Roger Lorge

Forward Momentum

Apprenticeship program provided Roger Lorge with the direction he needed to move ahead.

Monday, October 21, 2024 | By: Britten, Casey

Roger Lorge thrives on being the ‘go-to guy.’

“I’m always willing to answer a question, and if I don’t know the answer, I’ll go find out,” he says. “I like keeping busy and helping out where needed.”

That can-do attitude is also helping him not only build his skills and knowledge, but also move up the ladder in his role at Neenah-based Plexus Corp. He’s always enjoyed hands-on work and solving problems but found himself uncertain about where to focus his career. “I was kind of in a limbo of what I wanted to do when a co-worker mentioned the IMT apprenticeship program at Fox Valley Technical College.”

The Industrial Manufacturing Technician (IMT) apprenticeship is an entry point into the manufacturing technician world, and prepares people to work as technicians in a wide range of manufacturing settings. It consists of four modules: Safety, Quality, Manufacturing Processes and Production, and Maintenance Awareness.

“This program was started in the Midwest, and has now grown nationwide, to help meet the demand for skilled advanced manufacturing technicians,” says IMT instructor Pete Lange. “Skilled advanced manufacturing technicians are critically needed to meet the demands of the new industrial revolution America is going through.”

For Roger, it provided much-needed clarity. “The program gave me a wider understanding of my job. It’s a good starting point because if you’re not sure what you want to specialize in, it can help you narrow things down.”

And because it’s an apprenticeship, Roger learned on-the-job at Plexus in tandem with his classes, attending classes one day a week and working four days, earning his hourly wage for both. He appreciated the hands-on classes and measured structure. “I was a little nervous at first about how I was going to manage school, work and life, but in the end, it was really manageable.”

“The IMT apprenticeship program provides much more than just the obvious instruction,” explains Pete. “Students form deep working relationships with their coworkers as they go through the apprenticeship together. It also helps nontraditional students to gain confidence in their continuing education prospects. Often students complete the apprenticeship and enroll in areas of advanced manufacturing that hold a particular interest to them.”

That was the case for Roger. With the completed apprenticeship under his belt, he is now enrolled in the Manufacturing Engineering Technology associate degree, attending part-time while continuing to work at Plexus.

“Roger is a perfect example of a nontraditional student entering the IMT program, anxious about the prospects, but ultimately finding his footing and enrolling in a two-year associate degree to continue his education,” Pete says. “He also brings a real heart for people to the workplace. This is obvious in the way he uses his IMT principles to improve processes, values all members of his team, and works hard every day.”

“I really like being hands-on and as I call it, ‘in the pit’ getting things done,” Roger explains. “I’m always willing to answer a question and have a pretty upbeat attitude. I want people to feel like they can come to me.”