maintenance technician

maintenance electrician

maintenance mechanic

production operator

utility worker

Grede

As a purchasing manager for a foundry, my days are typically fast paced and filled with a variety of tasks, from managing supplier relationships to ensuring we have the materials we need to keep production running smoothly. It's a demanding role, but it's also incredibly rewarding to be part of a team that produces essential products for our customers.

Throughout my time in this role, I've learned a great deal about the foundry industry and the importance of strong supply chain management. I've also developed my negotiation and communication skills, which are essential for building relationships with suppliers and ensuring that we get the best possible deals on the materials we need.

My management team is supportive and provides me with the autonomy to do my job effectively. They trust my judgment and expertise, and they're always willing to lend a hand when needed. This creates a positive and productive work environment where I feel valued and respected.

The workplace culture at our foundry is healthy and collaborative. Everyone is committed to working together to achieve our common goals, and there's a strong sense of camaraderie among the team. We support each other through challenges and celebrate our successes together.

The hardest part of my job is the fast pace and the constant pressure to meet deadlines. I have to be able to juggle multiple tasks simultaneously and make quick decisions under pressure. It can be stressful at times, but it's also the part of the job that keeps me on my toes and constantly learning new things.

The most enjoyable part of my job is the people I work with. I'm surrounded by a team of talented and dedicated individuals who share my passion for the foundry industry. We work hard together, but we also know how to have fun and enjoy each other's company.

Overall, I'm grateful to be in a position where I can make a real difference in the foundry industry. It's challenging work, but it's also incredibly rewarding.

I can't say there is a typical day.  One day the job entails detailed work on a specific task or deliverable with minimal interaction with co-workers and the next day is a day of meetings with cross functional team, sharing ideas to help develop a plan for meeting a company objective.  The leadership sets very clear company goals/objectives and the management team helps the individual to identify what they can do within their job responsibilities to help the company achieve the overall objectives.  Employees are kept informed on how the company is performing and any changes that could be made to improve the companies ability to meet those objectives.  Management understands it is their job to provide the support and environment for the employee to succeed.  The focus is on achieving goals and success and not focused on effort; "it is better to be good, than to just look good."   

Hot as he!! during the summer and cold as Eskimo nuts during the winter. The pay isn't so good considering you work 12 hours a day 6 days a week.  You'll make about 600 a week your first 3 months and about 750 after that. But no free time to do anything. The people you work with are great, lead men are horrible. They care for nothing but your to work and keep the press going. Same with supervisors. It's a decent dead end job. I worked there for 4 months and made the same pay as some of 20 people that have been thereb20+ years. There is no advancement. I'd only recommend this for someone only planning on being there for a short period of times. Also benefits suck, you have to be there a year after July 16th to get vacatio. Which means it will be 2017 before you get any vacation days. Pension is also a joke, you get 35 cents per hour worked for a pension plan. I'd recommend walmart instead.

Grede is dedicated to casting the highest quality parts it can, with that, focusing on scrap and reducing the production of scrap is a key component of my job. As well tracking tooling condition and modifying current tooling, when applicable, to improve the overall quality and profitability of that job is another aspect of being in Foundry Engineering. Management is not the taskmaster type, breathing down your neck all day, they allow you the opportunity to fly on your own and fall back onto them as a resource if need be. I will say the hardest part of this job is not even associated with any physical work I do here, but the temperature of the facility. Being in Wisconsin when it is 0 degrees or below outside, it is not much warmer in the building. 

Coming into this job, I knew that I would be working with spreadsheets and numbers which I was fairly comfortable with. A typical day of work consists of coming in the morning, working with spreadsheets, and reading emails from coworkers and customers and responding as needed. I have learned about how Odyssey, a program for keeping track of inventory and sales, works along with how to safely manage oneself in every part of the foundary. I like my boss and the management that I am under at the moment, and the overall culture is friendly. The hardest part of my job is the memorization portion since there are a lot of different sequences that need to be executed in a day. However, I also enjoy the challenge of having to memorize sequences, so in a way, the hardest part of my job is the most enjoyable since it feels rewarding when I make progress!

Grede is a great place to work because the people you work with make you feel like family. There is always work to be done and if you're a hard worker you won't be bored. There is room to grow with in the company whether it is advancing up the chain or can always change jobs or departments to gain more experience. Think it is nice that there is opportunity to also help other departments when your department isn't working whether its due to machine/or line down or on your off days. Pay is similar to other surrounding businesses if not better and offer a wide variety of benefits, Discounts, and employee appreciation perks. I personally enjoy working here for many different reasons.

Hot as he!! during the summer and cold as Eskimo nuts during the winter. The pay isn't so good considering you work 12 hours a day 6 days a week. You'll make about 600 a week your first 3 months and about 750 after that. But no free time to do anything. The people you work with are great, lead men are horrible. They care for nothing but your to work and keep the press going. Same with supervisors. It's a decent dead end job. I worked there for 4 months and made the same pay as some of 20 people that have been thereb20+ years. There is no advancement. I'd only recommend this for someone only planning on being there for a short period of times. Also benefits suck, you have to be there a year after July 16th to get vacatio. Which means it will be 2017 before you get any vacation days. Pension is also a joke, you get 35 cents per hour worked for a pension plan. I'd recommend walmart instead.

For the most part things run pretty smooth. I oversee the department, keep a close eye on the equipment, guys, and chemistry of the iron.
In the 25 years I have been with the company, I have learned a lot about the guys I work with, the cupola, and the chemistry of the iron.
I enjoy working with everyone, like a dysfunctional family, we may not get along all the time or agree on things all the time but, always over come and accomplish what needs to be done.
The hardest part of the job is the pressure of when things don't go right and all eyes on me to get it fixed. Example: when chemistry of a shipment that comes in is off, I have to find where the issue is coming from then I have to fix the situation before production can move on. It gets stress full.
The guys that work for me are a good group of guys. We get our work done and have laughs and fun doing so.

Overall the company is like many plants I’ve worked in. The equipment is all old and falling apart and maintenance doesn’t have enough time or manpower to actually fix something correctly because production needs to run as much and as fast as possible. However, the employees make the plant feel like a better environment to be in. It’s dirty and dusty and hot but everyone I see or talk to has a smile on their face and finds a way to make it a better place to work. The pay is good for the area but only because they work you so much. 

Working in HR was a nightmare. The lines between ethical business practices and professional corporate culture was blurred. I witnessed and was subjected to workplace hostility and intimidation on a daily basis. The department lacked cohesion and competent collaborative communication. I had to walk on eggshells to avoid angry outbursts. I was led by a poor management team that failed to assist or enhance in my professional development and skill level in Human Resources.





Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Maintenance technician 41 salaries reported	$31.26 per hour
Maintenance electrician 28 salaries reported	$31.74 per hour
Maintenance mechanic 4 salaries reported	$27.50 per hour
Production operator 9 salaries reported	$20.89 per hour
Utility worker 2 salaries reported	$22.90 per hour

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