Ken Robinson is the maintenance supervisor at Precision Turned Components (PTC), Groov-Pin’s subsidiary in Smithfield, Rhode Island. From quick fixes to ordering parts and building new products, Ken helps keep the plant running smoothly.
Since starting at Groov-Pin in October of 2010, Ken has gotten busier as jobs have gotten bigger. Every day he walks through the shop and talks to people to see if they’re having any issues with equipment. “It’s challenging trying to keep everyone on the same page and keep everything in line,” he said.
A preventative outlook helps Ken stay on top of any problems that might arise. “I try to ask beforehand if anyone is having issues with equipment,” Ken explained. “Sometimes people don’t relate a problem until it gets too far.”
Being able to stay on top of various tasks as well as the ability to think ahead is important for someone with Ken’s responsibilities. There are also valuable technical skills to have working in machine maintenance. “You need to be able to troubleshoot machinery, electrically and mechanically,” he said. “Welding is another good skill to have as well as common knowledge of rotating equipment.”
Ken has worked in the industrial sector since he was 18 years old. He started as a millwright visiting power plants, pharmaceutical plants, and different high-production plants. “I’ve spent 35 years in the trades,” he said. “I was always on the repair end of it going into shops and repairing equipment in wire mills.”
Working at Groov-Pin offers Ken a welcoming work environment where he can move at his own pace. He explained, “The flexibility here is tremendous, it gives me a great work-life balance.”
Manufacturing also provides job satisfaction and holds his interest. “This industry is exciting,” he said. “Every day is different and every project is different.”