Burton EMS Work Study Program Cultivates Future Tech Leaders on the Gogebic Range

Ironwood, MI – Burton EMS sought to bring industry and education together in collaboration when they created their work-study program. The program offers a comprehensive overview of the electronic manufacturing services sector, providing students with hands-on experience in various aspects of the industry, from design and prototyping to production and quality control. Burton EMS offers the initiative to complement students’ academic learning and create an understanding of the practical applications of their studies, encouraging a passion for innovation, leadership, and engineering.

Senior, Giovanni Lauzon, valedictorian of the class of 2024 at Luther L Wright High School in Ironwood, MI, participated in Burton’s work-study program this year. Sharing his experience, Lauzon remarked, “Being a part of the Burton EMS work-study program has been rewarding for me. It enabled me to apply my knowledge in real-world situations. The hands-on experience and understanding I’ve acquired will be valuable in my future career.”

Lauzon plans to continue his education at Michigan Tech or Gogebic Community College, majoring in computer science. He will utilize the technical knowledge he received at Burton EMS in school and his future career. 

As students in the area face career choices in industries demanding advanced knowledge in electronics, programming, and computers, cultivating an early interest in technology is critical to fostering the skills they need to compete in tomorrow’s workforce. The success of students like Lauzon is a testament to the viability of the program. 

Gary Burnett, Chief Operating Officer of Burton EMS, echoed that sentiment, “The work-study program at Burton EMS is crucial in creating leaders in the industry who will ensure the continued vitality of technology and manufacturing industries on the Gogebic Range. We’re very proud of Giovanni’s dedication and achievements, and we look forward to seeing more students follow in his footsteps.”

If you know a student who would make a good candidate for the Burton EMS work-study program, email hr@burtonems.com for details on criteria, specifics, and applying.

KOHYOUNG Solder Paste Inspection (SPI) Unit Added to SMT Line

The KOHYOUNG Solder Paste Inspection (SPI) unit is the newest equipment addition to the SMT line. The SPI inspects for correct stencil design, measurement of board warp, solder paste application, and coplanarity from the screen printer. The SPI inspects every board from the screen printer, and any defect is quickly identified. The average amount of defects from the screen printer is 85%. The equipment additions will ensure Burton can stay productive, flexible with production schedules, and keep up with demand from current and future customers.

Maximizing Employee Potential

A key concept of Lean manufacturing philosophy is differentiating between value-added and non value-added activity. Within that category is the concept of necessary non value-added activity or activities that are necessary, but don’t add value to the products being built. Supervision is considered a necessary, non value-added activity. While management involvement in the production process has not disappeared at Burton Industries, its management team has questioned how much supervision is really necessary if employees are trained in the “why” behind their jobs and understand how they interrelate to the production process.

This philosophy has driven cross-training efforts that have created a more nimble, flexible workforce able to work in multiple production jobs as production demand dictates. This training focus has evolved over multiple years into a program known as Learn 2 Earn, that increases team members’ compensation as their skills proficiency increases. In some cases, team members are trained in skills applicable to multiple processes in individual work cells; in other cases they are trained to work as a cohesive team in a single work cell.

Read the full whitepaper here.

Cutting Time in Product Development

Nowhere is the phrase “time is money” more accurate than in product development. A slow product development cycle can increase engineering costs, material costs and marketing costs. When design and manufacturing are outsourced, some original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) see design and manufacturing as distinctly different areas. The reality is that close collaboration among the customer’s design team and contract manufacturer can reduce time and minimize the potential for costly errors.

Design teams focus on product form, fit and function. However, that focus is often on the customer’s requirements for form, fit and function, rather than best manufacturing choices for delivering the desired form, fit and function. The result is often a more costly manufacturing process or a need for an additional design spin to eliminate constraints or quality issues that aren’t identified until the qualification production run. Read our full whitepaper here.