This blog series intends to shatter some "manufacturing myths".  Sometimes there is a perception of manufacturing being dirty, dead-end, unskilled, monotonous and boring.The reality is, it's bright, clean, fulfilling, hi-tech, versatile and rewarding!

I had the privilege of interviewing some Zentech employees - a way of humanizing the manufacturing industry to demonstrate why you may want to consider a manufacturing career.

Darryl, Production Manager, Zentech Baltimore

Stephanie: How long have you been with Zentech?

Darryl: I’ve been with Zentech for 13 years.

Stephanie: How did you find us?

Darryl: I was referred here by someone at my old job where I had been for 5 years, which was also an contract manufacturer.

Stephanie: So did you have specific schooling before coming?

Darryl: No I didn’t, though I had been doing wire harnesses and box builds, I had never worked in SMT. When I came on board here, I started off as an SMT Operator.

Stephanie: Then where did you move after that?

Darryl: After that, I moved to conformal coating. With time, I started becoming a stand out operator; everyone was doing 20-25 boards a day, I was doing about 30-35. I had a lot of ideas about how we could increase our output. So I went from an operator to a supervisor. One of the things that I’m most proud of is increasing productivity. We were obligated to produce 560 boards a month for this particular customer, and we revamped our process. Within 3 months we were able to get to 800, then in 2 months 1000, then the next month 1200. We were able to double our output by simply implementing continuous improvement.

Stephanie: What made you want to work in manufacturing?

Darryl: I was always interested, especially because we do a lot of aerospace work, and the things we do to help our warfighters.

This blog series intends to shatter some "manufacturing myths".  Sometimes there is a perception of manufacturing being dirty, dead-end, unskilled, monotonous and boring.The reality is, it's bright, clean, fulfilling, hi-tech, versatile and rewarding!

I had the privilege of interviewing some Zentech employees - a way of humanizing the manufacturing industry to demonstrate why you may want to consider a manufacturing career.

Nicole - Inventory and Warehouse, Zentech Dallas

Stephanie: What do you do here at Zentech? 

Nicole: I work with the inventory in the warehouse. 

How long have you been at Zentech?  

Nicole: I have been here for a year. 

Stephanie: Were you working in manufacturing before this?  

Nicole: Yes I was. 

Stephanie: So, what other manufacturing work have you done?  

Nicole: I came from a company that built monitors. I worked next to the engineers, and I helped make their first prototypes.  

This blog series intends to shatter some "manufacturing myths".  Sometimes there is a perception of manufacturing being dirty, dead-end, unskilled, monotonous and boring.The reality is, it's bright, clean, fulfilling, hi-tech, versatile and rewarding!

I had the privilege of interviewing some Zentech employees - a way of humanizing the manufacturing industry to demonstrate why you may want to consider a manufacturing career.

Kay - Assistant Quality Manager, Zentech Bloomington

Stephanie: How did you get into manufacturing? 

Kay: Manufacturing was actually my first job. I started with it because I knew it was stable income. As an 18-year-old, I liked that it came with benefits. I was there for 4 years, and it was the best job I ever had.  I just fell in love with the flexibility of it; learning a bunch of different trades under one roof by people who’ve been doing it for 20+ years. I liked that I could just jump in as an inexperienced person and do that without going to school, spending extra time and money. I was getting onsite experience while getting paid. I still remember so many skills that I learned. I’ve been at a few other jobs and definitely there and here at Zentech have been the best.  

Stephanie: How long have you been here? 

Kay: I’ve only been here for a year. Overall, I have just 7 years’ experience in manufacturing. I can have a personal style that doesn’t inhibit me from getting hired and doing my job well. Manufacturing really focuses on what you can do.  

Stephanie: Is everything you do each day different, versatile? 

For me, the job that I have right now is very flexible. I am the assistant to the Quality Manager. That means I handle things on the fly. There are some set deadlines, but a lot is handling things as they come. Whether it’s a customer return or wanting to get ahead of an issue.  

Stephanie: I think that’s the cool thing about manufacturing; it’s a different challenge every day, but I think a lot of people might not realize this. They may think it’s monotonous or repetitive. Yes, we are building things over and over but for us each build is different. 

Kay: “Monotony” is not always a bad thing – you come to work, you know what to expect, you know what you are doing, you can just keep plugging away and listen to podcasts and I would rather that than look at a computer all day. In a way it’s relaxing. Especially if you like to see how things work.  

If you don’t want to go to years of school for engineering, jump into the hands-on side of it and manufacturing will start you off with good pay.

This blog series intends to shatter some "manufacturing myths".  Sometimes there is a perception of manufacturing being dirty, dead-end, unskilled, monotonous and boring.The reality is, it's bright, clean, fulfilling, hi-tech, versatile and rewarding!

I had the privilege of interviewing some Zentech employees - a way of humanizing the manufacturing industry to demonstrate why you may want to consider a manufacturing career.

Cyndi - Scheduling Manager, Zentech Bloomington

Stephanie: How long have you been working at Zentech? 

Cyndi: I started 12 years ago as an SMT Operator. 

Stephanie: What else have you been doing here? 

Cyndi: I became the Lead of SMT and then eventually the supervisor and I was asked to help out with scheduling. Eventually they offered me the scheduling position. 

Stephanie: Were you working in manufacturing before? 

Cyndi: I was, but the place I worked for closed in 2008. At that point, I went back to school and got a degree to be a paralegal, actually. But I decided I didn’t like being behind a desk! 

I enjoy manufacturing, I enjoy being able to see what I accomplished at the end of the day, physically making something. 

This blog series intends to shatter some "manufacturing myths".  Sometimes there is a perception of manufacturing being dirty, dead-end, unskilled, monotonous and boring.The reality is, it's bright, clean, fulfilling, hi-tech, versatile and rewarding!

I had the privilege of interviewing some Zentech employees - a way of humanizing the manufacturing industry to demonstrate why you may want to consider a manufacturing career.

Lyndon - Production & Test Manager, Zentech Dallas

Stephanie: How long have you been at Zentech? 

Lyndon: I have been here for a year and a half. 

Stephanie: Were you in manufacturing before this, or is this new for you? 

Lyndon: I am new to manufacturing. 

Stephanie: What type of schooling did you have? 

Lyndon: I went to school for Electrical Engineering. 

Stephanie: What is your title here at Zentech? 

Lyndon: I started out as a Test Engineer and have recently been promoted to Production and Test Manager. 

Stephanie: Congrats! Have you always wanted to be an Engineer?

Lyndon: When I was little, I wanted to be a lawyer or an engineer. 

Stephanie: What school did you go to? 

Lyndon: Texas A&M. 

Stephanie: I’ve noticed the younger generation isn’t as interested in manufacturing or doesn’t realize it’s a viable career. What do you think? 

Lyndon: I think they often opt to go to school because they think they can make more money elsewhere rather than manufacturing, but the path to earning more money takes longer. 

However, what they may not realize is, in manufacturing, there’s more options, without a lot of school. You can immediately get your foot in the door and work your way up.  

And manufacturing is fun; building is fun.

Stephanie: So, to the person who may not want to or be able to afford schooling, why would you recommend manufacturing?  

Lyndon: You can make decent money right away doing full-time work and you will learn a lot very quickly and actually get hands-on experience instead of just sitting in a classroom. A lot of people gain satisfaction when you can see how a product is built from beginning to end.   

This blog series intends to shatter some "manufacturing myths".  Sometimes there is a perception of manufacturing being dirty, dead-end, unskilled, monotonous and boring.The reality is, it's bright, clean, fulfilling, hi-tech, versatile and rewarding!

I had the privilege of interviewing some Zentech employees - a way of humanizing the manufacturing industry to demonstrate why you may want to consider a manufacturing career.

Melissa - Hand Soldering, Zentech Dallas

Stephanie: Have you always done this type of work?

Melissa: I’ve always done this. I started hand soldering in 1988 and this is the 3rd company I’ve worked for. I’ve had long tenures at companies. 

Stephanie: Did you go to special schooling for hand soldering, or did you learn on the job? 

Melissa: On the job. Though they sent me to IPC training. But from then on, I learned everything on the job. 

Stephanie: So, what made you decide to take this route? 

It just happened to fall in my lap. I was in college, and I had 2 brothers here in Dallas and one of my older brothers asked me to come and visit and get a summer job. I’m from Mississippi. I came to get a summer job and I never went back. I had friends who worked at a local electronics manufacturing company. They suggested I fill out an application. I’ve been in the industry ever since. 

Stephanie: Why do you like your job? 

Melissa: You know, I do a lot of re-work here. So, I think when I receive something that is broken, and I get to fix it – it feels like I really accomplished something.   

Stephanie: And you have something tangible that you can say, “I fixed this.” 

Melissa: Exactly. It goes back to the customer, and it works. That makes me feel good. I like fixing things. 

Stephanie: A lot of the younger generation isn’t interested in manufacturing. Do you have an opinion on why or what you would tell them?

Melissa: The thing about it – the younger generation, they have more technology at their fingertips, it’s all just “there”. When I started, it was all new and so I recognized it – oh so this goes in a remote, or a radio.

This blog series intends to shatter some "manufacturing myths".  Sometimes there is a perception of manufacturing being dirty, dead-end, unskilled, monotonous and boring.The reality is, it's bright, clean, fulfilling, hi-tech, versatile and rewarding!

I had the privilege of interviewing some Zentech employees - a way of humanizing the manufacturing industry to demonstrate why you may want to consider a manufacturing career.

Tod - Quality Inspector, Zentech Bloomington

Stephanie:Why did you choose a manufacturing career? 

Tod: Well, I think that careers are not always built behind a desk. And I was not the type of person to sit behind a desk. I enjoy working with my hands. 

Stephanie:How long have you been at Zentech? 

Tod: I’ve been here for 10 years. The first 3 years were through a temp agency before I was permanently hired. 

Stephanie:Were you in manufacturing before Zentech? 

Tod: I was in the printing industry for 30 years. Printing had started drying up because of digital advancements so they closed our plant. I decided I wasn’t going to find another job in the printing industry.  

So, Zentech was hiring, and I figured I’d give it a try. To some degree, my skills were related to electronics. I inspected printing plates as part of my job and looked for any errors, scratches, dents, missing type, etc. I was used to doing detailed work. I was first hired as an assembly technician and then started working in receiving- inspection. And since I was doing well there, they moved me over to quality to start inspecting boards after they were assembled. And I’ve been here ever since. 

Stephanie: Why do you like it? 

Tod: It’s clean and well lit! It’s a comfortable workspace. My job is not physically demanding. And I enjoy it because I like solving puzzles.  

Stephanie: I’ve heard that a few times. 

Tod: It’s looking at all the pieces and making sure they fit. It’s important that quality products go out the door. A lot of the products we build are very crucial for industry and the boys out in the field and our country. They always have taught us that our work is critical. 

This blog series intends to shatter some "manufacturing myths".  Sometimes there is a perception of manufacturing being dirty, dead-end, unskilled, monotonous and boring.The reality is, it's bright, clean, fulfilling, hi-tech, versatile and rewarding!

I had the privilege of interviewing some Zentech employees - a way of humanizing the manufacturing industry to demonstrate why you may want to consider a manufacturing career.

Meet Victoria. She recognized that she didn't aspire to sit at a desk and a computer all day, and that she enjoys "solving puzzles". Manufacturing was a great career choice for her because it matched her interests and skill set.

Victoria - Production Lead - Through Hole Department, Zentech Bloomington

Stephanie: How long have you been at Zentech? 

Victoria: Almost 2 years. I started here via a temp agency and after a year they hired me. 

Stephanie: Is this your first manufacturing job?  

Victoria: No, I’ve had 2 other manufacturing jobs before this.  

Stephanie: What did you start out doing here? 

Victoria: I started in the testing department. I learned everything on the job.  

Stephanie: And what are you doing now? 

Victoria: I did well in the testing department and last year was promoted to Production Lead in the Through Hole department. This is where all the parts are hand placed.  

Stephanie: What do you like most about what you’re doing? 

Victoria: I actually like doing this a lot because I’m very hands on. For me it’s like a puzzle. If you’re crafty and like puzzles and solving things, this could be a good fit for you. I like putting things together and finding out what things do. And you say to yourself, “Wow, I made that.”  It’s very rewarding. Plus, they treat you like family here.

This blog series intends to shatter some "manufacturing myths".  Sometimes there is a perception of manufacturing being dirty, dead-end, unskilled, monotonous and boring.The reality is, it's bright, clean, fulfilling, hi-tech, versatile and rewarding!

I had the privilege of interviewing some Zentech employees - a way of humanizing the manufacturing industry to demonstrate why you may want to consider a manufacturing career.

Christy - Production Supervisor, Zentech Bloomington

Stephanie: Tell me about how you got into manufacturing.

Christy: I have been in manufacturing since I was 15. So, most of my career has been on the manufacturing floor. My father was a Plant Manager at a big facility in Shelbyville, IL. On the weekends we used to go in and do some kitting for extra money. I think they’d give us a quarter for every bag, and we thought that was so cool. I was always trying to figure out how to make it faster.

So, the next weekend, I’m in my roller skates; I figured I could get from place-to-place way faster. I learned pretty quickly that I loved the smell of the manufacturing floor and the idea of it.  

I went to college on a basketball scholarship and earned a degree in Criminal Justice, but as soon as I was done, I literally found a job working in a manufacturing plant. I thought I would eventually to be a cop and “do all the things”. But once I got on the manufacturing floor, I never looked back. I spent almost 20 years of my career there, managing a little over 60 people across 9 departments, as a Production Supervisor. Then the family got up into their 60s and 70s… so they decided to close the facility.  

I had planned on retiring there, so I thought, “now what am I going to do?” I took the summer off to mull over it and decided to flip 2 houses while I was thinking. I sold them and then I said,” Ok now I’m ready to go back.”  

I applied here at Zentech where Kim hired me to work with the quality team and that was my foot in the door. Not that I don’t love quality, but my heart was definitely in production. Within 6 months, the Production Manager at the time saw that and said he could really use me on his team because they were having some struggles. I never looked back.   

Stephanie: How did you feel when the Zentech acquisition happened?  

Christy: When the acquisition happened, I sensed their energy and I thought, “here’s where I feel like I can shine.” I met John, heard what we were planning on doing and everything about the culture he wanted to build. It was everything I wanted to see moving forward. I love his energy, I like the people, I like Michael Seltzer’s energy and all those people who wrap their head around what needs to be done. Those people believe we’re going to make it, we’re going to be great. And it’s contagious.

This is how I want to end my career: helping people get to the next level. I’ve gotten some of my regular workers to become leads.

The Production Manager I started with ended up leaving and for the better part of a year now I’ve handled the management role. But I look forward to the next Production Manager training me so I can get to the next step in my career. I’ve never overseen budgets and things like that, so I want someone to help me grow. 

Stephanie: You’re definitely a “doer”. So instead of just complaining about a problem, you ask what are we going to do to change it? And that’s huge when Zentech acquired the business, because there were a lot of challenges.  

Christy: There are still a lot of challenges. But I call them opportunities. Opportunity for improvement and growth. I feel like we’re all going to get there.

Zentech Manufacturing’s Board of Directors has appointed Michael D. Buseman as President and CEO. Mr. Buseman’s official start date will be Monday, April 10, 2023, at which time he will succeed Zentech’s current President and CEO, Steve Pudles, who will remain with the company as an advisor and board member. 

Mr. Buseman is a seasoned leader with over 30 years of experience in electronics contract manufacturing, component distribution, and the technology sector. Most recently, he served as Chief Operations Officer of Benchmark Electronics, Inc., a Tier 1 publicly traded EMS company. Through a focus on operational excellence and deep customer relationships, he was responsible for delivering manufacturing and supply chain solutions to customers within a worldwide network and team of over 20 locations.