Building Tomorrow’s Workforce
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P.J. Gruetzmacher, President and CEO of LAI International, says fighting off
constant pricing pressure will require the right culture and a next-generation workforce.
The Council Forum / P.J. Gruetzmacher
MANUFACTURING
LEADERSHIP JOURNAL
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Q: What is your role
and focus at your
company?
I am the CEO and President of LAI
International, Inc. Our focus is to
provide world-class precision machining solutions on time, with perfect quality, and at a good value. Our
company supports both subtractive
and additive manufacturing across a
multitude of materials utilizing advanced technologies.
Q: What is the most
pressing issue facing
the manufacturing
industry today?
There are three: First, the aging workforce and the need to find new associates. Second, machine tools today require a different skill set than in the past.
Associates that embrace technology
as part of their everyday workflow are
needed. One of ourlargestinitiativesis
transforming to Factory of the Future
(FOF). FOF requires associatestobe
familiar with Six Sigma tools, statistical
process control, change management,
and electronic work instructions. And
they need to utilize advanced inspection methods to ensure we accept no
defect, we make no defect, and we pass
on no defect. And third is the constant
pressure on price. We are constantly being compared to low-cost region labor
costs. We are combatting the pressure
through continuous improvement (CI)
techniques. Every element of the Value
Stream is analyzed for cost and cycle
time reductions, not just direct labor.
Q: What is the most
important corporate initiative you
are involved in at the
moment?
There are t wo. We are expanding
and replicating existing production
lines to support the aerospace engine
growth rate. We are also transitioning
our New York site from being energy
market-centric to a combined focus
on energy and aerospace.
Q: What will be the
most important lead-
ership qualities to pos-
sess in the future?
Situational awareness coupled with
the skills to convert strategic planning
into tactical implementations. Leaders must be able to master this while
being able to lead a workforce that will
contain more and more millennials.
Q: What will be the
greatest opportunities
for manufacturers over
the next five years?
Understanding a healthy balance
between subtractive and additive
manufacturing while also adopting
Manufacturing 4.0. LAI has taken the
approach to embrace technology, so
our IT team, coupled with our manufacturing and quality engineers, are
constantly looking for next-generation
manufacturing and inspection methods while also developing autonomous
operations. I believe Manufacturing
4.0 is at the infancy stage on its developmental lifecycle, and LAI is trying to
keep pace.
Q: What is your favor-
ite activity outside of
work or the last book
you read?
I enjoy golf with family, friends, colleagues, and customers when time
permits. When not, simply enjoying
my five kids is pretty awesome. M
Patrick J. “P.J.” Gruetzmacher
Company: LAI International, Inc.
Location:Tempe, AZ
Size: 375 Associates, four locations (AZ,
ME, MD, NY)
Industry: Contract manufacturer of preci-sion-engineered finished parts, components and sub-assemblies for advanced
industries including aerospace, defense,
energy, industrial, and medical.
Website:
www.laico.com
approach to embrace technology, so
nents and sub-assemblies for advanced
industries including aerospace, defense,
www.laico.com