The St John's College / RML Automation Link
The industry perspective
For the industry perspective on the St John's College links, this case study focusses on RML Automation, who worked with Year 13 student Matthew Baird on his project to design and create a hand-held mechanical 'grabber'. Matthew had identified that the available grabbers were expensive, not robust enough and also could be improved in their ability to do delicate tasks.
RML Automation is a New Zealand company with over 25 years' experience in designing and manufacturing end-of-line automated machinery for a wide range of local, regional and global industries. The original link with St John's College came about through WECA, of which RML was a member. The company wanted to work with students of a particular quality and a particular area of expertise – a profile that fitted many of the students in teacher Steve Andrew's Year 13 Technology class at St John's College in Hamilton. Director, Peter Botting was made aware of Matthew Baird's Year 13 technology project.
"We wanted to get students to come on site and be involved wherever possible so they would get a real feel for what the industry is all about,” says RML Director Peter Botting. "We found out what Matthew was looking to do and the most logical thing was for us to get involved from the beginning of his project work - that would give him the opportunity to get a good look at our industry.”
"We could see that Matthew was a high-calibre student, just the sort we're looking for. He showed me what he'd done in his previous years work. He took me through his whole portfolio and I was staggered to find that in Years 12 and 13 they were doing exactly what we do as a business – but doing it very much 'by hand'. We had the opportunity to show him how it was done in the real commercial world. That's why I wanted to get involved with him right from the beginning - to show him how we do it so he could match that to his situation.”
While RML weren't involved much with Matthew's stakeholder interaction, they put at his disposal the wide range of expertise available in the company, so he could work with them on all components of his project. "Firstly we offered expertise in project management and showed him to how we do it. We provided him with the forum for his design reviews and to brainstorm his ideas – which I think was really valuable. Then he sat down with one of our designers to draw it all up. We helped him plan his time and the processes required to develop a successful outcome for Tony, his client.”
As part of his project work, Matthew did a case study of RML's design and manufacture of a stacking machine commissioned by Nestlé Ice Cream in Melbourne, which he presented as part of the evidence required for assessment against the Level 3 technology achievement standard AS 90686 – Explain knowledge that underpins a Materials Technology outcome.
Working with Steve Andrew and the Year 13 students at St John's has provided Peter and his staff with a unique opportunity. "It's given us exposure to the school system more than anything. We probably wouldn't get that in our ordinary course of business, so we've been able to link back into the community that we use as a feeder. For me personally, running a business like this and getting to know what the schools are doing is great.”
Peter points to the real shortage of students who want to work in the manufacturing industry in NZ at the moment. He considers the best chance of increasing the numbers is in getting them involved at an early stage.
"As a business, we'd hope that the students may like what they see and come back here to work. For a student like Matthew, that'll be when he gets his degree. Also that the schools will be promoting our industry a bit more positively to high calibre students than they may have done in the past.”
"We're not alone in wanting to get more young people seeing what's involved in the industry. It's not an old fashioned workshop any more - its got much more depth to it and there are many more opportunities for bright students to get involved. So we'd be hoping there would be some longer term benefits for us in that way.”
"And there's also the fact that these links are one of the few ways available for a company like ours to give something back. It's a way to support our community.”
Peter puts down the success of this link to three key components – a good teacher, a good student with the right attitude and a company open and willing to help.
"You need a good teacher, or coach or whatever way you describe his role – someone who believes in the value of what they are doing. The key person is the teacher – if they have incentive, they'll go out and make the right links. But I do appreciate that some of them may be a bit nervous about making a first approach and having some form of broker could help."
"You also need a student who wants to get the maximum benefit out of the project – they have to be self motivated and willing to learn. If students just want someone else to do the hard bits for them, then it won't work.”
"I guess the success we had is in part due to our openness as a company as well. Our door was always open, because Matthew wanted to get so involved. But as a company you've got to be prepared to put in the effort if the student is to get maximum benefit from it.”
As well as the obvious assistance with the development of a high quality outcome Peter also feels that Matthew has gained hugely from the exposure to his staff. "They're all skilled people – either trade or university qualified - who are passionate about what they're doing, so he'll have seen a different side to the manufacturing industry.”
Having talked enthusiastically and positive about the relevance and value of the links Peter concedes that there are difficulties on the industry side in maintaining them. "The difficulties are mainly around timing. There are times when we're really busy, with a number of complex projects on the go – and that coincides with a point when the students want to come on site and get our input into what they're doing. That's quite difficult to manage because they're constrained by the school day, whereas we're constrained by the workloads - so that can be a bit tricky.”
Looking at ways to improve the effectiveness of the links Peter points to the advantages of knowing well in advance of projects which would benefit from his support – so that they can plan ahead to help avoid some of the inevitable time pressures. But he says, "It's hard for us, because our priority as a company is to get our manufacturing jobs completed and it's hard to go looking for more involvement while you're trying to do that.”
He agrees that having greater opportunities for brokering of links might help with some of the initial communication problems, but still points to the motivation of the people involved being the key factor.
Peter is certain that these types of links are sustainable and is confident that when an appropriate project next pops up at St John's then Steve will be comfortable in approaching RML again for assistance.
