The Team at Navus: Overcoming Challenges Through Collaboration

overcoming challenges in automation through collaboration

December 1, 2021

The Team at Navus: Overcoming Challenges Through Collaboration

Automation Careers, automation challenges, mechanical engineer

Navus

Navus has grown and changed a lot over the past decade, which has required problem-solving on a cross-department level. Our team has become stronger as we work together, developing skills we wouldn’t have otherwise. This has allowed us to stay nimble as we face and solve new challenges for our customers.

From left to right: Jim P., David L., James H., and Bill S. enjoying our first annual Open House in October 2021

Meet James: Senior Mechanical Engineer & Designer

James is an integral part of our team who has worked for us going on 10 years. He’s been with us as we’ve grown over the past decade, joining Navus after a short stint with the University of Tennessee.

Teamwork that Keeps Projects Moving Forward

Navus: What do you do in your role at Navus?

James: It can vary from day to day. I do a lot of research and development on certain tasks we’re trying to automate so we can successfully design the system. I also do debugging when we’re doing a runoff to try and improve the process, speed up cycle times, or come up with a different method entirely that changes the design itself, but ultimately makes a better product for us and our clients.

Navus: How did you end up in this career and ultimately at Navus?

James: I started out in my career as a welder and then focused on becoming a machinist. After I spent some time in a career as a machinist, I went to school and studied engineering. I spent time as a research and development engineer for the electrical department at the University of Tennessee. When a position opened up at Navus, I applied for the job, got it, and I’ve been here ever since!

Navus: What’s your favorite part about the work you do with us?

James: It’s always changing and there’s always a challenge. I like using my brain at work, and my role at Navus really lets me do that. We’ve definitely overcome some great challenges when it comes to our customers’ needs.

Navus: What’s your favorite part about working for Navus as a company?

James: It’s a small-scale company, and we’re very transparent. There’s good communication with all the departments, and we have a good working relationship between the various teams. A setup like this makes the workplace fun, especially when you have challenges to overcome in a project. Challenges can be stressful but having a collaborative culture like ours definitely helps.

We all realize that we’re in the same boat and that we all have a common goal. When an individual on the team is met with a challenge beyond their skillset, other people willingly step up to keep the project moving forward.

Teamwork and a Team That Works

Navus: Describe some of the ways you’ve seen the team at Navus work together to overcome challenges.

James: One of the projects that’s pushed our capabilities the most was a tactical welding system we created for a client. It was a multi-departmental project where we all had to come together and develop a working solution. There were a lot of cable-management issues to work through and solve. It wasn’t just one person’s job to solve this. It required input from all the departments that led us to the final solution that we delivered at the end of the project.

Navus: What has been your favorite project that you’ve worked on?

James: Probably some of the more challenging projects. Specifically, one project where we had to create an automated solution that machines the edges of multi-ton parts using sensor-guided robotics. It was a new challenge for me. I enjoy anything that gets into technology that I’m not used to dealing with, because it’s a learning experience. I can then apply that new knowledge on future projects.

Navus: What do you envision for the future of Navus, especially since you’ve been with us for so long?

James: I think that as we work together and our whole team gets more experienced, we tend to overcome some of the codependencies that we have. For instance, I have learned a lot of electrical and robotics skills that I’ve found useful in my designs during my tenure here. I would expect that knowledge to grow with the other employees here so that there’s less codependency. It will help everyone overcome some of the small challenges that we have and come up with better solutions so we’re all working together to deliver the best systems possible to our clients.

Forging the Future & Clarifying the Complex in Custom Automation & Fabrication

Our team at Navus is invested in every solution we provide to clients. With our intelligent team and all of the years of experience they have, we develop simple solutions that fit your unique needs, and look sleek and elegant at the same time. Dedicated team members like James are a part of the reason our company succeeds in helping our clients overcome complex challenges, and forge new possibilities for their manufacturing needs!

Are you interested in joining the Navus family? Reach out to us today. We’re always looking for talented individuals to join our team of engineers and technicians. Learn more by emailing us at info@navusinc.com.

Company News

May 5, 2021

The Team at Navus: Contribution in Custom Automation

Automation Careers, automation technician, custom fabrication, water jet

Navus

At Navus, the majority of our team has worked at the company for years. Each one comes with a different professional and educational background, and a lot of them are hired with one position in mind. But a trend at our company is our team members discovering what they’re most passionate about in the custom automation process, and moving into that position as they grow with the company.

Meet David: Automation Technician

David P. has been with the Navus family since 2007. He’s done a variety of jobs, including welding, fabrication, assembly work, and now mostly operates our water jet and press break. We recently sat down and asked David to share his Navus story.

Passion for Fabrication

Navus: Describe what you do in your role at Navus.

David: I do a variety of things. Welding and fabricating. We do the automated machines, obviously, so that requires a lot of assembly work. But mostly I operate the water jet and the press break. I still do a little welding if they need some extra help with it, but mostly making parts for our machines is what I do day-to-day! I really enjoy it.

The water jet cuts the material. It can cut a variety of thicknesses from 1/16” to 3” and a variety of different materials. It will even cut glass, cardboard, wood… You put it under there and it will basically cut it! It uses 90,000 PSI (pounds of force per square inch).

Navus: How did you end up in this career, and ultimately at Navus?

David: I was born into it. My dad was a sheet metal worker for 40 years so he always did custom cars at home. I’ve been welding since I was 5 years old. I studied some stuff about fabrication in the auto trade in school. I went to college for mechanical engineering, but I’m not an office person. I prefer to be in the shop. I worked in automotive painting for a while, but I really enjoy the welding side of that industry more. That’s what got me into this.

The company I worked at before [Navus] had a huge warehouse and they had rented part of it out to Navus because of a big machine they were making. At the time, Navus needed the extra space. That’s actually how I got connected with Navus. They were interested in starting more of the welding side of fabrication, and asked if anyone at my job was interested! It’s close to home, and we’re always doing something different, which is really nice.

Navus: What’s your favorite part about your job and working at Navus?

David: Seeing the whole process to me is fun. Right now they’re finishing a weld cell, getting ready to ship it, [at the same time] keeping the ball rolling on all of our other current and upcoming projects. I’m always cutting parts for the next machines. I love seeing the whole process, from me cutting the parts, to the guys welding them together, to powder coating, to assembly, to seeing the machine run. That’s just always super cool. We’ve made some really neat machines over the years.

Obviously, we stay busy. But it’s a really great environment. Our team trusts each other, and no one micromanages what we do. It’s close to home. And once I get somewhere I like, I like to stay.

More Heads Are Better Than One

Navus: Describe some of the ways you’ve seen the team at Navus work together to overcome challenges.

David: The more heads you have in something, the better off you are as far as perspective goes. It’s just neat to see how people think differently to solve the same problems.

Navus: What have been your favorite projects to work on?

David: There’s a bunch. The very first one was a filter machine. It was stainless steel filters and the machine did the entire process. It would actually run it out, sheer it off, crimp it, stack it, and have it ready to go. Another one was for a paper company. They had big rolls of paper towels and the machine would stretch out the paper towels and cut it off. I liked that one a lot.

I also love the project I’m cutting parts for right now. It’s a return client that wanted us to do more of a system we’ve already created and delivered to them. It’s for a product that a lot of people are familiar with, so it’s cool to be a small part of the process of the production for them.

Navus: What do you hope for your future at Navus?

David: I can’t wait to see what projects come in next. It seems we get something different every day to work on, and it’s just nice to be super busy and learn new things constantly.

Forging the Future & Clarifying the Complex in Custom Automation & Fabrication

Navus’ team is made up of hand-picked individuals who bring a variety of backgrounds and experiences to our work. We believe that a work environment like ours should be a safe place for our team members to show interest in new skills and grow in their career. Dedicated team members like David who have worked with us for so long are a part of the reason that our high standards for the solutions and products we deliver are possible!

If you’re interested in learning more about how we can help overcome your challenges through custom automation solutions, or if you’re interested in joining the Navus family, reach out to us today. You can contact us by emailing info@navusinc.com.

Ryan is an Electrical Technician at Navus

Company News

April 21, 2021

The Team at Navus: Building Bigger & Better Machines

Automation Careers, custom automation, Custom Electrical Panels, Navus Team

Navus

For over 20 years, Navus has built a reputation of building unique systems and machines that are cutting edge. It ultimately comes down to building bigger and better machines, no matter what changes in the world of technology.

In our previous blog post, our team member Matt discussed how Navus is on the forefront of new technologies in custom automation. Part of the reason Navus is able to keep up with our ever-changing industry — and provide solutions that others haven’t thought of — is through the fresh perspectives of a younger generation of technicians and engineers joining the team.

Meet Ryan: Electrical Technician

Ryan R. joined the Navus team as an Electrical Technician at the beginning of

March 2021. Trained as an Electrical Engineer, Ryan is excited for the opportunity to spend hands-on time building the panels he’ll one day be designing for Navus.

Hands-On Experience Adds to a Future in Engineering

Navus: Describe what you do in your role at Navus.

Ryan: I got hired as an electrical engineer, but at the moment I’m working as an electrical technician. I’m starting on the floor, learning how to assemble and wire control panels before I start designing them for projects. I’ve been wiring, cutting holes in panels for all the peripheral devices like air conditioning units, switches, all that kind of stuff. When I assume my full engineering role, I’ll have hands-on experience of what I’m developing and designing.

Navus: How did you end up in this career, and ultimately at Navus?

Ryan: Electrical engineering is a family tradition, all the way back to my great-grandfather. It’s what I was trained to do from a young age, and it’s the path I wanted to follow.

I got my job at Navus when I walked in with my resume! Bill Sauerhoefer came out and talked to me for about 15 minutes. I told him how interested I was in the company, and about a week later I got a call from Buck Barber, and then I started the interview process.

Navus: What’s your favorite part about your job and working at Navus?

Ryan: All of the hands-on experience I’m getting. Control systems engineers who work for larger companies sometimes never get their hands on the actual equipment. They never really learn about what they’re designing, which can cause a lot of miscommunication between the electrical technicians and the engineers. Navus is giving me that hands-on experience and putting me in the field so I can be an even more effective engineer one day.

A Team That Gets the Job Done

Navus: Describe some of the ways you’ve seen the team at Navus work together to overcome challenges.

Ryan: It was really awesome to see everyone come together on the runoff of a recent machine we built. We had the mechanical engineering team, electrical engineering team, welders, other vendors we were working with, all come together to make sure that this machine runoff went smoothly and was something we could confidently deliver to our client.

Navus: What do you hope for your future at Navus?

Ryan: I’m looking forward to assuming the responsibility of a formal electrical engineer, and managing the electrical engineering part of a project. In the future it would be amazing to manage the entire life cycle of a project. I’m looking forward to growing with the company and building bigger and better machines together.

Forging the Future & Clarifying the Complex of Custom Automation

Navus’ team is made up of hand-picked individuals who bring a variety of backgrounds and experiences to our work. We believe that a work environment like ours should be a safe place for our team members to show interest in new skills and grow in their career. Supporting team members like Ryan in their growing career is part of the reason that our high standards for the solutions and products we deliver are possible!

Tag : Automation Careers