One of the things April is most proud of is Polaris’ commitment to safety. “There are so many variables and there’s always new technology to learn and ways to continuously improve yourself and your skills.” “You never know what will come out of a project or a new assignment,” she says, as she explains that each new model year has the potential to bring new equipment, new engineering to the assembly lines and that’s something she sees as exciting. Through that experience, she says that flexibility and attitude was everything. She found her next role as an Engineering process tech the most challenging, but that experience ultimately brought her to her current and longest position as a production supervisor. “I learned every area of the plant as a lead,” she says. She was the first ever flex lead, and that meant learning multiple areas. She then served in a flex role and covered all the lines, as needed, before moving on to a lead role on the ATV line. started building engines on the motorcycle lines as an assembler. But, he says, there’s reward in knowing that most all of the powertrains for Polaris come through the Osceola facility.Īpril G. He says that being in the role of a production supervisor allows him to work with more people, and says his experience on those same lines helps, “I really focus on showing appreciation for the people who work on the lines.” If he were to share advice to those interested in a manufacturing job, he’d keep it real he says, saying that you must put in the hours, that it requires attention to detail and the ability to follow exact directions, and to handle the physical work that being on the line requires. Moving up in my career was a personal goal, and I appreciate what leadership does to help people move up.” “I’m always interested in learning new things. “We were a smaller crew, but we had a lot of experience.” From there, he bounced back to snow on second shift to end the year, then over to open the Slingshot line in 2020, and back again to snow late 2021 before moving into his current production supervisor role on the second shift. In 2019, he moved to the first shift back on IMC as a lead – but then volunteered to move to the second shift with a crew to help keep up with production demands. spent two years on the Indian Motorcycle engine production line, then moved to serving as a flex pool floating operator, going where help was needed, before being promoted to a lead on the snow line late 2018. “I know there’s always room for continuous improvement, and that when the right opportunity comes along, you have to take it.”īradly E. “I put pride in everything I do, and I always give it my all,” he says. He realizes his story of moving up serves as an inspiration, and hopes it encourages others to do the same. There’s definitely opportunity for growth here at Polaris if you want to make manufacturing a career,” he says, mentioning that he moved to Osceola specifically for the job, something he does not regret.”Īs a supervisor, he enjoys working with many different types of people and working as a team to put engines together. Then he moved to a clutch lead, remaining there for a year before moving into his current role as a second shift production supervisor in Osceola’s materials and clutch assembly. has worked for Polaris for almost two years – and in that time, he’s moved up in his roles, going from an assembler to an applied materials handler in 90 days. In celebrating National Manufacturing Month, we’re sharing their collective story: “The respect they have of one another has allowed this team to make a positive difference each and every day. Because every one of them has worked on the line at one point in their careers, they have a real understanding of how to positively engage the team and a thorough knowledge of the products we build.” He explains that the team truly understands what it takes for the larger team to be successful – crediting the group’s success to their commitment to collaboration, communication, camaraderie, and mutual accountability. “I believe that the production supervisors have one of the toughest, but most rewarding, jobs in the company,” says Chris A., Osceola’s plant director. Some started here nearly 30 years ago, some more recent – but all share the same story of following a manufacturing career path at Polaris. A unique story can be found here in the Osceola plant: all eight production supervisors started on the production line as an assembler. This plant, one of Polaris’ first, specializes in powertrain manufacturing and employs more than 450 people. Osceola, WI, is roughly one hour east of Polaris’ headquarters in Medina, MN, located just over the state line into Wisconsin, at the top of the bluff overlooking the St.
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