SUCCESS STORY

Maintenance Manager, Scott Pierce, said they were having difficulty procuring replacement parts for the conveyor system. Specific parts, such as the conveyor sprocket, were obsolete because the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) discontinued that conveyor belt model to replace it with new technology. Once the existing sprockets wear down, there would be a need to replace the part or replace the conveyor in order to keep the line running. A line that generates production of approximately $2500 a minute, not to mention provides jobs. The conveyor is 230 feet long and consists of five sections, with 6 sprockets in each section. “The conveyor wasn’t down, but it was acting up,” Pierce said. “When the machine isn’t running properly it shakes the bread and we had zero replacement parts to fix it.”

Brittany Gribble (former FSQ supervisor) at Better Baked Foods saw a story in the news about McDowell Manufacturing, a student-run manufacturing enterprise at McDowell High School and mentioned it to Pierce as a possible solution to explore. NWIRC partners with McDowell High School for this career awareness and work readiness program with a focus on connecting manufacturers with specific needs. Through this innovative program, students participate in a manufacturing enterprise that is making actual parts, delivering services, and adding value as part of the supply chain for local manufacturers. Over the course of an academic school year, students learn about and perform different job functions in manufacturing, develop essential and life-long skills, utilize advanced manufacturing technologies, and establish connections and build relationships with local companies. At the same time this work readiness is occurring, capacity for local and regional manufacturers is advancing, a short-term solution to job placement is underway, future talent pipeline issues are being addressed, and the next generation of manufacturing business leaders is being cultivated. Pierce reached out to Kyle Bucholtz, Teacher Advisor for the program, to see if his students could help.

For this collaboration, the students would need to reverse engineer the sprocket from a sample provided because there were no drawings or specifications available. The students also needed to understand the application for the part and the various features of the part that were important for proper operation. Pierce then sourced the Delrin® plastic because of its durability.