U.S. military veterans are finding post-service success at Fives Machining Systems, putting their trouble-shooting skills and technical experience to work in field service and customer support positions for the global machine tool manufacturer. Since 2014, the company has hired nearly 20 former members of the various military branches at 10 field service locations throughout the United States. Veterans are also accepted in the company's nationally recognized apprenticeship program.
"Finding qualified individuals is important to Fives as we continuously invest to build our network of field-based service technicians," said William Weier, Director of Human Resources for Fives Cincinnati. "These folks serve on our 'front lines' in critical roles supporting our machinery in customer plants worldwide, and we have found that veterans bring well-developed mechanical and computer skills, discipline and the ability to be good team players, which are critical to our technically demanding business."
Veterans are placed in key locations throughout the United States. "We currently have three veterans in our apprenticeship program," said Weier. "The program is certified through the state of Kentucky and apprentices earn a very competitive wage, with pay increases every six months as their skills increase." Going forward, veterans who enter the apprenticeship program will come in as advanced apprentices and will be required to complete a one-year program, versus a four-year program for other apprentices.
Based on previous positive experiences with ex-military employees, Fives attends armed forces job fairs to proactively recruit veterans. "Today's high-tech manufacturing requires a strong skills set, and we use extensive outreach pathways to secure the best and brightest candidates available, including active recruitment of military personnel whose enlistments are ending," said Weier. "We have found that many veterans received technical training while in the service and they have the desired traits such as dependability, accountability and maturity."
With this military background, the field service technicians quickly ramp up to speed and provide world-class customer support for the company's machine tools, including the Cincinnati, Giddings & Lewis and Lin Machines products. "By hiring military veterans and through our apprenticeship program, we are passing along the engineering and technical skills needed to serve current and future customers," said Weier.
For more information contact:
Fives Machining Systems Inc.
2200 Litton Lane
Hebron, KY 41048
859-534-4600
www.fivesgroup.com