project manager

application developer

warehouse worker

engineer

field service technician

Westech-Engineering,-LLC

I was the Primary Checker for two (2) Production Groups (7 detailers using CREO and AutoCAD).  I occasionally detailed jobs to maintain proficiency in CREO, and to allow detailers to train as Checkers.  I worked with some brilliant engineers that were not opposed to sharing their knowledge, and I learned a lot from them.  The office culture was relatively laid back, as everyone knew their duties and got them done in a timely manner.  As the Company is Employee-owned, everyone has a stake in the Success or Failure of the Company.  My co-workers were the best group of people I have had the pleasure of working with, and they all take pride in their work.  The hardest part of my job was finding something "wrong" in the 60 (average size) page set of drawings for any job.  The detailers paid attention from early on, and I believe they learned from me.  The most enjoyable part of my employment was being able to learn something new every day.

My original position as a detailer/designer allowed me opportunities for solving the mechanical problems I went to school for.

When I sought opportunity for advancement as an mechanical engineer, I was told that that path led through project  management, that in that role I could gain the experience needed to become the kind of engineer needed in the company.

Working as a project manager for the first year led to the realization that there were no engineering positions open for mechanical engineers except in middle management, and area of no interest to me.

Subsequent years reinforced the lack of opportunity, but health reasons made leaving more difficult.

Bottom line is that, while I was in school, the company offered flexibility to accommodate a school schedule, and so we were compatible. After graduation, I should have left. I believe I was misled about opportunities, and should have been more proactive on my own behalf.

Each day was very busy, we answered emails as they came in sometimes up to 120 emails in one day. Each one had to be handled before the close of business that day. We would receive requests for budgets, bids, direct bids, specs, drawings, and other information for our agents in the field. We would forward these requests to the appropriate person(s) and give a time limit as to when they were due. Upon receiving the information we then compiled it into a professional budget or bid and forwarded it back to the requesting party. This information also had to be documented into Navision. We worked very closely with our Regional Sales Manager and Product Managers to provide the best quality of work possible. 
The management team works very closely with one another and the strive to provide the best quality of service possible was worked on and achieved daily.

I enjoyed what I did and the people I worked with, BUt there were some internal groups whose bosses were always in the CEO's office complaining abut you if you showed any initiative at all. Ut was okay for then to be chummy with suppliers but if you tried to bring in better suppliers who might even have better costs than their suppliers all heck would break loose, Management did not know how to tell these people to mind their own business and that led to a lot of good people leaving and going elsewhere. There was also a lot of nepotism there which was unfortunate. The company was largely succeeding because of a few groups who really knew their stuff or a few of the sales people who knew what they were doing and paid no attention to  the complainers and moaners.

WesTech is a good company. I mostly enjoyed working there. I had some great managers and some poor managers. The company is compromised of "groups" that act like small companies. A bunch of groups combine to make a "unit" and the units belong either the industrial or municipal "branch." The experience of being an employee at WesTech is very dependent upon your group and unit leaders, and can be great, or not, depending who the leadership is. There is a lot to learn and do, and after working at the company for 10+ years the benefit of working for an ESOP becomes evident though the companies ESOP contributions.

I loved WesTech but the insurance benefits were awful. They only offered one plan which did not include:
- A co-pay, every appointment was paid in full until the deductible was met
- No maternity leave available, you had to choose to sign up for short term disability at the beginning of the year if you were maybe planning on getting pregnant to supplement the income you would miss while on maternity leave.

Other cons were it was a largely male-dominated industry and workplace, maybe a 70/30 ratio of men to women.

Pros:
Lovely coworkers
Some cool company activities (parties, events, volunteering)
Trax partnership for commuting (and a stop withing walking distance to the building)

It’s a nice place and the pay isn’t terrible but not that great. The company is very laid back and the work is not normally stressful and can be boring at times (nothing to do). The benefits are nothing to write home about. At some locations there is a lot of opportunity for overtime. 

The main problem is a lack of structure and leadership. The company is still growing and this may change in the future but right now it makes chain of command confusing. Communication within the company is very confusing and can be difficult if you are not at the main branch. 

I do not regret working here and have enjoyed most of it.

The company used to be a great place to work, but management changed and the view of employees was they were easily replaced and "get all you can" from them. They say that the employees family is a first priority, but not if it means you wont be able to work. My family was having issues and they made me stay on site and not come home. This caused a great strain on my family. 
They have cut benefits, and vendors are complaining of not being paid on time. 
The company culture is changing and it used to be about "quality work and product" now it is "How cheap, and cut corners". 
There seems to be no real leadership of direction within the company.

Pay is competitive and benefits are above average.  Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) is a huge added retirement benefit.  WesTech owns it's own wellness center that has a great staff of doctors right on site.  Great culture with smart people and overall a fun place to work.  Very family oriented and management puts the needs of employees first.

A typical work day starts around 7 am and the morning is spent working with European manufacturers to insure the correct fabrication and delivery of our products.  Between skype and emails I write any RFI/RFQ/PR's required for the jobs that I manage.

Usually once a week we will get a shipment that needs to be unloaded or a shipment that is going out, so I will drive the forklift to unload/load the equipment as required.

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Project manager 9 salaries reported	$82,167 per year
Application developer 8 salaries reported	$80,738 per year
Warehouse worker 3 salaries reported	$21.83 per hour
Engineer 6 salaries reported	$24.67 per hour
Field service technician 4 salaries reported	$23.75 per hour

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