Transcript
Welcome to BLaST the Airwaves with BLaST Intermediate Unit 17. Here at BLaST Intermediate Unit 17, we strive to transform lives and communities through educational services. For this season, we have a special guest co-host who is working to create and sustain pathways to employment in our region by uniting her community around common goals in STEM learning. This season’s guests come from 9 counties total, representing different local industries all across Northeastern and Central Pennsylvania. I’d like to introduce you to Alexandra Konsur-Grushinski, STEM Services Coordinator for NEIU 19 and current lead of NEPA STEM Ecosystem. Alexandra, welcome! Thank you for having me. I’m so excited to be able to work with you for our Celebration of STEM in Industry this year. Our STEM Ecosystem is holding a weeklong series of free events and opportunities highlighting industry partners and the benefits they have in our 5 county region. Our hope is that by listening to the wide variety of employment opportunities available in our region from folks in our community who live it everyday, we can shed a light on what’s possible for our young people. On this podcast, we will provide you with educational solutions and resources for all, no matter the learning environment. So teachers, administrators, students , caregivers, industry partners, what are you waiting for? What would happen if we started questioning? What if our students and educators got the opportunities to sit down with members of the community? What if we bridged that gap? What connections would we discover? It’s time to blast the airwaves.
Rebecca: Today we have the pleasure of speaking with Brad Saldi, industrial engineer for General Dynamics Land Systems in Eynon..Did I say it right Brad?
Brad: That is correct. Eynon, Pennsylvania.
Rebecca: Perfect. In Lackawanna County. And Alexandra Konsur-Grushinski, STEM Services Coordinator of NEIU 19 and current lead of NEPA STEM Ecosystem. Brad, Alexandra, thanks so much for joining us today to discuss STEM skills used in your industry, specifically Brad. Specifically, we will be discussing how knowledge of different STEM skills are important for your current job position. So are you two ready to Blast the Airwaves?
Brad: I’m ready. Thanks for having me.
Rebecca: Yes.
Alexandra: Ready as I’ll ever be, Rebecca.
Rebecca: So Brad, why don’t we start with you telling us a little bit more about your role in industry.
Brad: So I graduated from Penn State Harrisburg with a bachelors of science in mechanical engineering. I started working as soon as I got out of college. I was hired by General Dynamics, a defense company as an industrial engineer. I’ve been working as an industrial engineer for about 2 years now. And I can honestly say that I’ve enjoyed every moment of my job. I do a variety of tasks in my role. Some of the more standard or day-to-day ones include developing work standards, so that’s like how long it takes for us to make a part from we get it in the door until it leaves the door. Estimating new product labor costs, performing time studies, so going out onto the manufacturing floor with a stopwatch and recording processes to see how long they take. Then I also do some project management work, so managing the scope, schedule and budget of engineering prototype projects.
Rebecca: That’s a really busy day, lots of hats you wear right there. So, I’m sure not one day is very alike.
Brad: Yeah everyday is different I can say that for sure.
Alexandra: Well Brad, if everyday is different, then, you don’t actually have a typical day I would think. But, can you, can you give us a sense of maybe how a day in the life of your job would look?
Brad: So I do have some you know standard things that do need to get done everyday. But a majority of the day is typically spent at the computer doing several different tasks such as producing efficiency reports, so kind of how well the plant ran on a daily, weekly and monthly basis. Then I also produce what are called machine utilization reports, so how long our machines are running versus how long they are sitting idle. Then these reports are analyzed to look for any trends or areas for improvement. Some other computer-related tasks that I do include estimating new product costs, labor costs and creating manufacturing build materials which are a list of parts that are required to complete an upper-level assembly part. I do get to spend some days out on the manufacturing floor doing the time studies to develop work standards for some specific parts that we have here. Then throughout the day, I have many interactions with coworkers to discuss issues that are occurring or may occur to figure out how we can resolve or prevent them. Then like I mentioned before, some of my days consist of doing project management work for engineering prototype projects. And like I mentioned, none of my days are the same; they’re all different and everyday I’m faced with new challenges which is something that I really enjoy about this job.
Alexandra: Brad, has that always been the case at your job? Has any of that type of ebb and flow of work and how it’s constantly changing. Has that always been the case, or has that changed over the years?
Brad: I think over the past 2 and a half years, that I’ve been working as an industrial engineer, my responsibilities and knowledge-base have kind of grown. I’ve tried to embody some leadership type skills to assist some of the newer coworkers that are here at General Dynamics now.
Rebecca: Yeah, I really enjoyed, too how you mentioned efficiency. A lot of times when we are talking with our teachers and students we talk about a big part of STEM/Computer Science is how you do things efficiently? And I loved hearing about the problem-solving everyday that you face. I too enjoy that aspect of STEM. Here’s a problem, how do we fix it? How do we find other solutions? So, you mentioned a lot of things about STEM skills that are present in your job, but can you tell us a little bit more about your everyday job, how do you see STEM skills in your industry?
Brad: So, as an IE, science, technology, engineering and mathematics are integrated into pretty much every aspect of my job. I think the science portion of STEM in my role is kind of utilizing the scientific method for problem-solving. As far as technology in my position, I think the advancements are one of the things that are in the forefront of my position and in the industry as a whole. There continues to be ways to improve things and make things more efficient from computer software that allows us to analyze data more effectively, to new machinery that can produce products in half the time of the older machinery. Industry 4.0 is taking manufacturing to the next level. There’s a lot of traditional manufacturing methods that are becoming a lot more automated through the use of AI or artificial intelligence and robotics. The engineering aspect of STEM is kind of incorporated with critical thinking methods to identify areas of any improvements that can be made in our production floor and methods and machinery. We have a lot of continuous improvement efforts that take place through the usage of engineering techniques. As far as mathematics, it consumes a good portion of my day. A lot of it has become automated now through the usage of computers and calculators. But I am a strong believer that it’s important to understand the fundamentals of equations and how the problems are actually solved. Not just typing numbers into a calculator. So I use math equations to calculate numbers that are essential for developing efficiency reports and utilization reports.
Rebecca: Lots of math.
Brad: Absolutely.
Alexandra: So, Brad, clearly what you work on during the day is very strongly based in STEM and those types of skills. Our students that go through their PreK to 12 experience learn a lot of things in school. They have subjects, and they have electives and the question I am curious to know the answer to is are there skills that you use everyday that you can make the correlation to what you do everyday with those skills and what the students are learning in school. We are trying to answer the perennial question of: when am I ever going to need this? That students ask a lot right? They’re learning something in school, and they go: When am I ever going to need this? Right? Brad, can you help us kind of dispel that for folks?
Brad: Oh absolutely. There’s many skills that I learned in K through 12th grade and even college that are applicable to my job every single day. I mean of the core classes like math, reading and writing, all taught skills that are imperative to my role in the industry. I also engage in a lot of collaboration throughout the day which makes communication skills very important. Organization is also a very important skill for me. It helps me be very effective. And I can operate a lot more efficiently because I know where things are kept; I don’t have to dig around for certain things. Then with the way technology continues to evolve, I think computer skills are very important. For my role specifically, programs like Microsoft Excel and Word are very important. The last set of skills that I can think of that are important and are taught K through 12th grade, college are critical thinking skills, especially in an engineering role. I vaguely remember in one of my college math courses there was a student sitting a couple seats over to me, and he politely raised his hand and asked: What is the purpose of us solving these long equations by hand? And my professor’s response was: It teaches you to be a good critical thinker and problem solver which is going to help you tremendously in life. And that response always kind of stuck with me, and it made me realize that it’s important to make observations, to think outside the box, and analyze information to make more informed decisions in your life. I think more often than not, there’s always multiple ways to solve something and overcome problems. Or even improve upon the way certain things are being done now, and good critical thinking skills help tremendously with that in my mind.
Rebecca: Yeah there’s a lot of perseverance that goes behind what you do. And sometimes you don’t get the answer right away and you have to still figure it out and takes time and some patience. Brad, I’m interested to know, you do a lot of math, right? Have you always liked math? Or is it something that when you realized umm I really, you know, this seems like a career path for me, and then you started to see how it relates to what it could be useful for you in the future, you started to really gravitate towards math then. Or were you always along… did you always love math?
Brad: Umm, I think throughout my K through 12th grade, engineering has absolutely always been a stronger point for me than Reading. I think that’s kind of why I went to along the engineering path.
Rebecca: Right. Yeah. It’s always interesting to see how they, you know, sometimes we don’t like a subject necessarily right away because we don’t see the relevance, but when we start connecting to our future hopes and dreams and then we’re starting to gravitate towards that concept. And especially with what you do with math, it can be a little bit more intense than just adding and subtracting. So..
Brad: Yeah I think especially during some of my college courses, some of the upper level math course were very difficult and getting back to my statement that you are not only learning the basics and fundamentals of the upper level equations in math, but you’re getting taught other skills like critical thinking skills that are very important to life.
Rebecca: Right.
Alexandra: And to persevere when things are difficult too. Like you mentioned that those were difficult classes, but you persevered to achieve in those classes. Umm so, how did you know that you wanted to be an engineer? So, we kind of touched on that a little bit in some of the conversations we’ve had a little bit earlier, but can you tell us when that epiphany maybe took place? Or how did you know that this was a direction that you wanted to take with your life?
Brad: Yeah, so there’s a bit of a story behind me going to college for engineering. While I was in high school, I went to that Lackawanna Career Technology Center where I studied electrical construction and maintenance and it was a three year course and by the end of the second year I had discussions with my teacher because I was kind of excelling through the course and I had already achieved a majority of the tasks that needed to be done to graduate in three years. So I had further discussion with him about going to college for engineering and I kind of felt that it would be more beneficial for me to go back to my home school and pick up on more classes like physics and chemistry. So I ended up not dropping out of Career Technology Center but I received my certificate for completing the coursework in two years, and then I went back to my home school and I focused on more classes like physics and chemistry, like a mentioned, and then I went out to go to school for mechanical engineering.
Rebecca: I really like how you share that story. We always like a good story on here. But, it shows the importance of opening up for conversations. If you wouldn’t have talked with your teacher there and explored. The whole point of this PreK-12 is just exposing students to a number of different ways that they can achieve their goals. And talking with your teachers, talking with your school counselors about what are you looking to do? And having that moment where you realize Brad, that hey I might need to, as much as I love probably the career technology, I might need to go back to my home school and focus on the physics. So kudos to you for reaching out and talking that through.
Brad: Yeah. Absolutely. I think it’s very important to communicate with, like you mentioned, school guidance counselors and teachers because they’re very helpful and can set you on a good career path. I’m very thankful for all of the teachers and professors and everybody that I had to help me along the way in K through 12.
Alexandra: Well it’s clear that you love what you do Brad. That comes through for sure during this conversation with you it’s very clear that you love what you do. You’re in, you’re in the right place.
Rebecca: (laughs)
Alexandra: For sure.
Brad: I think that it’s important to be passionate about what you do everyday. Makes coming to work much more enjoyable.
Rebecca: Yeah absolutely and we usually ask, you know: what kind of pathway did you go on to get to where you are today? But I think you mentioned that a lot you know, you went to Career and Technology; you went to, you had your regular schooling at your home district. You went to Penn State Harrisburg. So, you know, there’s a lot of options out there, and I think it’s also important for our listeners to know even if you think you have it, that if you have to change your path, that’s ok too. So, I am going to take us to our last question for today, and it is my most favorite because it’s where you have to think quick on your feet which, Brad, you do that everyday. But our Blast Five and for those listeners who have been listening, we had the same question the past two or three episodes but I’m going to switch it up a little bit Brad. So, we are going to blast you with five rapid questions, for you to quickly answer, and this is a way our listeners get to know you outside of what you do everyday, and just as a person right? So, are you ready for me to Blast you with these five questions?
Brad: I’m ready.
Rebecca: Alright. What is your favorite candy?
Brad: My favorite candy would have to be a Hershey’s bar with almonds in it.
Rebecca: Oh!
Alexandra: Delicious!
Brad: It’s a different one. I don’t think many people would think of that one, but that’s at the top of my list.
Rebecca: Very true, very true. What is your favorite television show?
Brad: My favorite television show is Impractical Jokers.
Rebecca: That’s hilarious. That is a hilarious show. I always die laughing in that one. What;s your favorite part of your job?
Brad: So I’m thinking that my favorite part of my job is that I’m always facing new challenges. Which allows me to think outside the box, again back to the critical thinking, that’s what I enjoy to do, and I like the new challenges everyday.
Rebecca: Wonderful. Favorite food.
Brad: Well, I’ve got some Italian blood in me, so I’d have to go with chicken parm with a side of pasta.
Rebecca: Mmm. Chicken parm with a side of pasta…
Brad: Absolutely.
Alexandra: Now we need to know this though…because this is important. Whose sauce recipe needs to be on the pasta?
Brad: Oh boy! Is my mom going to listen to this?
Rebecca: (laughs)
Alexandra: It’s possible. You never know.
Brad: (laughs)
Alexandra: It’s possible, Brad. It’s possible. (laughs)
Brad: Umm, I’d have to say my mom’s. My mom is a very good cook and I enjoy her sauce.
Rebecca: Nice. Nice.
Alexandra: Very good answer, Brad. Good answer. Good answer.
Rebecca: And the last question, what’s your favorite music? Music preference?
Brad: Growing up I’ve always been a fan of, you know, the rap and the hiphop music, but you know as I get older, I’m starting to enjoy some country and a little bit of classic rock.
Rebecca: There we go.
Brad: So a little switch on the genres, but I’m enjoying it.
Rebecca: I think I’d have to agree with you Brad on that one. So, wonderful. Well this has been a Blast, no pun intended, and we celebrate you and what you do everyday in STEM. Again, thank you for taking some time today to connect with us and our listeners. If our listeners want to check out what you do, where you work, is there anywhere they can turn to research a little bit more about your job?
Brad: Yeah so we have a company website: General Dynamics. More specifically, I work for General Dynamics Land Systems. So if you just go onto Google and search General Dynamics Land Systems, there will be tons of things that pop up.
Rebecca: Awesome.
Brad: And then as far as the industrial engineering role, there is plenty of research available on the internet to look to see what IEs do on a daily basis.
Rebecca: Great. Thank you, we will definitely add that into our footnotes as well. Well, it has been a pleasure to have you on the podcast, and take care, Brad, Alexandra. And I’m sure, hopefully we’ll get together soon and talk soon.
Brad: Thanks for having me. I really appreciate it. It was a great time.
Alexandra: Thank you, Brad.
We would like to thank you for blasting the airwaves with us today. If you like the show, please subscribe or leave a review. If you want to know more, check out www.iu17.org for further resources and show notes. If you’d like to learn more about NEPA STEM Ecosystem and the work we are doing in STEM and job pathways, please visit them at www.nepastem.org. As always, we want to thank you for what you do every single day. Remember, keep shining. We’ll be back next episode to provide you another educational solutions for all, as we continue to transform lives and communities through educational services.
Additional/Suggested resources mentioned in the episode:
General Dynamics (main website)
General Dynamics (Land Systems)
BLaST Intermediate Unit 17 – www.iu17.org
Professional Learning Opportunities at BLaST IU 17 – https://www.iu17.org/professional-learning/
Website: https://www.nepastem.org
Facebook: NEPA STEM Ecosystem – @NEPASTEMecosystem
https://www.facebook.com/NEPASTEMecosystem/
Instagram: NEPA STEM Ecosystem – @nepastem
https://www.instagram.com/nepastem/
Twitter: NEPA STEM Ecosystem – @NepaStem
Music in this podcast provided by Scott Holmes Music on Tribe of Noise Pro.
Find BLaST the Airwaves on:
