Seeking Employment in Indiana

[David Hartman]

None degreed, but with approximately 20 years of experience.

[qualitygoddess]

Have you considered "going on the road" and becoming a contract ISO auditor for some of those big registration firms??

One possible employer in Huntington -- United Technologies/Carrier. They produce electronic controls there. I haven't worked with them in about 3 years (they were a supplier), but I was definitely impressed with the place.

Good luck!

[Wes Bucey]

Dave, please read through these two threads. Feel free to PM me if you have questions.
Resume and cover letter - How good are yours?
Tips to get past the "gatekeeper" when job hunting

[ddunn]

Try contacting the QN-9000 group in Lafayette.
A good bunch of people with a lot of contacts in Indiana.

[Wes Bucey]

Employed at Last! Well my "vacation" lasted 11 months, but has finally come to an end. I will be starting on 2/28 as the Quality Manager for a small plant (approximately 80 employees) manufacturing SMT-based control modules for electric motors (used in pumping stations, both water [residential wells] and gasoline [pumping gas from the underground tanks to the individual fuel pumps/stations]). This is a new position for this plant. And although the plant I will be working at is small, it is just a part of a world-wide organization, which has been number one in its field for years and appears to be quite stable.

My responsibities will include the development of a quality system, development of a supplier control and certification program, development of a workforce training and certification program, and coordinating process improvement initiatives (in my spare time). With all of these brands in the fire, I may be returning to the Cove quite often for your combined wisdom and advice.
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David D. Hartman

I am pleased it worked out for you. For the benefit of others, will you share how the process went from initial contact through interview to hiring? Was the location close to home or will you have to relocate or face a long commute?

[David Hartman]

Originally Posted by Wes Bucey

I am pleased it worked out for you. For the benefit of others, will you share how the process went from initial contact through interview to hiring? Was the location close to home or will you have to relocate or face a long commute?

Intial contact was through submitting my resume in response to a local newspaper ad. Appoximately 3 weeks later (last week) I received a call from the Plant Manager regarding my availability to come in for an interview.

The interview lasted 3.5 hours, during which I met briefly with the Plant Manager, who then passed me off to one of the Production/Manufacturing Engineers. This Engineer gave me a partial tour of the assembly floor describing some of the operations (portions he had direct responsibility for). During this walk around I took the opportunity to ask questions, made positive comments about the operation, and made suggestions for improvements directly related to his areas of interest.

I was then passed off to three more Manufacturing Engineers who took me for a dog-and-pony show of their portions of the operation (throughout this process I continued to ask questions, made positive comments and offered recommendations).

After touring the floor, I was then lead into a conference room where I was interviewed by 2 of the production floor supervisors. It was during this interview that I asked them what THEY were expecting of the person that would fill the Quality Manager position. Their reponse centered around then expectations of a team-player that would lead them towards understanding what actions to take towards improving their product and processes.

I responded to this by first praising them for not expecting the Quality Manager to "the cop" that would have to force change, but being open to learning the use of quality tools and implementing them as a team. Then I expressed my desire to work in such an environment (one with a team spirit).

I then met with the Materials Manager to discuss supplier control and certification. This is where things turned funny. The Materials Manager began the interview with "I really don't have any questions, do you?" My thoughts instantly turned to "How am I going to sell myself to someone who doesn't interview me?" So I began by asking him: Do you have a supplier control program in place? What are you expecting in the way of a "certification" program? What measures (data) are currently being made to cause you to believe that you have a supplier problem? If data, were available what percentage of failure is attributable to suppliers (and do you know what specific supplier, part numbers, and attributes)?

After this meeting I then was returned to the Plant Manager who asked what I thought of the operation and the position. I began by stating briefly the positive aspects of the operation that I had noticed, then by offering some of my thoughts on areas that might benefit from some improvement initiatives, and finally we entered into a brief discussion/comparison of his and my phylosophies regarding the development, implementation, and management of quality programs, operator training certification programs, and supplier control initiatives (including the need for realistic data).

Regarding the location: The facility is approximately 7 miles from my house. This alone would have made the job of interest to me (I have spent the past 20 years driving 110 miles round-trip to work and back). But in addition, I found this Plant Manager not only understanding of the need for improving the quality of their system, processes, and product, but it appears that he is truly driven towards that goal. He has been at the plant for 2 years and already has made some terrific in-roads towards improving the product flow, and eliminating wasted movement of product and materials.

I am really looking forward to working with this team.

[Claes Gefvenberg]

Originally Posted by ddhartma

throughout this process I continued to ask questions, made positive comments and offered recommendations.

Which is exactly what one would like to see an applicant do.

Originally Posted by ddhartma

It was during this interview that I asked them what THEY were expecting of the person that would fill the Quality Manager position. phylosophies regarding the development, implementation, and management of quality programs, operator training certification programs, and supplier control initiatives (including the need for realistic data).

Once again what I would like to see an applicant do.

Originally Posted by ddhartma

I found this Plant Manager not only understanding of the need for improving the quality of their system, processes, and product, but it appears that he is truly driven towards that goal. He has been at the plant for 2 years and already has made some terrific in-roads towards improving the product flow, and eliminating wasted movement of product and materials.

Sounds like you are two of a kind then... No wonder he hired you. Ok, it took close to a year, but it sounds to me that you landed on a good perch.

/Claes

[Wes Bucey]

Originally Posted by Claes Gefvenberg

Sounds like you are two of a kind then... No wonder he hired you. Ok, it took close to a year, but it sounds to me that you landed on a good perch.

I"ll say! Most of us dream of getting an interview that "works" on so many levels. The fact that it is close to home is terrific. I really am pleased for both you and your new company. We'll all be happy to answer any of those "niggling" questions which arise in the first weeks or months on the job.

If they aren't happy with you, we"ll come down and give them a "Chicago" treatment, made famous during Prohibition