Undergraduate Interview of Ben Ragan

1. Undergraduate Interview ofBen Ragan IDM 288 Sp-09 Dr. Burtner Brian Waldrip

2. College • Mercer University • Graduated in 2006 • B.S. in Industrial Engineering

3. Job Experience/Real World • Touches on how the workplace is a less technically oriented environment compared to school. • Workplace is more focused on communication with others. • Coordination of multiple tasks.

4. Commonly Used Skills • Statistics are used occasionally. • Project management comes into play on occasion as well. • Facilities Planning has also come in handy in some recent projects.

5. Job Description • Conduct Rapid Improvement • SMED • 5-s • Lean Projects • Conduct Job Studies • Coordinate Packaging for New Production Items

6. Typical Day • There is no ‘Typical Day’. • Some days are spent crunching numbers. • Talking to Production Managers/Operators. • Some days are spent in a classroom setting, or working on machines to improve Lean implementation.

7. Hours • Never works at home. • Averages about 45 hours per week. • All of the work for Ben is at the plant, so working from home is not a possibility.

8. Vision, Mission and Values • Similar to a mission statement. • Vision - We deliver on our promises. • Mission - We operate simpler, faster, better, together. • Values - We value respect, integrity, diversity, and service.

9. Training Program at Armstrong • Sort of a mentor program. • A binder of information about what Armstrong expects, is given to all new employees.

10. Social Culture • Positive and Friendly • People are generally willing to help each other out. • Management team is flexible and expect only the best from workers.

11. Work Environment • Majority of work day is spent in an air conditioned office. • The rest of the time is spent on the plant floor which is fairly hot and dusty.

12. Progression through the Company • Management is aware that on the job experience is valuable. • Career goal meetings occur several times yearly. • Armstrong pays for Graduate School. • High probability for promotion.

13. Pre-Interview Tips • Do some research on the Company. • Ask plenty of questions. • Treat people with respect, help others succeed, and be gracious when others assist you. • Never lose your temper.

14. Unconventional Questions • “I do not know how unconventional this question is, but I would ask about the company's strategy over the next couple of months or years.  This would give you a good idea of how the company leaders think and the direction in which they are guiding the company.  I would ask how the company trains new employees to make sure they know what they need to know about the company and its processes.  What projects can I expect to undertake?  Describe the work environment, social atmosphere, etc.”

15. What are some things that set you apart? Co-op experience/extra advice. • “ I worked for one summer as an intern at a Wal-Mart distribution center in Lagrange, Ga.  I think this helped me obtain a job because Wal-Mart is known for it's supply chain excellence.  I also worked as an exterminator for a summer.  This helped because it showed that I have experience dealing with customers, and it also provided some interesting stories that the interviewer may think are funny.  I highly recommend getting as much experience as you can.  If you can get Mercer to approve a co-op program (I did not co-op), I strongly suggest that you do that.  It could delay graduation by a year or so, but it carries a lot of weight on a resume (and they can often lead to a full-time job offer).  Also, one of the most important things about getting experience early is to discover your interests.  Even if your experiences show you what you are not interested in, that is a piece of information that you can use to guide yourself in the right direction.  Take what jobs you can get.  Any experience is better than no experience. ”