Editor's Note: Download the audio version below.
Welcome to another episode of Gen Z in Manufacturing, a podcast where I interview young people about their journeys in manufacturing, how they intend to influence the industry and what they are looking for from an employer.
Thank you to our sponsor QAD Redzone. Empower your frontline while growing your bottom line. QAD Redzone is the #1 Connected Workforce Solution for plants of all sizes. It's time for manufacturers to start engaging their frontline employees - resulting in reduced turnover and increased productivity. Redzone enables you to stop analyzing yesterday and start solving today’s problems now. For the first time ever, production, maintenance, and quality teams are following the same play book! Request a Demo Today
For this episode, I welcome Danea Buschkoetter, a 27-year-old lead welding instructor at Cloud County Community College.
Buschkoetter attended welding school to get her certification and later earned a bachelor’s degree in applied technology with an emphasis in manufacturing. She worked as a welder fabricator, a design engineer/draftsman, a project manager and a millwright before becoming a welding instructor, and most recently, a lead instructor.
Buschkoetter was also recognized by SME as one of the 2023 “30 Under 30” honorees.
In this episode, Buschkoetter discusses:
- How universities and trade schools shape Gen Z (1:19)
- Transitioning from the field to the classroom (2:48)
- How to sell welding to Gen Z (4:58)
- Misconceptions Gen Z has about welding and manufacturing (6:22)
- Can Gen Z handle long work days and seven-day work weeks, or will employers need to adjust (7:31)
- How to keep Gen Z engaged in their work (9:12)
- Connecting to a Gen Z workforce on a personal level (11:43)
- How Gen Z sees the future of welding (13:14)
- Challenges of being a woman in welding and manufacturing (14:53)
- How employers can encourage more women to get into welding (17:34)
Please like and share this episode of Gen Z in Manufacturing. Click here to view previous episodes of the podcast. If you are a member of Gen Z and would like to discuss your experience in the manufacturing industry, please get in touch with Nolan Beilstein, at [email protected].
