Zane Ridley is a pin operator in the small automatics departments at Groov-Pin in Newnan, Georgia. In his six years as part of the Groov-Pin team, he has worked in the CNC department but eventually settled in on working with the small automatics.
Zane took manual machine, tool technology, and CNC technology classes while working at Groov-Pin to help him grow into his role. “When I started here, I didn’t really know anything about what I do now,” he explained. “I had worked on cars and heavy equipment, but I never worked in a machine shop. I didn’t really know what a lathe or a mill was!”
Zane’s schooling helped him tremendously in understanding how our machines work. “Today, I set up and run the grooved pin machines and occasionally do repairs,” he said. “This includes reviewing the work orders, taking machines apart, changing and sharpening grooving knives, and changing other parts for setup.”
Modifying the machines to run different jobs can be challenging. “You have to keep up with repairs. I focus on one task at a time and pick the most important task to get out of the way first,” he explained.
As a machine operator, being mechanically inclined is a critical asset. Zane equates working in manufacturing to working on a car. “You modify parts and you need to be good with using tools,” he said. “You have to enjoy and excel at working with your hands.”
In addition to the relationships that he has formed with his co-workers, the physical results of his work give Zane high job satisfaction. He said, “I put a lot of work and effort into the machines so it’s gratifying when they run good parts. I like hearing where the parts are going and I like to see it all come together.”