Q&A with PMG Machine Operator Jennifer P.

How long have you been working in manufacturing?

I’ve been in manufacturing for 16 years now. I started off in fast food for a year or so and wound up in manufacturing and have loved it ever since.

What drew you to the trade?

It was wanting that feeling that I’ve done something at work and getting that satisfaction that I made something that matters and has a purpose.

Before working at PMG, what was the most unusual or interesting job you’ve ever had?

The most interesting job I had was working at a plant that made airplane brakes. Seeing the process that is required for it was very cool. It takes months to do. To make “just” a brake. Then being on a plane afterwards, knowing I had a part in that, was amazing.

What do you like most about working for PMG?

I knew someone working for PMG and it took me awhile to get on my first assignment. Now I’ve been on 4 or 5 assignments and I’ve been on this last one, as a machine operator, for almost 2 years solid. The reason I love PMG is that they’ll take care of you if you take care of them. My work ethic is very strong and I appreciate the way they appreciate that.

What is one thing you miss or wish you had with you while on the road with PMG?

Not too much actually. I love meeting new people and seeing new things and places. So, really, the whole thing works great for me.

What are some career lessons you’ve learned thus far?

The main thing for me is you can always learn something, no matter where you go or what you’re doing. I’ve met a lot of people that think they already know everything and I’ve been learning new things for 16 years so anyone can.

When you’re not working, what sort of hobbies do you like to do in your free time?

I’m definitely a movie person. I love going to theaters. Right now (during COVID-19 restrictions), I watch a lot of movies on my phone. I love music and the outdoors too. I like to get outside when I can on assignment too.

What is something fun you’re looking forward to in 2020?

Nothing special. I just want to be as happy and productive as I can be.

 

To learn more about PMG technicians, check out our blog for other Q&A sessions!

Slick Roads?  Don’t Get Salty!

Spring in the Midwest brings a lot of challenges our way, and few more dangerous than icy roads and sidewalks.  Cue the music, and bring in the salt trucks!

Road salt is the most commonly used substance to deice roads and help produce traction in icy conditions.  So where does it all come from? 

Sodium Chloride (basic table salt) is the main type of salt used on roads.  Mines in Ohio, Michigan, New York, Kansas, and Louisiana are responsible for 90% of the salt on roads in the US.  While salt is the most efficient substance to clear ice, it does have drawbacks.

As spring melts winter, the used salt goes into runoffs, streams, lakes, and rivers.  These deposits can cause major animal/plant disruption, and too much salt can cause death to habitats.  Salt also causes corrosion on vehicles when not washed off for periods of time.

Because of this, sand is often substituted or supplemented with salt.  It does not melt snow/ice, but rather provides traction/friction for tread.  Sand is also about 75% cheaper, and causes less damage to wildlife.

Regardless, pay attention to conditions as you drive, and look for those beautiful trucks tossing grains in front of you.

To see which of the states use the most salt/sand, please click the links below:

http://onlinepubs.trb.org/onlinepubs/sr/sr235/017-030.pdf

https://www.carcomplaints.com/resources/guides/salt-belt/

Dave Rohlfing, Senior Technical Solutions Coordinator

Celebrating 50 years of Earth Day

Every April 22, we stop to give thanks to the Earth on Earth Day.  To thank her, (or him, it’s probably debatable) we ride a bicycle to work, we plant a garden, we walk through our neighborhood picking up trash, we blow kisses to the blue skies above, and we wrap our arms around a tree (please tell me I’m not alone here?).  For 24 hours, we focus our attention on what we can do to make a difference.

But what happens at 12:00 am on the morning of April 23?

We move on. We shift our attention to something we deem more important and we don’t hug another tree for 364 days. If you’ve ever read The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein, you know how incredibly sad that makes the tree.

According to earthday.org, “Earth Day was a unified response to an environment in crisis – oil spills, smog, rivers so polluted they literally caught fire.”  It was on April 22, 1970, that millions of Americans protested in honor and in hope for a better, brighter, healthier future for this home we so often take for granted.

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Knitted tree sweaters from Eureka Springs, Arkansas
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As COVID-19 has forced us to change up our everyday habits over the past several weeks, maybe now is the perfect time to create new, Earth friendly habits that we can stick with all year long.  Simple things like:

  • Switching all of your bills to e-bills
  • Having a recycling plan in place (and if you already do – how much further can you take it)
  • Stop drinking bottled water
  • Consider changing your light bulbs out to more environmentally friendly bulbs
  • Getting out and enjoying nature
  • Fixing something/DIY rather than buying something new
  • Showing your neighbors how much you care by creating a window sign (check out this link for ideas)

For even more ideas, check out earthday.org/resolutions-isolutions-for-coronavirus-self-isolation.

However you choose to celebrate, the Earth needs you and your actions. Let’s get to it!

Beth Bangtson, HR Manager

Crisis Management in manufacturing is critical. Let PMG help you punch out your crisis!

Crisis: “an unstable or crucial time or state of affairs in which a decisive change is impending. A situation that has reached a critical phase” (Thanks Merriam Webster)!

We all know the world is experiencing a major crisis right now. I’m not going to write another article on it or call out the cause(s). What’s important is what we do to address a crisis when it happens and how we find a way to turn it into an opportunity.

I won’t get political and talk about the best steps to address our current crisis, but I am here to let you know how PMG can help you, as a manufacturer OR a skilled manufacturing worker!

In the event you’re not aware of  PMG’s role as a Labor Solutions Provider or why to use Labor Solutions from PMG, check us out! We don’t just help when companies have a backlog, a peak season, or large orders – we help during times of crisis. And, we don’t just provide temporary jobs; we provide careers.

How do we do it? I’ll talk first to the manufacturers out there.

Regardless of industry or product, we can work with you! For manufacturers, first and foremost, you need a Crisis Management Plan. Once that’s in place and you find yourself using it, PMG is the ideal partner. We can help you further refine your crisis management plan (if needed) but most importantly, we provide a rapid response service. We rapidly deploy our workforce of highly skilled technicians to your facility, to ensure your crisis is averted and/or managed as best as possible.

As a manufacturer, what type of PMG technicians will help you? The list below describes a few.

  • Machinists
  • Welders
  • Maintenance Technicians
  • Assemblers
  • Material Handlers & Lift Truck Operators
  • Other critical manufacturing employees

However, that’s not where we stop. We can provide many more! Our technicians not only travel to your facility very quickly, but they also come with the skills and experience needed to ramp up quickly and make an immediate impact on your production.

Now, for the workers out there – How can we help you in a time of crisis?

Because of our partnerships with companies across the US, we have many opportunities available for skilled manufacturing employees. Wondering what that means for you? Check out our webinar explaining just that, and if you’re interested, see what it takes to work on the road with PMG.

Are you wondering if you have the skills and experience? PMG has skilled workers with a variety of experience and backgrounds. I could list all the positions here, but it’s more easily summarized by saying: “if it’s a job in manufacturing, it’s a career with PMG”.

Our technicians work with us year in and year out. This isn’t just a job to them, this is a career. Utilizing their skills and abilities, our technicians work solely with PMG because it provides them the opportunity to travel and explore, work a flexible schedule and have time off between projects. Also,  they experience working within facilities and for companies with technology, projects, and distinction that aren’t  available locally. If YOU are interested in joining the PMG team and want to take your career to a new level, apply here.

And remember some wise words from Desmond Tutu: “A time of crisis is not just a time of anxiety and worry. It gives a chance, an opportunity, to choose well or to choose badly.”  Choose well, choose PMG.

Kim MooneyTechnical Manager & Coach

Did you know April is National Poetry Month? Here are some fun facts to learn more about why we celebrate:

 

  • It’s the largest literacy celebration in the world
  • It was established in 1996 by the Academy of American Poets following the success of other celebrations like Black History Month (February) and Women’s History Month (March)
  • According to the National Poetry Month website, the goals are to:
    • Highlight the extraordinary legacy and ongoing achievement of American poets
    • Encourage the reading of poems
    • Assist teachers in bringing poetry into their classrooms
    • Increase the attention paid to poetry by national and local media
    • Encourage increased publication and distribution of poetry books, and
    • Encourage support for poets and poetry.

 

For more information about National Poetry Month, check out the website at www.poets.org/national-poetry-month

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In honor of the month, I let my creative juices fly and put together a little something.

 

In a time where all seems uncertain,

I look to my children for comfort…

for the twinkle in their eye

and the smile on their face.

There they go, saving me once again.

~ Beth, HR Manager

 

Beth Bangtson, HR Manager