August 2022 Volume 4

OPERATIONS & MANAGEMENT

Daniela Rodriguez - Level 2Magnetic Particle Technician &Level 1 Ultrasonic Testing Technician

Sharbari came to Scot Forge in a roundabout way. Early in her career, she worked for an ESOP employer in Colorado. After moving to Illinois, she worked for two other companies, first for a testing equipment manufacturer and then for a metallurgical testing service provider. In both cases, she found the metallurgical work challenging and interesting and developed good relationships with her co-workers. She says, “However, the corporate culture left much to be desired, and I was unable to envision a long tenure at either of those companies. When my search led to me Scot Forge, I quickly recognized that I had found the culture I was seeking. The positive attitudes and commitment to excellence fostered by the mutual respect that exists between an ESOP company and its employees are what I had been missing. I share this aspect of the company with all the interns and student learners I mentor, emphasizing to them that as potential employee-owners, they have the ability through their work to directly impact the bottom line of the business and be rewarded commensurately. The critical nature of products produced at Scot Forge to our national defense, space programs and other missional critical markets makes our work even more meaningful. Truly, Scot Forge is a company that I am proud to be working at and where I will be glad to spend the rest of my career!” Michelle Hall – Digital Marketing Specialist

Daniela has been with Scot Forge for three years and is currently part of the Central Flex team. The team expands their skills to go to where the help is most needed – on any given day Daniela can flex from non-destructive examination to the saw department or the warehouse to process inventory and material. When asked what brought her to Scot Forge and what keeps her here, Daniela shared that she wanted to be part of something bigger than herself that would live on long past her

time with the company. She finds it inspiring to see the pride her fellow employee-owners take in their work and their willingness to help one another. Daniela takes that same approach in mentoring the next generation as high school student learners gain their first experience in manufacturing. Daniela stated, “Scot Forge has been absolutely amazing to me. I have had the pleasure of working with wonderful teams and am learning so much about things I would have never imagined. Working with people who are so willing to explain what they do and why they do it is such a blessing. Manufacturing is by far the best career path I could have taken.” She emphasized how much the employee-owned culture reflects that we’re all in it together. Sharbari Banerjee - Senior Metallurgical Engineer & Met LabManager

Michelle came to Scot Forge three years ago, and while her title is technically Digital Marketing Specialist, she wears many hats beyond managing the website and advertising. She helps business owners, buyers and engineers understand forgings and the manufacturing processes through events like tradeshows or fielding their inquiries when they reach out via the website or by phone. In addition, she

Sharbari is our Met Lab Manager and a Senior Metallurgical Engineer with her Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering. In the five years Sharbari has been with Scot Forge, she has supported the shop in the manufacture of parts made from unique steel grades and improving production in support of our defense customer base. She works closely with the Sales and Process Engineering departments to educate fellow owners, as well as our customers. Sharbari conducts data analysis

keeps a pulse on new and existingmarkets to help further educate the next generation of buyers about different manufacturing methods. Like many others, a leading factor in accepting a position at Scot Forge was the culture. She believes we support each other by working as a team to tackle problems, continuously learning and evolving. Michelle passes on the Scot Forge culture by helping mentor interns and supports an environment where we can talk through problems and be receptive to feedback. Michelle also noted how the connected culture brings together employee-owners from the shop floor and office to create solutions together.

and research and development activities in pursuit of product and process improvements, along with providing technical leadership for the mechanical and metallurgical testing activities.

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