Page 24 - MetalForming November 2016

Vivi Diaz
Tooling Coordinator/Prototyping Lead Leader Tech Inc.
Tampa, FL
Vivi is a six-time Employee of the Month winner and two-time Overall Star of the Month winner in her 21 years at Leader Tech. Showing incredi- ble talent and skill in coordinating all of the company’s prototyping and tooling work, she’s proven an invaluable asset in helping the company position itself as a quick-turn, high-precision prototyping and manufacturing house for EMI shielding. Vivi possesses unique knowl- edge of sheetmetal forming, springback calculations and heattreat fixturing, along with an overall mechanical skillset that makes her a true leader in the met- alforming industry.
“Today, women can showcase their talent with innovative ideas in high- tech jobs. The opportunities for women to put their abilities and intelligence on display are constantly developing in this once male-dominant industry. It's important that women take every chance to show what we are capable of doing and not let industry opportu- nities pass us by.”
Tammy Leech
Technology Project Lead Racine Metal-Fab Sturtevant, WI
Starting at Racine Metal-Fab (RMF) in 2008 as a production operator, within two years Tammy was viewed as a leader in her department, becoming the go-to person among her peers and even filling in to perform supervisor duties when the position was vacant. A key individual in several technology-related initiatives, Tammy, as part of the com- pany’s paperless-plant effort, trained hourly workforce in the use of technol- ogy tools to schedule work and find production-related documents such as part drawings, work instructions and quality documentation.
Noted for her positive, can-do atti- tude and commitment to continuous improvement, Tammy has earned the trust and respect of employees in RMF’s production operation. And, RMF sees her as someone every new employee must meet, including new members of the senior management team.
“When I began working at Racine Metal-Fab, I didn't think I could make a difference for myself, my family or my co-workers. The opportunity to succeed in manufacturing provided me with a sense of accomplishment and self- worth. As a single mom, it also provid- ed me with the ability to provide finan- cially for my family's well-being.”
Stacey Bonham
Quality Manager NASG Indiana Muncie, IN
Within a year of Stacey’s 2014 hiring by NASG Indiana, the plant drastically reduced its Internal-PPM and Cost-of- Quality numbers. Since then, under her control, excellent quality numbers have been maintained, including a record- low cost of quality, while the plant con- tinues to grow at a healthy rate.
As her nominator states, a quality manager has one of the toughest jobs in a manufacturing setting, having to be able to listen and advise the customer while balancing production requirements in times of need. She has helped con- vince the NASG Indiana workforce to be open-minded and accept change where possible.
“If asked would I recommend a career in manufacturing to other women, I would wholeheartedly answer, ‘Yes!’ The process to go from an idea to a revenue-produc- ing item is challenging and rewarding in so many ways. Manufacturing is not for the faint of heart. It is fast-paced and in perpetual motion, and it fosters an oppor- tunity to work both as a team member as well as individually on projects with budg- etary and timing requirements. The networks of people you meet and the knowledge you gain benefits you professionally and personally. If you’re looking for a challenge, jump on the fast track to manufacturing, where there is never a dull moment!”
S4 MetalForming/November 2016
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