Nolan Westrope, a 21-year-old mechanical engineering student at the University of Texas at Dallas and the Manufacturing Lead for UT Dallas’ Formula SAE team, Dallas Formula Racing, joined the latest episode of the Gen Z in Manufacturing podcast to discuss how college students view careers in manufacturing.
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Westrope was introduced to the manufacturing process when he was a child helping his father work on a 1971 Chevelle Super Sport. By the time he was 15, Westrope was tearing apart two broken down Chevy’s in an attempt to assemble his own truck, which he completed at 17. Prior to college, Westrope’s education included architecture and TIG welding courses at his high school’s Career Center.
In this episode, Westrope identified where educational institutions succeed and fail when it comes to promoting manufacturing as a career choice. He also emphasized the value of student organizations on college campuses, noting skills he gained through Dallas Formula Racing over traditional classes at UT Dallas, such as FEA, CFD and welding skills.
Westrope also provided analysis on how this generation's college students think and what characteristics employers can expect from Gen Z workers.
"They should expect a whole range of personalities," Westrope said. "With the internet and how it's facilitated our communication, we're allowed to find people who are like us, even if we have such a weird, niche personality. Being able to find those people means you don't want to change yourself. Older generations all had the same world they were growing up in. Gen Z doesn't. We all have our own echo chambers we find ourselves in."
Other topics discussed in the episode include:
- Putting a cap on working hours versus allowing overtime
- Which education and training proves most beneficial
- Skills Gen Z can offer that employers assume can only be found in senior workers
- How manufacturers can fill factory floor jobs
Click here to view previous episodes of Gen Z in Manufacturing. If you are a member of Gen Z and would like to discuss your experience in the manufacturing industry, please get in touch with Nolan Beilstein, at [email protected].
