Faces of Manufacturing: For the Love of IndustryJim 10.02 cropped

In honor of Manufacturing Day, October 3rd, Industry Week has highlighted several manufacturers from around the country. VIB-ISO’s very own Jim Pooler contributed his thoughts on manufacturing and keeping it alive and strong. Check it out!

http://www.industryweek.com/manufacturing-day/faces-manufacturing-love-industry#slide-3-field_images-149921

 

James Pooler

Age: 32
City/State of residence: Wooster, OH
Job title: Project engineer
Company: VIB-ISO LLC
Number of employees at your location: 7
Years with company: 4
Industry of your company: HVAC
Years in manufacturing: 12
Training/Education: BSME
Married:Yes (Julie)
Kids:No

What made you decide to pursue a career in manufacturing? I wanted to work in the automotive industry since high school, and with that most engineering jobs in the automotive industry are manufacturing related. After working at my first co-op while attending the University of Toledo as a process engineer, I was hooked on manufacturing.
What does your job entail? I spend about half my time designing isolation systems for current purchase orders to give our shop enough information to build them. Then, the remaining time is split between developing new products and selling those new products to customers.
What is the most interesting part of your job? Your proudest moment? Developing a new product that meets all of our customer’s needs and that can be manufactured for much less than products currently on the market. My proudest moment is anytime a new product goes into production.
What do you love about manufacturing? Manufacturing is fun simply because you have the ability to make anything. Simply stated: if it can be dreamed up manufactures or manufacturing engineers can develop a why of making it. The real trick to this is finding a way to make it for the lowest cost possible.
What advice would you give to kids considering a job in manufacturing? I would advise them to get educated. This is regardless of if they want to become an engineer or a skilled trades worker. The main thing I have found it is easier and less expensive to get educated when you are younger. Also, this allows you the most potential to grow and progress up the corporate ladder. Lastly, never stop learning. You never know everything, and there is always a better way to do things, you just have to figure it out.