Emerging Leader Introduces CNC Swiss to Students

Dedicated to the future of manufacturing, Emerging Leader Mike Medeiros understands the importance of community outreach that educates people about the industry. In fact, this production manager at North Easton Machine Co. (North Easton, Massachusetts) represents the industry by sitting on his local high school’s advisory board. For five years, he has been advocating CNC Swiss lathes, attempting to persuade the administration to add the technology to the school’s machining program.

2023 Emerging Leader Mike Medeiros
Photo Credit: North Easton Machine Co.

“Twice a year we meet as a board and at every meeting I talked about the importance of bringing in Swiss-type CNC lathes to the program,” Medeiros states. “There are so many manufacturers that are local to this school that run these machines. It’s going to benefit us and it’s going to benefit the students. There are going to be a lot more companies that want to pull in a co-op student with a Swiss background.” He eventually convinced the board by explaining that he personally has held many positions locally that were all Swiss jobs.

To get the process moving, Medeiros acted as a coordinator/liaison. First, he facilitated the school contacting machinery dealers and spoke with the salespeople. They discussed which machine would be the best option for the school. Then, he organized a meet-and-greet with the high school and another manufacturer with a Citizen A20 Swiss lathe on its shop floor.

Mike Medeiros (Production Manager), Alan Chaves (CNC Lathe Programmer), Cayden Ward (CNC Mill Programmer) standing next to a machining center at North Easton Machine. Emerging Leader Medeiros describes himself as a continuous learner who has always found manufacturing to be a gratifying industry. “Being a hands-on leader enables me to feel all those successes while simultaneously helping others grow—there’s no greater satisfaction than that,” he says. Photo Credit: North Easton Machine

The meeting resulted in the school agreeing that the technology would be a good addition to the program. By the time this article is published, the high school will have that machine on its shop floor, thanks to Medeiros’ persistence and the coordinated efforts of fellow board members who also share a passion for CNC Swiss.

Now, North Easton Machine’s Swiss department — as well as other local manufacturers — will benefit from the skilled students graduating from this high school program. The shop — which offers Swiss, CNC lathe and CNC

Medeiros shares his industry knowledge in his new role as an instructor for an Advanced Manufacturing and Photonics Certificate program at Stonehill College in North Easton.

milling machining for the biomedical, defense, aerospace and electronics industries, among others — works with four area high schools to recruit for co-ops and internship positions as early as a student’s junior year.

“Instead of learning at their schools’ shops, they come to us for a co-op that is usually one week on, one week off, or two weeks on, two weeks off,” Medeiros describes. “We provide them with the opportunity to work on live, customer-based jobs in our various departments. Then, if we decide that the placement was mutually successful, we offer them a full-time role upon graduation.”

Through Medeiros’ partnership with the high schools, North Easton Machine has expanded its co-op program with a student on staff each school year since 2017.

Besides building a strong workforce through promoting manufacturing at regional high schools, Medeiros shares his industry knowledge in his new role as an instructor for an Advanced Manufacturing and Photonics Certificate program at Stonehill College in North Easton.

“I’d like to thank the team for all their hard work, commitment to quality and for placing their trust in me this past decade,” he says. “Every year, we accomplish greater heights and they continue to help me grow as a leader.”

His nominator, Paula Martel, says he inspires his staff daily to work as a team to achieve production goals. “I am nominating Mike because he represents the future of leadership in the industry,” says Martel, administrative manager at the company. “He is able to draw out the best in people with a genuine, patient, goal-oriented style.”