Robert Ortiz
Maintenance Supervisor
Quaker Oats Company
Parent Company: PepsiCo

HISTORY
Robert Ortiz is no stranger to the manufacturing environment. He began working in manufacturing almost a decade ago immediately after high school in his home area of northwest Indiana and continued to work for five years before going to college. He graduated from Purdue in 2004 with a degree in Organizational Leadership and Supervision. He has been with Quaker four and one-half years. The first three years he was a leader/supervisor in operations. The last year and one-half he has been a leader/supervisor with the maintenance department. Robert was quick to point out that you ‘have to keep learning.’ Just recently he completed PLC (programmable logic controls) training. “Technology is constantly changing and in maintenance you are constantly trouble-shooting technology.”

KEY SKILLS AND CHARACTERISTICS FOR ULTIMATE JOB PERFORMANCE
Robert remains convinced that the future of manufacturing is “very bright.” He acknowledged that having technical abilities is critical, but he was just as quick to point out that “with the right aptitude, most technical skills can be taught.” What he feels is even more critical, in fact he describes as “huge”, is having “strong interpersonal skills.” “You have to work with and communicate with people in any job, so interpersonal skills are key.”

REWARDS OF THE JOB
The aspect of his supervision job he likes the most is learning from the mechanics with whom he works. “As I watch them fix the machines, I marvel at how smart they are and at the thought and problem-solving processes they use. I learn from them every day.”

Regarding Quaker specifically, what he finds about the PepsiCo environment that is different and special from other manufacturing environments in which he has worked is “their strong emphasis on diversity and inclusion.” “Here at Quaker, we celebrate everyone’s differences. With everything the company does, they keep their people in mind.”

CHALLENGES OF THE JOB
While a lot of machine maintenance processes are planned, Robert also acknowledged that complicated machinery is also unpredictable. “It’s the nature of what we do to fight fires every day, but sometimes it is hard to get in front of the problem to try to head it off first. That is why teamwork is so critical. When you work in an environment with so many moving mechanical parts and over 500 people, you have to have great teamwork every minute of every day.”

ADVICE FOR BEING SUCCESSFUL
When asked why, as a college graduate, he chose the field of manufacturing, he said confidently, “things need to be made and food manufacturing is in a league all its own. It’s a fast-paced environment, and I thrive on that."

JUST THE FACTS
Career - First-Line Supervisors/Managers of Production and Operating Workers. Similar job titles include Maintenance Leader; Maintenance Manager.

Description - Supervise and coordinate the activities of production, maintenance and operating workers such as inspectors, precision workers, machine setters and operators, assemblers, fabricators, and plant maintenance and system operators.

Tasks:
• Direct and coordinate the activities of employees engaged in the production or maintenance of goods
• Confer with other supervisors and managers to coordinate operations and activities within or between departments.
• Plan and establish work schedules and assignments
• Demonstrate equipment operations and work and safety procedures to new employees or assign employees to experienced workers for training

Knowledge Needed
• Production and processing
• Administration and Management
• Mathematics
• Mechanical
• Customer and Personal Service
• Personnel and Human Resources
• Education and Training

Skills Needed
• Critical Thinking
• Time management
• Active Listening
• Speaking
• Coordination
• Management of personnel Resources
• Judgment and Decision Making

Projected job growth (2008-2018) – Moderate

Projected job openings (2008-2018) – 91,900

Workforce Cluster Employers in Vermilion County with Maintenance Supervisor Positions include:
ALCOA
Ball Corporation
Bunge
DynaChem
Fiberteq
ThyssenKrupp Crankshaft
VA Illiana Health Care System

Related Training Available through Danville Area Community College:
Industrial Maintenance AAS 67 cr
Maintenance Mechanic Cert 37 cr
Advanced Maintenance mechanic Cert 18 cr
Management Cert. 30 cr
Corporate and Community Education (CCE) customized training

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