Summer 2021 Interns Teach Crafts that Learning is a Two-Way Street

Crafts Technology welcomed two engineering interns this summer. The program provides experiential learning for young adults.  However, the Crafts team soon discovered that teaching leads to learning. Internships at Crafts give students real-world advanced systems and tooling experience in a manufacturing environment that allows them to develop their skills, gain valuable work experience, and explore career paths.

Crafts Technology welcomes Madeline Martin and Dominick Incapreo as 2021 Summer Interns

Madeline Martin is a student who benefitted from her internship at Crafts this summer. Studying industrial engineering at Iowa State University, Madeline is entering her senior year and has enjoyed taking what she’s learned in school and applying it on the job. Her experiences have included making and reading engineering drawings, designing parts using Solidworks (engineering 3D design software), managing a 3D printing cell, and working on a continuous improvement project.

Madeline has enjoyed assisting Mechanical Process Engineer Brett Staehlin in implementing Kanban, a lean manufacturing scheduling system that improves efficiencies. One project she worked on involved setting up automated notifications when a product is out of stock. The system sends a message by email to the person in charge of ordering to ensures that production isn’t interrupted.

Madeline chose industrial engineering because she likes the idea of reviewing systems and figuring out how to improve inefficiencies. She has undoubtedly accomplished that at Crafts. In addition to her contributions to the company, she’s gained valuable insights that can only come from being on the job. “Working as an intern at Crafts Technology has allowed me to learn through personal experiences instead of just from a textbook or lecture,” said Madeline. “I have been able to observe other engineers on the job and utilize what I’ve learned during my education to complete projects on my own.”

Dominick Incapreo, an incoming senior from the University of Iowa studying Mechanical Engineering, is another intern receiving valuable experience this year at Crafts.  He felt that an internship would help him better understand his career options.  He found that he’s gained much more than that. According to Dominick, “In addition to hands-on experience, I’ve learned about the importance of time management and communication.”  “ I’ve also developed a better understanding of the manufacturing process by being on the shop floor, a perspective I wouldn’t get in a more traditional engineering internship.”

One of Dominick’s responsibilities this summer is managing micro Electrical Discharge Machining (EDM) cells. EDM is a metal fabrication process whereby a desired shape is obtained by using electrical discharges or sparks. Dominick’s responsibilities include programming the machines for specific operations, managing the machines, lean 5S, and developing a strategic plan for production.

Dominick is particularly excited about a special lean 5S project that uses 3D print technology. He’s currently designing a custom tray to organize EDM cells that will optimize productivity.  The tray includes cutouts in the shape of each tool. Once the design is complete, the tray will be printed using Crafts 3D printers. The result is a more organized workspace, where each piece has a home. Working alongside experienced engineers to design a project and using the 3D printer are skills Dominick knows he’ll use in the future.

In addition to the benefits that Madeline and Dominick have noted, internships are an excellent way for students to gain confidence in their skills. It’s also a perfect opportunity to network with professionals that can lead to finding a mentor or even a future job. But Crafts has found that employing interns has also led to learning opportunities for the company.

Rakesh (Rojar) Patel, Crafts Engineering Manager, oversees the internship program. He enjoys this responsibility because he fondly remembers his two internships during college, where he learned how to read blueprints, operate CAD software, and manage projects in a real-world setting. He’s privileged to be providing the same opportunity to future engineers.

What Rojar didn’t expect was that he would learn from the interns. He’s found that working with Madeline and Dominick has provided an understanding of the upcoming workforce. Not only do they bring valuable new ideas, they also offer insight about what’s important to the next generation of workers.

In the past, Crafts has benefitted by hiring interns once they graduate.  The internship period allows the Crafts team to get to know a potential employee and helps familiarize the intern with its culture. It also reduced the orientation period, which gives both Crafts and the employee an advantage.

The culture at Crafts is something that both Madeline and Dominick feel is a positive part of their internship. When considering her experience, Madeline stated, “The environment and the people at Crafts are friendly, offer constructive feedback, and are very considerate. Everyone is always happy to answer my questions and help without hesitation. My time here has given me the chance to grow as an engineer and prepared me for future endeavors.” Madeline says her experiences have led her to better understand what engineering consists of in the real world.

Dominick chose the Crafts internship because he wanted to work for a company that provided real-world experience and opportunities and hasn’t been disappointed. “Being able to intern at Crafts is a real pleasure,” he stated. “I work alongside great coworkers while learning new skills and receive the hands-on experience I’m looking for.  I will definitely be using what I’ve learned to move forward in my engineering career.”

The entire Craft team will miss Madeline and Dominick when they return to school this fall, but are comforted knowing that everyone learned this summer. 

Crafts Technology Partners with Harper College to Offer Apprenticeship Program

This summer, Crafts Technology is launching an Apprenticeship benefit to the children of its’ employees.  The student level Registered Apprenticeship Program was developed by Harper College and adopted by Crafts Technology. The program is 4 years in length, registered with the US Department of Labor and is designed to lead to an Associate of Applied Science Degree in Advanced Manufacturing / Precision Machining CNC. There are several stipulations for the student-level apprenticeship program. The first stipulation is that the applicant will need to become a student at Harper College and 18+ years of age at the time of applying. The second stipulation is that the applicant is also a child of a Crafts Technology employee. Lastly, the applicant will need to submit a letter of interest that describes what interested them in a manufacturing career (minimum of 500 words).

Women are one of a number of economically disadvantaged groups and they are grossly underrepresented in manufacturing. As such, women are being strongly encouraged to apply for this apprenticeship program. This apprenticeship program is in keeping with the company’s long history of building a diverse and vibrant workforce at Crafts Technology.  The company is proud to offer a program that can help to increase opportunities for interested students and to encourage and potentially increase representation of economically disadvantaged and/or underrepresented groups within manufacturing.

For each of 2 semesters during the school year, the apprentice will be in class full-time at Harper College. The coursework completed each semester lasts for approximately 8 weeks and occurs twice during the school year. The apprentice will alternate between 8 weeks in school and then 8 weeks at work. There are many benefits to becoming an apprentice:

  • Gain practical skills and relevant training in the manufacturing industry.
  • Earn national credentials and an AAS degree.
  • No costs to the student apprentice.
  • Mentorship with experienced team members.
  • A career path with Crafts Technology.

While Crafts Technology is looking to further expand the Apprenticeship offering, this program is first being launched and offered to the children of current employees.  The applicants that are interested in beginning a manufacturing career with Crafts Technology, while also obtaining their Associates of Applied Science (AAS) Degree in Advanced Manufacturing / Precision Machining CNC will be submitting their essay and an application internally at Crafts Technology. The deadline for applying is April 5th, 2021.

Participation in the program will require the apprentice to be ready for college-level work. Harper College will assist the apprentice in preparing for this eligibility requirement once the applicant has expressed interest. You can learn more about the Harper College Registered Apprenticeship program here: http:\harpercollege.edu\apprenticeship

Crafts Technology is committed to exploring how to build the program out to further expand employee skills and to attract/train new talent. Crafts Technology is a leader in manufacturing precision parts from superhard materials that deliver optimum life and corrosion resistance for the most demanding applications. Our expertise includes micro-manufacturing, composite fabrication, and new product development that benefits the entire value stream. Products range from tungsten carbide core pins for injection molding to nozzles and needles, cutting tools, modular composite countersink drilling, AFP blades, and wear parts.

* The deadline for applying is April 5th, 2021.

The Manufacturing Workforce of Tomorrow

Jeffrey C. Roberts MS, Vice President of Engineering for Crafts Technology along with Erin Guthrie, Director of the Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity (DCEO) describe what the manufacturing workforce of tomorrow will look like and what young people have to look forward to when developing an interest in a manufacturing career. With $4.6 Million manufacturing jobs opening down the road, Crafts Technology is committed to developing the workforce of tomorrow through:

  • Technical programs to help unskilled labor develop careers
  • Engineering Internships with major colleges and universities
  • Developing relationships with local manufacturing associations
  • Working with local communities to find and promote talent
  • Showcasing employee accomplishments along the way

At Crafts Technology, we have identified more clearly the skills necessary to execute our business plans and improve our strategies and we train and recruit for those skills. We are developing the workforce of tomorrow, come learn about our company and join our team.

State of Illinois Proclaims October Manufacturing Month

​The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) is joining manufacturing industry leaders and members of the community at Crafts Technology to proclaim October as Manufacturing Month in Illinois.  

Since COVID-19 hit, manufacturers have played an increasingly important role in protecting and powering Illinois communities. It’s estimated that over 1,000 Illinois manufacturers and distributors stepped up to support Illinois and the broader community by shifting operations to manufacture and deploy the life-saving personal protective equipment (PPE) necessary to fight the pandemic.

“Stepping up to the needs of medical product manufacturers was no different than stepping up to a war effort, however, this time, the threat was a virus,” said CEO and President of Crafts TechnologyJeffrey Taylor. “Manufacturing is a central part of Illinois and for any healthy economy, and the pandemic actually reinforced our team’s resolve to expand our operations, increase employee training and to expand investments in equipment and technology to meet the ever-evolving needs of the medical products companies.  Crafts Technology has been producing high performance engineered wear solutions for critical and essential industries for more than 100 years in Illinois and we look forward to our next 100 years in the great state of Illinois.” 

DCEO was joined at Crafts Technology by industry organizations including the Illinois Manufacturing Association (IMA) and Illinois Manufacturing Excellence Center (IMEC). Manufacturing is the number one contributor to our economy, employing more than 550,000 Illinoisans and producing $108 billion in total output.  

“Illinois’ manufacturing industry is one of our state’s greatest prides. Not only do our manufacturers create hundreds of thousands of good-paying jobs, but they also keep the rest of our economy moving, providing the supplies our essential workers need to continue serving our communities,” said Deputy Majority Leader Laura Murphy (D-Des Plaines). “We are grateful for Illinois manufacturers year-round, but Manufacturing Month is a great opportunity to celebrate their contributions to our state’s growth.”

     Click to view a video on how Crafts Technology helped with a COVID-19 testing solution.

For more information on webinars and manufacturing resources offered by the state of Illinois, visit DCEO’s website. Additionally, DCEO encourages you to join the conversation on manufacturing by following us on social @IllinoisDCEO and signing up to participate in free virtual events held all month long.