Floor Space: The most important attribute a good machinist should have

In this edition of Floor Space we asked shop owners: What is the most important attribute a good machinist should have (i.e. talent, work ethic, consistency, even temperament, etc)? 

“Willingness to work and learn. Most young people today do not want to work and most think they know everything.”

— Larry Stuyt, President, Ontario Laser Cutting, Tillsonburg, Ontario

“All the requirements you have mentioned, and also wanting to work, (and) taking pride in their quality, tolerances and finishes.”

— Peter Alden, co-owner, Wessex Precision Machining Ltd., Ayr, Ontario

“The most important attribute of a good machinist is their attitude towards their career. The best machinist is not always the best employee.”

— Adriano Oppio, vice-president, Classic Tool & Die, Oldcastle, Ontario

“Attitude. If the machinist - or any employee for that matter - has the right attitude, the sky is the limit. A good attitude rubs off on the others and the whole team benefits from it. Usually, having a good attitude means having a great work ethic and no mood swings. It shows in your performance. You can have the best machinist, but if his attitude is rubbing the rest of the team the wrong way, the whole company suffers. With the right attitude you are more apt to try new things, or processes. You welcome change.”

— Marco Gagnon, co-owner, Gagnon Ornamental Works, Grand Falls, New Brunswick 

“On the qualities of a good machinist: even temperament, works will with teammates and is a good team player.”

— Steve Cotton, owner/president, Micro Precision Parts Manufacturing, Vancouver Island, B.C. 

“All [the attributes you mentioned] are good but I feel they all share a common thread, and that is ‘work ethic’. You can be the most talented person in the world but if you do not have a good work ethic you will not be a good machinist. If you have a good work ethic, you will have a willingness to try new things and learn to be more consistent in your work.”

— David Glover, owner/CEO, Harbour Technologies, Windsor, Ontario

“I would say talent, and work ethic go hand-in-hand.”

— Chad Plath, shop manager, D-M Precision Products, Dunnville, Ontario