April Employee Recognition: Walter Hernandez

APRIL EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT

WALTER HERNANDEZ

Technical Shift Supervisor

Joined Natech: March 16, 2018

 

Walter embodies accountability and commitment in everything he does. His ownership and support of activities at 85 West inspires trust with the team. Walter is always friendly, respectful, eager to learn and willing to lend a helping hand. Walter is the type of teammate I can lean on.

Andrew Dunham

Q: What do you do at Natech?

I do foreman activities like working with the injection molding machines and filling stations. I also do some engineering and processing work.

Q: What’s your favorite part about working at Natech?

I like putting the molds in the machines and then seeing the machine run. It makes me really happy to see the machines run and see the parts come down. It’s fulfilling and satisfying because I feel like I’m working on something that makes a difference.

Q: How did you start your career in manufacturing?  

Natech was my first job in manufacturing. Before coming here, I worked in pizzerias and restaurants. 

Q: How do you feel like you’ve grown or changed at Natech? 

When I first started on the production floor, I knew nothing about manufacturing. I started out as a material handler. But I kept going and going. The people here spent a lot of time training me and showing me how to do things. I learned a lot of things and now I am the supervisor of one of the manufacturing facilities.

Walter has really stepped up to the plate in owning a lot of processes and operations at 85 West. He’s worked every single shift, is constantly learning new things, and is always trying to improve.

Ashley Turrell

Q: What skills have you learned here and how has that helped the company?

My supervisors taught me all about how everything works. I’ve learned processing with the injection molding machines and managing the filling stations. I have the most experience in putting the molds in the machines. I try to do mold changes as fast as possible, because there’s a lot of stuff to do in the day. 

I like it because every day is different. Some days I work on the bottle filling machines, some days I do mold changes, and other days I do maintenance for the cleanroom.

Q: What is something that most people might not know about you?  

I’ve always liked cars, so I like to go to car races and car shows. 

Also, on March 4, my first baby girl was born. I was so happy. It’s a new experience being a parent for the first time. 

Q: What do you like to do in your free time?  

I like to watch action and Marvel superhero movies, like Iron Man and Hulk. I also like to go to parks and beaches and spend time with my family. 

Q: What motivates you? 

Learning everything I can about the company motivates me. Before I came here, I didn’t know anything about the industry, but the company helped me a lot. The company keeps me moving. I’m trying to learn every day. And right now, my baby motivates me too. 

Walter is a person who is always willing to learn and help with whatever is necessary, always with humility and respect.

Ricardo Castaneda

Q: What are your favorite Natech memories? 

When I was a material handler, I was curious about mold changes and wanted to learn how to change molds. One day, Domingo (supervisor) asked me, “Do you want to start training with the mold? I’ll talk to the foremen to help you learn.” He gave me the opportunity to learn more. 

When Domingo said that my new position was a foreman, I felt so happy. I spent the most time with Domingo and he always trained all the foremen. He taught me a lot about mold changes, the machines, and even with the little things like how to fix computer problems. Anything about the machines, I learned from him.

Walter always has the most positive attitude when he faces new challenges and promotions. It’s been satisfying to see him grow in the company over time.

As a mentor, I try to provide tools and pass down skills to new employees. Creating new talent can be difficult if an employee is negative or careless, but this is not the case with Walter. He is a quick learner and dedicated employee. His willingness to learn new things and range of skills help us achieve successful processes.

Domingo Hernandez

Q: What’s one thing that you can’t live without?  

My coffee. I love coffee in the morning. 

Q: What are three traits that define you? (how someone else would describe you) 

  1. Curious 
  1. Hard-working 
  1. Dedicated 

Q: How would you describe Natech? 

Helpful. I try to help as many people as I can. If somebody wants to know something about the machines, I try to teach them about it. It’s very necessary to keep things going so I try to relay my experience to someone else. 

People want to learn about the filling machines, the engineering behind it, and plasma treating, so I talk with them to help them learn.

Q: Why do you feel proud to work at Natech? 

Becoming the technical shift supervisor made me feel really proud because before I worked here, I knew almost nothing. I learned little by little. I went from the material handler to a foreman to a supervisor.