I have a background in machining that began over 26 years ago.
I started my journey into the machining trades though my early exposure to a machine shop in vocational school. I quickly grew a love and passion to work with my hands and to learn about mechanical equipment and 'machines'. I began my career as a manual machinist, learning the fundamental skills to create and repair things. I worked in a fast-paced job shop environment with responsibility to create new components and assemblies and to reengineer them from exisiting and often hard-to-find products. I learned what to do (or not to do) in those early days. I made the decision and goal to carry my hands-on education into academia and enrolled in Pennsylvania College of Technology (PCT) to pursue a degree in engineering. I wanted to learn more about the manufacturing industry as a whole and to enhance my current skills in the classroom and labs. I developed new skills including CNC programing and machining. I formed lifelong relationships in my time there. I graduated with a B.S. in Manufacturing Engineering and entered industry laser-focused on the medical device industry, my first production environment. I worked for an OEM medical manufacturer which was well-funded and had all the newest equipment in the industry. I learned so much about working together with a larger team, meeting and rising up to meet lofty goals, and overcoming challenges of working in a controlled environment. I then had the opportunity to take a role for a group focused on custom and low-volume device manufacturing. In this role, I was responsible for working with design engineers to develop and deliver solutions for surgeons. Everything was unique or modified to user and was very fast-paced, resource-starved, and time-demanding. In this role, I learned how to take a product from an idea to a realized product in a heavily-regulated environment in under a few weeks. This was fun, dynamic, and challenging.
Through a company aquisition, I had the unique opportunity to relocate to a new area, learn new skills, and meet new people. My role transitioned into customer-facing product development and design which is extremely rewarding.
Through a love for the trade and a thirst to learn, I began to create a space of my own which allowed me to try new things, hone new skills, and be creative. Resourcefulness allowed me to aquire some key pieces of equipment to build up capability in 3-axis, 4-axis and 5-axis CNC machining. The purchase of a key, larger 5-axis machine challenged me by moving into an industrial space where I could build my vision of what a fully-funtional, capable, and sustainable shop space looked like. The shop needed to be efficient and of value to myself as well as my customer base. I am thankful to my customer base for helping that dream come true. I am open to new opportunities to learn and to offer my skills and services to others. Always Be Learning (ABL) ;)
Dave Lewis
Owner, Manufacturing Engineer
Lewmach