A "High C" Personality Makes the Perfect EDM Operator

Danielle O’Connor is a 2013 Windham Technical High School, Manufacturing Technologies graduate working as an EDM operator/trainee for Westminster Tool for the past 9 months.  In 5 years, she sees herself operating and training on the EDM while taking plastics technology courses.

Featured Content

What You Should Know About Injection Mold Safety Straps

MMT Chats

How is an Aluminum Mold Energy-Efficient?

When hired at Westminster Danielle took a DISC test, which assigns a “personality” category based on how you process work, and with her a "high C" rating (detail-oriented)) she was placed on an EDM for training since it requires specific attention to detail ... and Danielle loves it!

She shared that the summer before she went to high school, she took a two-week manufacturing course that taught basic operations performed on machines used in a machine shop. She went on tours to local machine shops to see how machine shops looked and worked. The purpose of the course was to show that manufacturing has changed and is no longer “dark and dirty.” Instead it is technologically advancing every day. Danielle believes strongly that this manufacturing "misrepresentation" still exists today and perpetuates the industry's top challenge: finding skilled labor.  Hear more from Danielle here.

Now let's take a look at another recent high school graduate working at Westminster: Kyle Gagne.

Kyle has been working at Westminster Tool for 3 years in maintenance. In 5 years he hopes to be working on manufacturing projects. Kyle is still in the process of obtaining manufacturing certificates this upcoming fall and spring. He believes the greatest aspect of working at Westminster is the staff. "We’re all so close. It’s a really great environment." His favorite part of the job is learning something new every day, and the most important thing he's learned so are are hands-on skills and the value of hard work.