Business Meeting: several guys on vaca, lots of new projects are coming, changing insurance companies…and something about people who are late and donuts-Ill have to ask Melody about this.
Met with Kevin, he is Jerry’s brother and is the shop manager. He took some autocad classes at C4, but mainly has experience by doing. He orders materials, does POs (purchase orders) for shop, and LOTS of other stuff. He gets the drawings from either William, Tommy, Jeff, Kirk or Mitch and then he takes them to the floor. Each job has about 300 POs. Each job has details on the X drive here at Mertek. He sets up each job on a shelf with job # paper and items needed, then after the job is complete he cleans it up and gets it ready for the next job. A hurry up and wait process. Kevin is in direct communication with Melody. His sons are Travis and Kirk whom both work here as well. He knows a lot of metallurgy. An interesting fact is that nickel plating is erosion resistant. He showed me the Aluminum extrusion, they come in 20 ft sticks and cost about $75 each. The firs thing people who come to work at Mertek learn is how to build/cut extrusion and all about their fittings.
Met with Kirk, Kevin’s baby son. He designs machine, like an engineer without the paperwork. He started in shop and Mitch showed him how to do designing. He is good with computer technician stuff, works with their server and will be my go to for help with go-pro (after Blair of course). All the designers use a 2 monitor system, it makes things more efficient and has me wanting 2 monitors in my classroom. HE says you need people skills because you are involved in all the designer-views.
Met with Jeff, another designer-but he has papers so he is an machine engineer. He went to C4, but says there is no other school in US for what he dos, you have to go to Canada. He has been with Jerry since 1990 and Jerry taught him everything he knows. He used to wear many hats and was good at all, master of none. Now with the progress and expansion of the company, he is a master of one. He says that to break up the monotony of designing basically the same machine over and over, he gets different jobs each time. Even though they use a template. He reiterated how important it is to stay organized, for your reputation and for the company’s as well.
Kevin took me with him on a part pickup out in Chatham County. This guy treats the metal for Mertek. I met Mr. Earl and his crew, plus his wife Ginger on the way out. He has several websites: http://southchathamtackle.com/ and http://acmezoom.com/ He is a jack of ALL trades, an inventor, he is a pioneer by using what he has to make other things, very green and sustainable! He makes the only NOAA approved sea turtle release kits, which every boat must carry to avoid a fine. His wife sews he nets. He makes some items for Moen faucets, makes a box that goes on motorcyles, etc. He helps his daughter who makes jewelry: https://www.facebook.com/Vespertine.Carrboro He introduced me to wire cutting which uses some old but good technology-AUTOCAD and uses a computer that still used 3.5 inch floppy disks. Also he showed me an EMD (electric discharge machine) and told me about rock and roll technology. Bob Earl is a Captain! He does a barter and trade system of business for many local folk. Very pioneer 🙂