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Brian Manges, Midlands Technical College, Class of 1984.

Interviewed by: Kenetta Pierce

It’s dirty, fast-paced, important work.  In the end, Brian Manges, tool maker for the Bose Corporation in Blythewood, knows that when the project is complete, and he finds himself personally responsible for making every piece that will get the work done, his contribution is very rewarding.

Brian’s career as a tool maker allows him to fabricate parts, assemblies and machines from solid blocks of material.  His position involves developing practical, hands-on solutions for mechanical problems within the facility.  A 1984 graduate in Machine Tool Technology, Brian recognizes Midlands Technical College’s role in providing essential skills needed to work in the profession.  “I found out about tool making during a high school career day.  At career day, I was shown a variety of parts that were made by a tool maker.  The first step to become [a tool maker] is to get the proper training.  That is where Midlands [Technical College] came into the picture.”   The most stressful part of his job as a Tool Maker is when engineers or others requesting items sometimes do not understand what is required to perform certain jobs.  Machine Tool operators must study blueprints, sketches, models, or specifications to plan sequences of operations for fabricating tools, dies, or assemblies.   They also visualize and compute dimensions, sizes, shapes, and tolerances of assemblies, based on specifications.  Prospective Machine Tool Technology students should have good mechanical aptitude and math skills, along with an ounce or two of patience!  Brian explains. “Not everyone will be able to do this type of work.  You will know after the first semester [in the program] if it is for you.”  For students that persevere and step up to the challenges of Machine Tool Technology, Brian adds “it is a very self-satisfying line of work to be in.” 

Equally important is Brian’s assistance in MTC’s co-op program through Student Employment Services.  He serves as a supervisor for Machine Tool Technology cooperative education program students at Bose.  During the co-op, students have the opportunity to gain valuable work experience.  “We benefit from the co-op students provided by Midlands Technical College.  We’ve had some really great students to co-op with us,” Brian said.  Brian has also continued his partnership with Midlands Technical College by Machine Tool Technology’s NIMS (National Institute for Metal Working Skills) level accreditation.  As a professional in the field, Brian teamed with MTC faculty during the application process for accreditation. NIMS accreditation states that MTC’s program meets or exceeds national metalworking industry standards for quality of instruction, incorporation of important high-level skills, and overall safety. This sends an important message to students, potential employers, and the community at-large.  “The NIMS accreditation will help employees to better know the skill level of students or potential employees. As each student achieves a certificate for each NIMS project, it says that they have the skills needed to perform at a high level of skill in those areas of Machine Tool,” Brian added.  Those skills are already reaching to the next generation of tool makers--Brian’s son is currently pursuing a Machine Tool Technology degree at MTC.