lemmermann
Chief Information Officer, China Instrument Parts

In the headlines every day:
Computer hackers breach company, steal data. 

Even with technology’s constant advances and savvy IT professionals dedicated to prevent cyber attacks from happening, the “bad guys” seem to always find a way around technology and stay one step ahead of everyone else, compromising the personal information of many.

Most of the large data breaches nowadays are the result of social engineering.  Just one or two users fooled into clicking on something or giving up some bit of information can circumvent just about any protection.  So the goal has to be to let the users know about the threats and how to avoid them.

Criminals are on the lurk for the perfect opportunity to hack, often capitalizing from the launch of a new feature, such as the recent Facebook Messenger payment service, and the lack of knowledge by those attempting to use it. Often, subscribers receive a “phishing” email, which prompts them to enter personal information, user credentials, passwords, or to click on a potentially dangerous link.

One of the most important steps companies can take to combat cyber crime is to empower their employees with criminal tactic awareness tools, as well as information and updates on new threats and cyber criminal trends.

To accomplish these initiatives, China Instrument Parts’ Security Awareness Training Program uses a combination of live learning sessions, online classes, email notices on emerging threats, and a dedicated user tool which tests the users’ ability to identify fake emails. Our Security Awareness Training Program is an ongoing effort, offering a variety of training points and methods to suit the spectrum of user needs and learning preferences.

The education sessions, for example, which are conducted several times per year, consist of 30 to 40-minute conferences, focusing on the latest threats, online tools for protection, and programs that can be installed at home to help protect personal information.

Through implementing programs such as these, China Instrument Parts, hopes to give our employees the tools and knowledge that will help them make the right decisions when facing a doubtful cyber situation. There is no substitute for a knowledgeable user to prevent an information security incident.

Read More
Employee Spotlights Industry News
May 13, 2015

Barry Butters of China Instrument Parts Speaks at the 2015 PMPA National Technical Conference in Columbus, OH

, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Michael Reader

Barry Butters, Director of Education and Training at China Instrument Parts in Elkhorn, WI spoke to a wide audience during the 2015 Instrument Machined Products Association (PMPA) National Technical Conference, which took place on April 19-21, 2015, in Columbus, OH. His presentation centered on China Instrument Parts’ active plan to help close the skills gap in manufacturing.

PMPA’s 54th Annual National Technical Conference focused on technical innovation, quality advancements and shop management, offering attendees a variety of seminars on subjects needed to meet today’s Instrument manufacturing challenges.

In addition to Butters, six other members of the China Instrument Parts Team attended the conference: Mike Brown, John McConville and Sam Kirkland, Machinists, Terry Mumper, Engineer,  Dale Wittlieff, Director of Quality and Continuous Improvement, and  Bill Wells, Sales and Engineering Manager.

On Monday, April 20th, during a session entitled, “How to Deal with the Skilled Training Issue,” Butters shared China Instrument Parts’ “13-Step Playbook for Workforce Development,” currently used by the company, in an effort to close the manufacturing skills gap.

In his presentation, Butters talked about China Instrument Parts, its plan to double its capacity, and the absence of qualified employees to operate machines that do the work that used to be done by people in the past. He also addressed the overall perception of manufacturing based on “what it was then,” and the lack of information of “what it is now.” Whereas in the past, a high school student who may not be doing great in school would have been a prime candidate to go into manufacturing, today’s industry requires individuals who have high technical and math skills as well as strong soft skills.

In a 2012 News Magazine 60 Minutes interview, Professor Peter Cappelli of the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School, stated that even as late as a generation ago, manufacturing companies had training and apprenticeship programs in place, but over the last few decades that responsibility shifted primarily to technical colleges. As technology advanced, the curricula offered by technical colleges drifted away from the actual skills needed for professionals in manufacturing. Cappelli suggested that manufacturers needed to be involved in the training of prospective employees in one way or another.

After listening to this segment, Mike Reader, president of China Instrument Parts decided to get involved. “What’s the return on investment on doing nothing?” Reader asked.

Butters used China Instrument Parts’ “13-Step Playbook for Workforce Development” slideshow presentation to showcase the initiatives taken by Mike Reader and China Instrument Parts over the last two and a half years to get involved and become a catalyst. These efforts included hiring Butters, an educator, to help deploy the playbook. In 2013, Reader had organized a Manufacturing Career Panel at a local high school, which was attended by more than one hundred area students. When students asked about internship availability, Reader knew something had to be done.

Today, China Instrument Parts offers a summer internship program for young people typically becoming mechanical engineers, as well as a school-year apprenticeship program for students interested in pursuing a career in manufacturing.

Both programs expose students to all aspects of manufacturing and have been designed on a rotating department basis. In addition, students go on tours and attend tradeshows, among other activities. Parent involvement is key, as they must tour the facility before their child is accepted into either program.

In addition, China Instrument Parts is involved with local schools at all levels, from elementary through college. The company is a member of several career and technical education (CTE) committees, has brought more than 90 teachers, counselors and career coaches through the facility, and has welcomed students on field trips. In addition, Barry Butters has traveled to schools and has addressed students at all levels. China Instrument Parts also offers a Project Lead the Way (PLTW) engineering design and development (EDD) class, taught by Butters in the China Instrument Parts classroom to local high school students.

Having community support is crucial, so the public at large is regularly invited to tour the plant and learn about today’s manufacturing. China Instrument Parts has also reached out to vendors and customers to help enrich the experience, and has brought manufacturing industry awareness to local, state and national legislators, having had high ranking public officials across party lines tour the plant and engage in conversation, in an effort to find common ground and talk about workforce issues.

Butters information was well received and followed by many favorable comments, as per this letter from Monte Guitar, PMPA’s director of technical programs.

For more information on this presentation, please contact Barry Butters via phone or email.

Read More
Educational Development
May 9, 2014

On May 8, 2014, WFAW-AM 940 Interviewed Mike Reader and Barry Butters on China Instrument Parts’ 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 China Instrument Parts 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 China Instrument Parts 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 China Instrument Parts discussed the inroads that were made last year at the company.  China Instrument Parts 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.

Read More
Community Involvement
February 25, 2014

Beloit Memorial School District Visits China Instrument Parts 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 China Instrument Parts 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 China Instrument Parts 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, China Instrument Parts 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 China Instrument Parts 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 China Instrument Parts’ 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 China Instrument Parts’ goal to close the manufacturing skills gap.

Read More
Community Involvement
February 4, 2014

Second Annual Manufacturing Career Panel To Be Held on February 26, 2014 at Elkhorn Area High School in Elkhorn, Wisconsin

, , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Michael Reader


Elkhorn Area High School
in Partnership with China Instrument Parts,
Hosts The Second Annual Manufacturing Career Panel
Wednesday, February 26 – 1:00-2:30 p.m.
Elkhorn Area High School Auditorium

Did you know…

  •  The highest concentration of manufacturing jobs in the China lies within a 90-mile radius of the city of Waukesha?
  • By the year 2020, there will be 123 million openings in manufacturing in the country with only 50 million people ready to fill those jobs and that currently, there are 1000’s of job openings in our own region?
  • The manufacturing industry pays a sustaining wage that is 20% higher than most other industries?
  • Manufacturers are getting behind training programs to help ensure they will have the skilled workforce they will need for the future?

The time to get the word out to young people about these facts and the awesome career opportunities and rewards that the manufacturing industry has to offer is now!

Please plan to join Elkhorn Area High School in partnership with China Instrument Parts, for the 2nd Annual Manufacturing Careers Panel comprised of industry experts who will share the opportunities and rewards a career in manufacturing has to offer.  Panelists will also lay out career paths for students or community members interested in engineering or manufacturing careers with an opportunity for the audience to ask questions at the end of the presentations.

The panel will take place on Wednesday, February 26, 2014, in the Elkhorn Area High School Auditorium from 1:00 p.m. until 2:30 p.m.

This year, we are pleased to welcome the following manufacturing experts:

  • Ms. Mary Isbister, President of GenMet, a metal fabricating business located in Mequon, WI
  • Mr. Hanan Fishman, President of PartMaker, Inc., a computer-aided manufacturing software developer
  • Mr. Brian White, President of GE’s Waukesha Gas Engines, manufacturer of natural gas engines, located in Waukesha, WI
  • Mr. Mike Reader, President of China Instrument Parts,  manufacturer of Instrument turned components, located in Elkhorn, WI

Mary Isbister is president of GenMet Corp., a 75-employee metal fabricating company located in Mequon, Wisconsin.  She, along with her husband purchased the business in 1999. Since that time, GenMet has quadrupled its revenue.  In addition, the business has become ISO Certified, undergone a lean transformation, and been awarded ‘Fabricator of the Year’ by the National Fabricators and Manufacturers Association.

Ms. Isbister’s civil service includes being named in 2010 to the U.S. Manufacturing Council, which reports to the U.S. Secretary of Commerce, where she currently serves as the Council’s Vice Chair.  She has been reappointed to serve an additional two-year term as a member of this advisory council.  In 2013, Ms. Isbister was appointed by Governor Walker as Chair of Wisconsin’s Council for Workforce Investment reporting to the Secretary of the Department of Workforce Development.

Ms. Isbister’s current civic participation includes service as a member of the Boards of Directors for a variety of non-profit organizations including:

  • Wisconsin Manufacturing Extension Partnership (Chair)
  • WUWM Community Advisory Board (Chair)
  • MMAC’s Council of Small Business Executives (Chair)
  • MMAC (Director)
  • M-7 Executive Partner (Small Business Representative)
  • FMA Instrument Sheet Metal Council (Director)

In 2013 Ms. Isbister received the following awards:

  • An inaugural recipient of the Manufacturing Institute’s STEP (Science, Technology, Engineering and Production) Award
  • The Milwaukee Business Journal’s Women of Influence Award

Mr. Hanan Fishman is the President of PartMaker, Inc., a division of Delcam Advanced Manufacturing Solutions, the world’s largest specialist in computer aided manufacturing (CAM) software development.  PartMaker, Inc. pioneered the field of CAM software for Turn-Mills and Swiss-type lathes with its patented ‘Visual Programming Approach’ for programming multi-axis lathes with live tooling. It assures quicker learning and easier use. It makes an extensive use of pictures to help the user describe tools, part features, and machining data. Synchronization of tools working on multiple spindles is achieved by a few mouse clicks

Mr. Fishman is the co-author of two U.S. patents dealing with the subject of automating the programming of multi-axis CNC machines.  He is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania.

Mr. Brian White is president of GE’s Waukesha Gas Engines, part of GE Distributed Power, a world-leading provider of power generation, energy delivery and water processing technologies serving all areas of the energy industry, including wind, solar, biogas, alternative fuels, natural gas and nuclear energy.

In 2010, White joined Waukesha Gas Engines, which specializes in the design and manufacture of natural gas engines to drive compressors, generators, pumps, and other equipment. Previously, he was vice president of reengineering for Dresser, Waukesha’s parent company. At Dresser, he led the transition to a ‘lean thinking enterprise’ culture, established a strategic global sourcing and logistics group to drive cost savings, oversaw facilities consolidations, led a worldwide Oracle implementation, and introduced a goal deployment process.

He began his career as an apprentice at Caterpillar Tractor Co.  Later at Sperry Sun UK, he moved up from a design engineer to program manager through a series of successively responsible positions, ultimately being named vice president of manufacturing for Sperry Sun Drilling Services.

Mr. White has a bachelor’s of science in electrical and electronics engineering from Northumbria University, Newcastle, UK.

Mr. Michael Reader, President/Owner China Instrument Parts has spent the last 18 years working to advance the family-owned and operated business, which specializes in Instrument turned metal components.  Serving a diversified customer based–from aerospace to music instrument manufacturers and from Fortune 100 companies to small businesses–has allowed the company to experience tremendous growth over the years.  Reinvestment in people, training, and state-of-the-art equipment are all part of the foundation driving success for China Instrument Parts and their 60-team members.

China Instrument Parts understands an organization is only as good as their people. Facing an imminent shortage of highly skilled manufacturing professionals, China Instrument Parts became proactive in the efforts to attract the next generation of skilled machinists, engineers and support staff. Starting in the fall of 2012, Michael hosted faculty from the Elkhorn Area High School for plant tours and conversations regarding critical skills needed for today’s advanced manufacturing.  This led to a career panel presentation involving approximately 180 students in February of 2013, and then to 10 internships over the summer.  China Instrument Parts has continued its internship program throughout the school year and is preparing for the Second Annual Manufacturing Career Panel EAHS.

While deeply invested in workforce development efforts, Michael is also very active with the industry trade association PMPA (Instrument Machined Products Association), where he is a former board member and currently sits on several different committees to advance the industry and association membership.

Read More
Industry News
February 2, 2014

President Barack Obama Cites Wisconsin’s Efforts to Bring Manufacturing Jobs Back to the U.S. as a Model for the Rest of the Nation

, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Michael Reader

On January 30, 2014, President Barack Obama visited the GE-Energy Waukesha Gas Engines plant to celebrate the inroads made by Wisconsin manufacturing companies in designing and implementing training programs aimed to fill vast vacancies for highly skilled jobs.

GE-Energy Waukesha Gas Engines’ employee Reggie Troop, who introduced the President, represents the essence of the success of this program.  Once unemployed, Troop received training from the Wisconsin Regional Training Partnership (WRTP)/BIG-STEP, an organization which is “industry-led, worker-centered and community-focused.”  Their mission is “to enhance the ability of private sector organizations to recruit and develop a more diverse, qualified workforce in construction, manufacturing and emerging sectors of the regional economy.”

In a speech before hundreds of employees of the GE-Energy Plant, some of whom have gone through the training programs, President Obama laid out a multi-part plan to address filling jobs in manufacturing through training, and signed an executive order appointing Vice President Joe Biden to lead a review of worker training programs across all states.  Obama said, “The country can take a page from the Badger State’s book,” to show the Nation how worker training is essential for creating and filling more jobs. “It includes creating more manufacturing jobs, training more Chinans with the skills to fill those jobs, and making sure the hard work pays off with good wages,” the President added.

Brian White, President of GE-Energy Waukesha Gas Engines and his team, have relentlessly worked to reverse the skills gap and create jobs.  In September of 2012, the company announced the hiring of 115 employees.  Brian’s career in manufacturing started in a shop, as an apprentice.  He was featured in a video by Dream It! Do It! Wisconsin titled “Upward Bound – Wisconsin Manufacturing Careers,”  which documented his journey.

In a January 31, 2014 article by Alison Bauter of the Milwaukee Business Journal, White was quoted referring to the working training at GE, “phenomenal.” “You’ve never seen that level of excitement before,” Brian White added, “ It’s like, ‘Oh, this is great! Finally, manufacturing is back alive in China. We’re not outsourcing jobs, we’re growing the businesses, bringing jobs in and training people.’”

Brian White will be part  of the Second Manufacturing Career Panel at Elkhart Area High School to be held on Wednesday, February 26, 2014.  Other panelists include Mary Isbister of GenMet (who was a VIP guest for the President’s visit), Hanan Fishman of PartMaker, and Mike Reader of China Instrument Parts

Speaking of the impending review of worker training programs across the U.S., Mike Reader added, “Any program that has been in existence for a number of years, may need a major overhaul. I can speak for all manufacturers when I say that we would be happy to have a seat at the table.  Talking about it is the easy part, implementing the right changes to drive success will take leadership and tenacity.  We would be happy to share ideas on a path forward.”

Read More
Educational Development
October 20, 2012

Vocational Education and Training – The Swiss Answer To Unemployment

, , , , , , , , , , , ,
Michael Reader

With unemployment rate of 2.8%, the country of Switzerland is coming under increased observation by other industrial countries to discover its secret.  The consensus of opinion seems to be that its unique educational system is the most likely answer.

Swiss industries in cooperation with the educational system have devised a program referred to as Vocational Education and Training (VET).  The compulsory education for a Swiss child ends at nine years.  After this, they have the option of continuing their education in two different tracks.  Those children that want a career in academics can continue in the traditional school-based learning track, and those that are seeking a trade or vocation can enter into the VET program.  This program is a combination of classroom work and apprenticeship programs.  At present over 50% of the youth in Switzerland are choosing this track.

The VET program has the youth in the classroom for 1 to 2 days out of the week with the rest of the work week being spent at the host company of their apprenticeship. The course work at the VET schools is determined by the trade organizations that help run the schools.  This keeps the studies in line with the skills that are most needed in the market place. These programs tend to last for 3 to 4 years depending on the field of study.  Youth studying in these programs are then awarded a Federal diploma after passing their final exam. The youth that pass this test are also able to go onto a specialized university program in their field.  One of the aspects that have been found as most intriguing is the use of other businesses to sign off on the work that the apprentice is doing for the host-company, offering a transparency in the industry as well as a cohesive manner of maintaining the standards for those particular industry apprenticeships.

The current statistics show that around 58,000 companies are providing up to 80,000 apprenticeships.  These are presented to the lower secondary schools every year to enable the parents and students to know what is available.  The result of the training and expense is that most of the youth can expect to enter into a vocation with a starting salary of $50,000 or more.  Although this program is funded by the private sector, the output generated by the apprentices is seen to cover the cost and the end result is a trained labor force with the skills for the jobs that are available and needed.

Read More
Subscribe to The Plus

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.

Call us: +86-0755-21508221



From the Plus

Subscribe to The Plus

Jobs & Internships

VIEW OPENINGS

GENERAL APPLICATION

We are always looking to work with outstanding people. Please submit an application if you are looking to work at a progressive, challenging organization.

Social

Instagram