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Manufacturing

Max

Sometimes tough love is exactly what is needed to help someone get on the right track. Max’s father owns and operates RBK, a machine shop in Auburn, and has hired Orion Manufacturing Training Program graduates in the past. Max also worked there for a time, until his father had enough. Max explained, “My dad sat me down and told me ‘you don’t know how to work, you’ve not been a good worker, and you can’t work here anymore,’ which was difficult. My dad suggested that I talk with some of the Orion graduates about the training program, and how Orion helped them get their lives together. After I did that I decided to give Orion’s training a try.”

Orion is a unique organization. We believe that everyone deserves an opportunity to work. And we are here to help anyone who has a barrier to employment learn the skills that they need to earn and keep a job. We have over 70 trained mentors who work one-on-one with program participants, teaching them technical skills in a variety of areas, while also helping them to improve their soft skills.

Max spent time in Deburr, Mills, and Clamp Block, and while he was learning the skills needed in each area he felt that in many ways he was just going through the motions. That changed when he began training in Orion’s Quality Assurance area. “When I began training in QA something clicked,” Max related. “I’ve always liked puzzles and seeing how the pieces come together to make the whole. I’ve been able to relate that to manufacturing. I’m interested in the broader picture, and seeing how each part fits with the others. Understanding how every operation affects the part, and the level of precision and math that goes into each part is something I really enjoy.”

While at Orion, Max learned more than just technical skills. Max feels that Orion helped him prepare for his Quality Assurance position at Exotic Metals, by letting him gain an understanding of what it means to put in a full day’s work, and how to get used to the rhythm of a full week. “Orion taught me about work ethic, and how to maintain a job,” Max said. “I learned how to ‘like’ working, and that it’s possible to have fun while working.”

My proudest moment was when I realized where I am now compared to where I was a year ago, and how far I’ve come.

– Max / Manufacturing Graduate

Max has made tremendous progress over the past year. “I went through a huge transition from not working to now having a full-time job,” Max stated. “My dad was surprised that I was able to make the transition as smoothly as I did. My proudest moment was when I realized where I am now compared to where I was a year ago, and how far I’ve come.”

“The journey I’ve been on has been amazing,” Max continued. “I started in my dad’s machine shop, which is small, and then went to Orion, and I’m now with Exotic Metals. Both are so much larger than where I started. With what I learned I feel that my world keeps expanding and that anything is possible.”

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