machinist

maintenance mechanic

machine operator

manufacturing engineer

fabricator

RBC Bearings

Interesting company with a market cap of around 3B. Stock has surged in the last 10 years. Usually makes an acquisition every year or so, diversifying the product line. All bearing or bearing related products, with a majority of the product engineered and manufactured in the US. 

Management structure very focused on running lean and keeping costs down which can sometime be challenging to keep programs progressing forward. Keeps you on your toes innovating to find creative ways to meet cost targets.

Worked on a lengthy program with the New Product and Process Development Group located at the Corporate Oxford, CT plant. Very knowledgeable, well versed, underrated group, run by a PhD who manages a staff of experienced analysis, manufacturing, electrical, mechanical design people. Kind of an R & D department, but they also focus on product and process improvements implemented at plants located in the U.S. and globally.

The NPPDG group also performs static and dynamic testing of RBC product and will design and build custom bearing test machines to meet the Customers test specifications.  

The NPPDG group also has three Metallurgists at the Oxford location with a combined experience of 80+ years and is always willing to assist with part or product analysis.

If you hook up with RBC get to know this group, you can learn a lot from them.

Each day consisted of a lot of reactionary decision making and poor communication and execution between departments. Most either lacked knowledge or did not conform to industry norms. We claimed to care about data but the integrity of such data was lacking and the interpretation of the data left much to be desired. A lot of gut decisions being made instead of being based in data. It was truly a trickle down effect that really did a number on culture. Performance was never up to par and was a systematic issue. Because of this, there was a hopeless, revolving door mentality amongst workers. The hardest part of the job was being put out on a island and belittled in many situations. Not having the support of others in management really isolated many people. The culture really suffered due to this. Many did not have proper knowledge, even in management. When they did, it wasn't properly conveyed. For the most part, people outside of management stuck together and had very good relationships with one another. People were all a part of the struggle and considerate of others in the same situation. That made things a lot more bearable.

Very unprofessional, and not a safe place to work. They constantly push for more and more production even though they don’t service the machines. The machines are VERY OLD! Management knows nothing of how the machines run, or function. They go off production numbers only, and don’t care about the problems you deal with that hold you back from producing. You don’t get anytime off, even if you’re sick with a doctors note, you still get attendance points for missing work. The Maintenance workers that are supposed to fix your machines often complain when you ask them to do simple task to help you like electrical issues, interior malfunction etc..

Company has a stable diverse product offering. Some pressure from third world countries, although extensive qualification requirements (aerospace) have prevented erosion, for now.

Grows primarily by acquisition. Mainly a manufacturing not engineering company, although very capable of creating or developing products to meet customers needs. Numerous patents awarded to protect IP.

Has a department dedicated to new product and process development along with a comprehensive Oxford, CT test lab for static and dynamic testing. 

I refer to this department as the "A" team, they are tasked with solving complex design and manufacturing problems the other divisions can't or do not have time to address. 

Group does FEA analysis, mechanical, electrical, and automation support for other divisions. Luckily the CEO understands the value of this group and what it contributes to the organizations bottom line.

Management only listens to one and only favorite right hand man and that’s it everybody else is wrong 
Employees don’t trust upper management team especially production manager 
They preach quality and safety but once you work there they’re goals are so high you have to bypass all their quality and sometimes risk your body to make their goals just for them to raise their goals more and more and if you been there for a while they will start comparing you to the new people that have no idea all the quality stuff we gotta do they are just worried to meet their goal standards because they are new which they bypass quality checks then later down the road it affects the quality aspect and they make such a big deal out of it but don’t work together to see a median for production and quality greed has gotten a hold of this company wish I can say it was better now it used to be every year is going more downhill 


What is the best part of working at the company?
Some of my coworkers. Experience people HR department was very good

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
This is a company that is so far behind the times that they’re still working on an industrial management system from the 80s called AS/400. Everything is done on spreadsheets and paper. Nepotism is rampant machines break down constantly unrealistic production goals, overworked and I can say nothing more than don’t go work for this company. 

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
Oppressive judgmental, and nepotistic

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
is playing on belief way too many chiefs, costing equipment, breakdowns, employee, negotiations, and being hammered by the plant manager to provide KPI‘s when production capabilities at 50%

This company does a lot of parts in the 100-300 pound range and they expect you to be able to lift up to 100 lbs REGULARLY . This is a company that does not care about its people. They wont pay to get the right equipment because "Its too expensive" , but if you get hurt, they will fight your workers comp claim with high priced lawyers. They even make you sign a paper prior to employment agreeing to arbitration in the event of a legal problem. Now I see why. They should be put out of business. I had to use drills out of my own toolbox because they were too cheap to buy new ones. 
  They expect you to run at least one other machine while you are setting one up. No air conditioning on HOT Summer days out in the shop, but its icy cool in the offices.

What is the best part of working at the company?
Working there is a tense environment. Management is either working with you or against you. Salary doesn’t match what you’re valued as. It seems people come and go there and not a stable job 

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
Running a minimum of four machines to a cell, maintaining cleanliness and heavy bars get loaded into machines manually. Watching how much scrap is produced rather than production is frowned upon 

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
Hostile environment, management is either working with you or against you. Like it or leave is kind of policy. One or two mistakes there and you’re a target 

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
Always busy , can’t rest and pay close attention to your parts  dimensions

Interesting company to work for, large market cap. but run like a small mom-pop organization. Very lean, great growth in stock price about 4X in ten years. Grows by acquisition. 

One of the few companies this size that has a dedicated new product and process development department that does real new product research and testing, in addition to supporting divisions world wide. 

This group is very underrated, always eager to help out with design, manufacturing, process, and material questions. Experience of the people in the group ranges from 5 to 40+ years in the field. The group has helped me and other divisions out numerous time, it will be to your benefit to get to know them.

Management was a disaster. Advise to new grads that get hired here: run, run as quick as possible when another opportunity is found. They have no respect and dignity here. If you want the title engineer and create purchase orders for the rest of your life then stay. If you want to drive their forklift as an engineer then stay. If you are obsequious or do not care about career growth then stay. They will show no guidance or train you because of "job security". They will disrespect you from the people on the shop floor to the record keeper not doing her work to your direct supervisor. There are few that want to change the culture but they are just as powerless as you. This is just a short summary, apply and work for couple months to see with your own eyes.

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Machinist 11 salaries reported	$28.18 per hour
Maintenance mechanic 2 salaries reported	$30.75 per hour
Machine operator 22 salaries reported	$20.40 per hour
Manufacturing engineer 4 salaries reported	$78,500 per year
Fabricator 3 salaries reported	$21.50 per hour

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