VIDEO: Mechanic-Turned Machinist Specializes in Workforce Development

Eliminating waste, minimizing part defects and continuously building on quality is imperative for 2022 Emerging Leader Ryan Cochran. This VP of operations at Billco Corp. is making decisions for continuous improvement for the shop’s equipment and processes as well as its employee training programs.

Although 2022 Emerging Leader Ryan Cochran has only been V.P. of operations at Billco Corp. (Addison, Illinois) since early 2020, he has quickly filled the leadership role with his talent and passion for helping others succeed. As a result, his biggest impact on the company has been his determination to hire, train and retain a younger generation of machinists, according to his nominator and company president, Emily Lutes. He is focused on on-the-job training for new employees as well as tenured employees. Because he is pushing workers to their fullest potential, the team is experiencing growth.

“Employees are engaged and eager to learn and take on new responsibilities thanks to Ryan’s leadership,” Lutes says.

Cochran started his career holding various jobs working on heavy truck and equipment repair shops after he graduated from Motorcycle Mechanics Institute in 2009. In 2014, he began his career at his family’s company, Billco Corp., as an entry-level machinist and general repair/maintenance technician and later advanced to lead machinist/setup machinist while continuing to handle maintenance throughout the shop.

Ryan Cochran says keeping workers engaged is key. Taking employees to trade shows and industry conferences is one approach that he says Billco implements. He also recommends paying them well and awarding bonuses periodically. Photo credit: BIllco Corp.

When promoted to V.P. of ops, Cochran began hiring people with no machining background and then training them in-house for specific positions, which he calls “from the ground up training.” Usually, he can tell by judging their character in the interview if candidates will be a good fit for the shop culture and the type of work that is necessary.

“If I think they are good fit, I will spend however long it takes with them to bring them up to speed,” Cochran explains. “This has been working well because they don’t have bad habits learned at another shop. I show them how to do the job the way we want it done.”

To learn more about Cochran and the other 2022 Production Machining Emerging Leaders, read Emerging Leaders’ Viewpoints and Training and Retention, and don’t forget to watch the video with the combined interviews while you’re there!