welder

territory sales

AMERICAN ORTHODONTICS

A typical day at work consists of completing an average of 5-8 work orders, depending on if the work order number calls for the full 1,000 parts or not, or if the traveler for the order you grab is an incomplete order so your only required to fill the 126, or the 504 parts required to complete the order. By filling, I mean shaking these brackets onto carbon plates to prepare for the orientation of these brackets to turn and face the dimple, or the I.D line on one of four thai wings defining the bevel to orient to the opposite of the gingival side of the plate. There are 126 parts per plate. Each plate requires a second plate of pads to bond with the brackets with the vacuum seal and brazing furnace after the work order for that specific cell is tacked with a ball hook and then pasted together by ball hook and bracket. I got to learn the importance of braces, and how the torque of the base defines the movement of a specific tooth to turn mesial or distal, or move facial or lingual depending on the needs of that patient. I learned to appreciate proper inspections of every lot number of parts for various differences in work orders given from the patients doctor. A conformed work place with some conversation, but proper communication is required within the process of the work order for precise reaching of the work order needs. A fairly busy management. The hardest part of the job was keeping track and records of all the parts you use and making sure material is issued and returned properly by what the traveler requires for that DB bracket and DB pad and reporting scrap due to possible mixed parts or dropped parts, and deformed parts due to a pink slip to that lot number. The most enjoyable part of the job was being able work independently while working efficiently with problem solving capabilities and confidence in proper completion of work orders for filling the travelers for your assigned cell.

The company is trying to save on cost and taxes by staying under certian tax bracket, which means limited number of employees. They shut down 3rd shift, layed off a lot of people, and went into mandatory overtime for over 6 years. 60-70% of original work force has quit. Majority of team mates are Temporary or Newly Hired.

On a Marketing aspect they see growth, but on a production level the cogs are running backwards. Problems start with Management. Massive favortisim between certian employees and supervisors. Production managers cant handle issues and conflicts. If you bring them a legitimate situation, they'll be mad with YOU. They dont want to deal with anything. Bad communication, no sense of responsibities, everyone for themselves.

Example1: A work order is behind and nearly overdue. 1st Shift Supervisor approches you and informs you. Then says, Its now 2nd shift's problem. That YOU must inform your team. IF it dosn't get done on time, then, it's personally YOUR fault.

1) Teamwork? Supervisor knew, why didnt 1st shift get a start.
2) Why does team member have to inform everyone. Supervisor, It's YOUR job.
3) Work order looks like it's not going to get done, Supervisor is looking for someone to take the fall.

Example2: Supervisor says that you have bad communication for not letting the team know you werent working in the department that week. There was mass confusion on who's covering the position. The fallowing week another team member goes absent. The team comes to you for answers.

1) Yes. I suppose you could help by letting the team know of your absence, BUT, Supervisior knew you were leaving that week. 
2) Not team member's job to coordinate who going to cover position
3) Not team member's job to let everyone know if others are sick
4) The Supervisor should be the first to know if people are absent.

Come in a few minutes early to get the end of shift details (EOS) from the outgoing crew.
Department walkthrough, noting machine downtime to perform setups, paperwork and process material handling/mixing. Frequent cleaning of the dies, set up the dies for the following week's work load and writing out paperwork. Frequent communication with the department coordinator. When work thins out during the shift, there's usually rework for both powdered metal or polyeurethane to be done. Sort for nonconforming colors of parts or chop away at powdered metal parts. Fairly easy work. If you can manage lifting a 65lb die in and out of a press with tiebars that come up to your shoulders, you may be the right fit. Need some mechanical knowledge. The tooling is not cheap and performing setups require extreme attention to detail. Management is tolerable as long as you have a coordinator that listens to what you have to say and lasts more than a year. Had four different coordinators spanning two and a half years for just one department. Theres some enjoyment being able to make 2-3 minute conversation between set ups with the operators. 

This company makes great products and has good customer relations. BUT Avoid employment on the production floor like the plague. A lower paying company in the area starting at 14. You’ll look forward to that 10 cent raise a year.

Production management has a track record for walking out or suspending everyone who’s ever had constructive criticism against the management team. Thus making it impossible to approach or improve conditions.

This place is ideal for you if you a like laid back environment where the supervisors have no idea what you’re doing, if you love to go to the bathroom 10 times a day, come 30 mins late from breaks, love being tricked or lied to, make 3 times a humanly possible production rate without raising suspicion and still get praises from your supervisor.

A easy transitional job right after High school because it’s ran like a sorority. Where the only thing the managers know how to manage are statistics off their computers.

Majority of the team members here are new because everyone understands this is a job you throw on your resume and get out.

As an assembly worker, I was required to meet a quota of parts assembled per day (I don't recall the amount, as I haven't worked there in two years now). The people I worked with were nice to talk to and the work wasn't very stressful. I even got to sit all day, which was a huge upgrade from my previous jobs which required me to stand for a full shift! Would I have been hired full-time off of temporary service, I would have gotten a number of wonderful benefits (such as a stellar healthcare plan and profit sharing) that really made it worth the effort for the long commute I had.

Not to mention I've never had a workplace since that offered THREE breaks! Having a 30 minute lunch was spectacular! The only thing I didn't like was having mandatory overtime ALL the time. I never ended up having a free Saturday morning!

I was let go due to a miscommunication with my Temporary agency over some time off. It was really sad, but it was my own fault for not making sure things were crystal clear between both parties.

Honestly, if you’re a young person getting hired on first shift. Immediately go to second shift. It’s not worth your time even trying, everyone’s triple the age of 18 on first shift. You can’t connect with them, so it gets really boring, and there just very uptight, and they just need to be in your business constantly. And just very unfriendly. Just like any other factory the management treats you like a number, even though there really good at masking it. Their really aren’t clear about things, and they don’t give warning they just let you fall, and aren’t really understanding. Overall though the job was easy, it’s really nice to sit all day, instead of having to stand. A very clean place. The days went by really fast which was nice. It’s just the small things that make it miserable🤷🏼‍♀️. The only advice I can give is play your cards right, and try and find your place. If not your just going to regret not changing things, and losing a really good job over small things.

AO used to be a good a great company to work for under the original owner. Once the new owner (son-in-law) took over and new management was hired while the old ones were replaced, everything slowly went to down hill.

Raises which used to be three times a year to once a year.  Raises changed from anywhere from 25 cents to $1 raise to it being 25 cents per employee.  Most employees will not get more than 25 cent raise.

AO makes a lot of empty promises. They promised to never lower your pay even when you transfer/apply for new departments or shift. That was not the case. My wage was cut by at least $2 just to transfer to a different shift so I can accommodate for babysitting hours.

The people that work on the production floor are very toxic and rumors spread like wildfire.

Working for this company is like working for a robotic factory. They share non of your hardships or care for your ideas.

American Orthodontics is, by far, the worst company I've ever worked for. Management is terrible from the top down and are completely clueless about much of what we do. Employees have a rate that they are expected to make, despite having little to no support or the necessary tools to make said rate. The company has little respect for their employees. I was one of the best workers in my department and was still treated like I had no idea what I was talking about. You will work endless overtime with minimal time off and poor pay compared to other companies in the area. The job itself is fine. Easy and repetitive. Coworkers are generally okay. You can listen to music and sit most of the day. They do have good benefits. Overall, I wouldn't recommend AO to my worst enemy. Do yourself a favor and look elsewhere for employment.

Management lies! They will not come out and tell you the truth about anything. If you want to advance make sure you meet all of the requirements for that job or they will right you up for "wasting people's time." I wasted 10 years at this company! I knew almost every department in the sheboygan plant was wasn't getting paid for that. When they five their temp workers a raise and they are only making $3 less than you when you were their 9 years. I wouldn't say that's fair pay. When I was hired it was stated no ot. By the time I left we were working 10hr days plus 8 on Saturday. Oh yeah you want off Saturday you need to take Friday or Monday off. Very clear favoritism from plant manager down. Definitely would never want to go back!

Typical day for me usually began at 8:30am with an appt. with a doctor/staff member detailing products or new findings in the industry. Usually see about 6 acct/day. I also have a lunch scheduled with a doctor every day. During the day there could be opportunities that arise that need to be addressed. From needing an order to locating an order that has not arrived to the office. I also like being a problem solver in the office as well. What I've learned is that you have to be very chameleon and even if you have a plan when you walk into an office, you need to be prepared for your presentation to go off plan. I love working with the other reps. Communicating success stories and sharing info with each other.

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Welder 1 salary reported	$34,000 per year
Territory sales 1 salary reported	$60,000 per year

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