Supporting the Next Generation of Manufacturing Workers

As the school year begins, we are inundated with advertisements on deals for backpacks and pens and other school supplies. It is important to keep in mind what is important: educating America’s youth and encouraging the next generation to focus on their education.

Specifically, in manufacturing, there is a huge movement to celebrate STEM—science, technology, engineering, mathematics. In fact, Shaw does its part on social media to share the latest in the STEM education movement (be sure to follow Shaw on Twitter), but also working to spark interest in manufacturing within the company.

Each year, Shaw recruits interns into the business so they have the opportunity to become familiar with the industry and facility. As the STEM movement gains traction nationally, Shaw feels it is their responsibility to do their share in Bonita Springs, Florida. This year, nine interns were rallied(who work in a variety of departments at Shaw) to talk a little bit about what they are working on and have in store for the future.

Ricky Prieto

Studying: Mechanical Engineering, Senior at University of Florida

What are you working on at Shaw?: Completing and releasing John Deere customer drawings

What would you do to improve what you’re working on?: “Become more familiar with our system and the release process.”

Sam Biel

Studying: Masters in Finance at Notre Dame University

What are you working on at Shaw?: Receiving Department

What would you do to improve what you’re working on?: “More space for inventory, better/more efficient system of purchasing & inventory.”

Cody Harshaw

Studying: Bioengineering, Junior at Florida Gulf Coast University

What are you working on at Shaw?: Assembling John Deere DEF

What would you do to improve what you’re working on?: “Design tools to improve assembly efficiency; develop parts that are easier to assemble.”

Kimberly Clements

Studying: Cell & Molecular Biology, Sophomore at University of Florida

What are you working on at Shaw?: John Deere DEF assembly line

What would you do to improve what you’re working on?: “Add more people to the line and split up the stations to become more efficient.”

Jordan Hawkesworth (4^th Generation Shaw)

Studying: Latin & Greek, Sophomore at Tufts University

What are you working on at Shaw?: DEF Caps

What would you do to improve what you’re working on?: “Get more horns for the Sonic Welder.”

Mark McElwaine

Studying: Electrical & Computer Engineering, Sophomore at Carnegie Mellon University

What are you working on at Shaw?: DEF Tank Cell

What would you do to improve what you’re working on?: “Improve upon efficiencies by adding automation.”

Sam O’Hara (4^th Generation Shaw)

Studying: Mechanical Engineering, Freshman at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology

What are you working on at Shaw?: CAT/Military cap assembly

What would you do to improve what you’re working on?: “Add more automation to the assembly line.”

Ethan Hawkesworth (4^th Generation Shaw)

Studying: High School Senior

What are you working on at Shaw?: Filing, inventory and logistics

What would you do to improve what you are working on?: “Computerize the inventory count process with handheld scanners and computers.”

Zach Ryan (4^th Generation Shaw)

Studying: Calculus, Engineering, Robotics, Physics (High School Senior)

What are you working on at Shaw?: ABC Classification/Analysis of Inventory

What would you do to improve what you’re working on?: “When putting in the code for each individual piece of inventory, the corresponding week should be automatically updated and not have to be put in manually.”