Editor's Note: Download the audio version below.
Welcome to another episode of Gen Z in Manufacturing, a podcast that asks young people about their journeys in manufacturing, how they intend to influence the industry and what they are looking for from an employer.
For this episode, I welcome Ethan Schaefer, a 21-year-old student at Purdue University participating in a co-op with Fluke Reliability. Schaefer said his interest in engineering dates back to middle school, which led to him pursuing a degree in electrical engineering at Purdue.
Schaefer participates in Fluke’s reliability department, where he goes to customer sites with a full-time engineer to perform roller alignment on machines.
In this episode, Schaefer discusses:
- How a company can improve its “vibe” (2:54)
- How to build a workplace where asking questions feels like a strength instead of a weakness (6:32)
- How young people view factory work (10:31)
- Why small manufacturers appeal to Gen Z and what those companies can do to capitalize (15:48)
- Saying, “That’s the way we’ve always done it,” is one of the quickest ways to lose Gen Z talent (18:03)
Please make sure to like and share this episode. To view previous episodes, visit manufacturing.net. If you are a member of Gen Z and would like to discuss your experience in the manufacturing industry, please contact Nolan Beilstein at [email protected].
