Emerging Leader Success: Interview with Andy Reinwald
Andrew (“Andy”) Reinwald is owner and president of Ripley Machine. He started with the company in high school and took over ownership from his grandfather a few years later, in 2015. As an under-30 jobshop owner, Andy is at the helm during the challenging COVID-19 pandemic. He sat down with Caitlin Sickles, NTMA’s communications consultant, to discuss what it’s like managing through difficult times and where he finds value in NTMA.
NTMA: How did you get into manufacturing, and how did you come to your leadership role?
AR: My grandfather owned Ripley Machining since 1994 and, when I was in high school, I was trying to pick up a part time, summer job, and he offered me a position. I worked at the company the summer between by junior and senior year. After graduation, I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do. My grandfather was really wanting me to work at the shop. So, I came back, but I initially despised the work!
NTMA: What made you change your mind, to not just tolerate the job, but come to love it and make it your career?
AR: The change came from getting more of a hands-on role, looking at prints and understanding them, and learning what the codes on the machines meant. When it wasn’t just pushing buttons, but really figuring things out and doing the work myself. And, of course, when I could understand what the parts were used for, that really excited me.
NTMA: And what are the parts that Ripley Machine makes? How are they used?
AR: We do a lot of work for various valve assemblies. Actually, the air compressor in our shop has several parts on it made by us. So - that’s interesting - being able to walk into the other room and see where your parts are found. That’s the best thing about manufacturing. Every single aspect of your day-today life somehow involves parts that came through a manufacturing shop.
NTMA: So, speaking of everything we do in our lives, we’re in a challenging time right now. A lot of manufacturers say that the COVID-19 pandemic has upended business. What has your experience been like?
AR: We have certainly seen challenges. There has been a drop off from some of our customers. But, we’re focused on utilizing this time. We remain focused on our customers and meeting their needs, but we’re also using this slowdown productively. For example, we redid some aspects of our quality management system, we completely overhauled our website, and we’re currently implementing ERP software. That’s my outlook on the entire situation: we can’t change the pandemic situation in the world, but we can use the time we’ve got and make the most of it.
NTMA: That’s a good and optimistic way of looking at it. Let’s talk a little bit about your website upgrade. What made you decide to make that investment right now?
AR: Well, we teamed up with Paperless Parts on the quoting platform and so we worked with them on our website, too. We obviously need to make sure our top potential customers know that we’re here and ready to serve them. And what better way than to make it so that you can go to our website and get a quote right away?
NTMA: Paperless Parts is an NTMA partner, right?
AR: Yes.
NTMA: Since we’re talking about NTMA benefits, let’s drill down there. There is a theory out there that young leaders are less interested in trade association membership, that they don’t find as much value from trade associations as previous generations did. What’s your response to that?
AR: I definitely think that is false. There is still so much to learn from trade associations. Sure, it might take different forms now, but connecting with other people is important. The older generation, they have gone through things before, in the world or in the machine shop. The role of trade associations is also important in keeping active outreach to local schools and communities and that’s vital as we keep growing manufacturing and getting young people involved.
NTMA: You mentioned leaning on the association and other members. Have you had that experience during COVID-19? Has NTMA been helpful to you in this crazy time?
AR: The information that NTMA is providing through One Voice [the joint Washington, DC-based advocacy effort with the Precision Metalforming Association] has been the biggest key through COVID-19. The information shared from a local standpoint and national standpoint, from the initial shutdowns to the PPP loan process and now, as we head toward another potential relief package, that work has been instrumental in keeping up-to-date, knowing what to expect and what to take advantage of.
NTMA: That’s good. You also said NTMA could be valuable as the industry grapples with the question of how to bring in more workers, particularly young people. How do you see the role of NTMA and your strategy for recruiting?
AR: Having recently – within the last ten years – come out of high school, I know that, if it weren’t for my grandfather owning a machine shop, I never would have even thought of manufacturing as a potential career. And, thinking back, it was almost discouraged to go into trades. Without the work of trade associations, that kind of stigma will continue to exist in the school systems. So it’s our job, not just the trade association but also individual companies, to show what manufacturing is all about and how vital a role it plays. We’re seeing that now with the supply chain impacts due to COVID-19 - it’s all about how important manufacturing is to our society. And our industry is more than just the work we do. The Northwestern PA Chapter of NTMA just donated $15,000 to local fire departments. They weren’t able to fundraise so we took our benefit golf tournament and donated it all to the fire department. That’s the spirit of manufacturers – we’re willing to help out. Our businesses are vital to our area and we support our area.
NTMA: That’s amazing. Do you think it’s working – the efforts to change the narrative and expose young people to the possibilities in manufacturing?
AR: I definitely do. From 10 years ago when I was a senior in high school, that narrative has really changed a lot. When I talk to people, I see a difference. And think about who was deemed essential in the pandemic, who was able to keep working. The perception of the importance of manufacturing is changing. So young people can see that you can go to a trade school - for much less than a four-year college - or do an apprenticeship and come out with a skill set to earn a good living. The stigma is changing and people know the possibilities.
This interview was featured in the NTMA The Record’s September 2020 edition. You can view the entire edition HERE.
To learn more about the National Tooling and Machining Association (NTMA) visit NTMA or visit the Northwestern PA Chapter NTMA.
