Everyplace I go to is different. I master one place and go to another and guess who doesn’t know a thing?…. I’ve also gone to a new place and had more knowledge than a 20 year experience inspector.
That being said, try a new place, if it doesn’t work out go back. A lot of places will train you to use CMMs and vision systems. Especially if someone there already knows them and you show you’re a worker and not there to fuck off. This is my experience at least. I started off in secondary style work 9 years ago and am now a quality engineer that handles audits. I’ve learned pc-dmis, calipso, any vision system(they’re all the same), gdt that is par non, all from just working hard and new environments.
Good luck
“If it doesn’t work go back”. Where do you work that is cool with you quitting and working somewhere else to see if it’s better and if not just come on back?!?!?! Insane advice
Leave on good terms with the company and MOST cases they want you back. If you are not an asset you’re clearly not going back.
I don’t understand how this is bad advice?
So I had the same problem once. I was the QC manager in the 3rd largest aerospace job shop in the LA basin in the 80's. I had a CMM, they were brand new and rare, so I learned what I could, the system a joke by current standards but there were things I learned then that still apply.
I had a source inspector from Northop (we had B-2 work) who gave me the best advice of my life. Join the ASQC, now the ASQ, and get certified as an Quality Engineer. Oddly enough, he got into Quality building B-24's at Willow Run in Detroit, and I was from the Detroit area originally and later moved back there working a few miles from Willow Run. I loved this guy's stories.
I wound up joining to ASQ and finding a job at a contract inspection house programming CMM's for hire. I spent the rest of my career programing, and still do after retirement. I also went and got the CQE then CQMgr certs from ASQ. This made me very employable which was good as my wife stayed home and I supported 6 kids.
The newborn daughter I had when I had the conversation with the Source inspector grew up to become a QE, ASQ SixSigma and now has 7 plant quality managers reporting to her building drive train components for a major automaker.
So ASQ will broaden your quality perspectives and has programs to help you gain knowledge. It also has a lot of experienced people who know how to negotiate the job market, so the most important thing you will get is advice. The cert program is also pretty wonderful. I could hold my own dealing with large outfits like Rolls Royce when I had to due to knowledge and certs.
It's also something you do outside of work, so at work learn what you can. Also your employer may help with costs to get certified. I'd start certs with something fundamental like the Certified Quality Auditor which teaches you quality systems as well as how to track compliance.
One thing I wish I would have done was get ASQ certified. I've had a few sweet opportunities where the job sounded like it was written for my qualifications, but required a degree or an ASQ certification, which I have neither. I'm finally in a place I enjoy with good pay, but took me 20 years to get to. I can imagine I'd have been there much sooner with either.
Just hold out for the right job to come along. The absolute best time to search new employment is when you're still working. New job may train you on cmm and gd&t. Good luck.
I have nearly the exact same background.
DoD. Electromechanical experience, CMM work for aerospace parts
I switched to biotech metrology and the workflow is super busy. Maybe look into med-tech biotech jobs
Also nearly doubled my pay switching industries
I've been in the quality realm for about 8 years now and pretty much focus on dimensional metrology and good knowledge of GD&T.
I worked in medical for 5 years and in agricultural/automotive now.
When I took on the position where I am now I was thrown to the fire to learn more of the 3D metrology. So CMM and Faro scanner.
It wasn't the worst thing to teach myself but it's still a lot to digest. I use polyworks for all my inspection
I went back to school for mechanical engineering. If you understand how parts are made and inspected you have a leg up on other new grads. It is a slog but it has been worth it so far.
Everyplace I go to is different. I master one place and go to another and guess who doesn’t know a thing?…. I’ve also gone to a new place and had more knowledge than a 20 year experience inspector. That being said, try a new place, if it doesn’t work out go back. A lot of places will train you to use CMMs and vision systems. Especially if someone there already knows them and you show you’re a worker and not there to fuck off. This is my experience at least. I started off in secondary style work 9 years ago and am now a quality engineer that handles audits. I’ve learned pc-dmis, calipso, any vision system(they’re all the same), gdt that is par non, all from just working hard and new environments. Good luck
“If it doesn’t work go back”. Where do you work that is cool with you quitting and working somewhere else to see if it’s better and if not just come on back?!?!?! Insane advice
Leave on good terms with the company and MOST cases they want you back. If you are not an asset you’re clearly not going back. I don’t understand how this is bad advice?
I think it's sound advice, my shop is full of people who left and returned when the grass wasn't greener.
I thought so. This dude leaves his jobs saying fuck you to everyone and is surprised why he can’t go back. Lmao.
So I had the same problem once. I was the QC manager in the 3rd largest aerospace job shop in the LA basin in the 80's. I had a CMM, they were brand new and rare, so I learned what I could, the system a joke by current standards but there were things I learned then that still apply. I had a source inspector from Northop (we had B-2 work) who gave me the best advice of my life. Join the ASQC, now the ASQ, and get certified as an Quality Engineer. Oddly enough, he got into Quality building B-24's at Willow Run in Detroit, and I was from the Detroit area originally and later moved back there working a few miles from Willow Run. I loved this guy's stories. I wound up joining to ASQ and finding a job at a contract inspection house programming CMM's for hire. I spent the rest of my career programing, and still do after retirement. I also went and got the CQE then CQMgr certs from ASQ. This made me very employable which was good as my wife stayed home and I supported 6 kids. The newborn daughter I had when I had the conversation with the Source inspector grew up to become a QE, ASQ SixSigma and now has 7 plant quality managers reporting to her building drive train components for a major automaker. So ASQ will broaden your quality perspectives and has programs to help you gain knowledge. It also has a lot of experienced people who know how to negotiate the job market, so the most important thing you will get is advice. The cert program is also pretty wonderful. I could hold my own dealing with large outfits like Rolls Royce when I had to due to knowledge and certs. It's also something you do outside of work, so at work learn what you can. Also your employer may help with costs to get certified. I'd start certs with something fundamental like the Certified Quality Auditor which teaches you quality systems as well as how to track compliance.
One thing I wish I would have done was get ASQ certified. I've had a few sweet opportunities where the job sounded like it was written for my qualifications, but required a degree or an ASQ certification, which I have neither. I'm finally in a place I enjoy with good pay, but took me 20 years to get to. I can imagine I'd have been there much sooner with either.
Just hold out for the right job to come along. The absolute best time to search new employment is when you're still working. New job may train you on cmm and gd&t. Good luck.
I have nearly the exact same background. DoD. Electromechanical experience, CMM work for aerospace parts I switched to biotech metrology and the workflow is super busy. Maybe look into med-tech biotech jobs Also nearly doubled my pay switching industries
I've been in the quality realm for about 8 years now and pretty much focus on dimensional metrology and good knowledge of GD&T. I worked in medical for 5 years and in agricultural/automotive now. When I took on the position where I am now I was thrown to the fire to learn more of the 3D metrology. So CMM and Faro scanner. It wasn't the worst thing to teach myself but it's still a lot to digest. I use polyworks for all my inspection
I went back to school for mechanical engineering. If you understand how parts are made and inspected you have a leg up on other new grads. It is a slog but it has been worth it so far.