Michael Andrews
Continuous Improvement Engineer
Danville Metal Stamping, Inc.


Michael Andrews grew up on a farm and graduated from Bismarck High School. He was always interested in mechanical things and frequently tinkered with machinery on their farm. He decided that since he didn't want to go into farming, engineering would be a field where he could still do the hands-on work he really enjoyed.

Michael applied for and received the Vermilion Advantage Workforce Clusters Engineers for Tomorrow scholarship. Michael claims, "This opportunity allowed me to go into engineering with the financial assistance that I needed."

Michael Graduated from DACC in 2007 with an Associated Degree and then transferred to Eastern Illinois University graduating with a Bachelor's Degree in Applied Engineering in 2009. Michael credits the guaranteed internships he had each summer in local manufacturing companies such as Tridan International, ConAgra, ThyssenKrupp and Danville Metal Stamping in helping focus and refine his career interests. "The internships gave me a lot of different perspectives from different manufacturing companies." Michael chose his current position at Danville Metal Stamping upon graduating from College an describes the work that he does as a Continuous Improvement Engineer as "very dynamic " saying he rarely does the same tasks any day of the week.

His first year, Michael worked with production supervisors and schedulers out on the floor. That allowed him to understand the manufacturing process much more clearly and all that is involved between production teams. He does all of the lean activities now including process improvements with equipment that -- works to make process smoother creating less waste. He focuses on safety, equipment efficiencies, specs for equipment and now is doing coordination for a new automation project.

When asked what skills he uses that he underestimated as a student in school, he quickly replied, "interpersonal skills and interpersonal relationships." "In engineering you have to work with people at all levels and be able to listen, share your ideas, compromise and then come up with a solution."

At EIU, Michael took facility layout and automation classes that he describes as "very valid to what I do today." He also minored in business management which he says has already proven invaluable. "Part of my work is to look at return on investment (ROI) to justify new equipment purchases. The accounting I had in school helps me to understand this process and how business works in general. Every business is in business to make money."

Michael really likes working with the new equipment. "I get to travel to customers and deal with international customers, too." Danville Metal Stamping (DMS) is a family-owned company and Michael thinks that has advantages not available in larger companies. One reason is that he gets to work with management frequently and has since he first started. "There is less hierarchy," he said. "I have also been able to gain much more responsibility very quickly and contribute to making a difference in the company."

He went on to address the manufacturing stereotype in this way. "What I see in our employees here is that they all have very specific skills. The further we progress with new equipment and different ideas of how to do things the more you have to have a good comprehension of how complicated a process is…. There is so much technical data our there now. Years ago the saying about manufacturing requirements used to be "fit, form and function." Now you cannot do that. We are manufacturing items with tolerances in the tens of thousands of inches and you just can't be any idiot and do that. You really have to understand technical process."

One piece of advice Michael said he would share with students still in school considering an Industrial Technology or Engineering career would be, "make sure you have good interpersonal skills. Get involved with some kind of organization where you have to get in front of people and speak because you are going to be doing presentations and you will have to speak in front of people whatever you do."

When asked about the prevailing notion that "there are no good career opportunities in the Danville area, and that manufacturing is dead and holds no future" Michael becomes downright indignant. "Manufacturing is definitely not a dead end career choice. DMS is a significant, high-tech aerospace components manufacturer right here in Danville. People have no idea what is really done or available in this area. The company has been here for over 60 years because they continue to automate, focus on quality and efficiencies and through everyone involved in the manufacturing process, be the best they can be." He went on to describe how he has friends who work for large companies in big cities and says "it is a much more cut-throat environment." "If your roots are here, big cities are not always what they are cracked up to be. I know my job and this company are sustainable."

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