Catching up with Alex Chabert '13

What is your current career role, and what does it entail?
I’m currently working as a manufacturing engineer for Polaris Industries, focusing on gauge clusters and infotainment systems we put on all of our products. I lead manufacturing system analysis, design, and projects aimed at production line safety, quality, and speed for both existing lines and new products.

What elements of your experience at OES did you take into your current career/project?
My involvement in science fair and student government helped me build foundational experience in technical development and project management.

The science fair was a great way to learn how to take a problem and design an approach to evaluate and solve said issue. I use these skills today to evaluate things like line design for inefficiencies, pilot new technologies like collaborative robotics on our production lines, and perform accurate root cause analysis on issues that arise. My high school projects also let me practice how to communicate my technical knowledge to a range of audiences so that I can get cross-functional support for my initiatives.

Student government gave me a platform to practice coordination. As a manufacturing engineer, part of my responsibility is coordinating budget, department approvals, and execution of line changes. Whether it’s a new tool or a new production line, the experience I gained managing the planning and execution of school functions set me up for the current management I do daily. 

How would you say OES helped you get to where you are?
OES helped me develop how to take the ideas and questions I have and organize them in a way to make an actionable plan. Maybe even more importantly, my experience at OES helped me understand that I groove on this type of project/program management work. Because of this, I’ve been given a lot of leeway to explore ideas that would have otherwise been off limits and lead projects that I would have otherwise not been picked for.

What is your favorite part about doing what you do?
Manufacturing engineering has been a cool intersection between engineering and business for me. While we get to do design work, factors like production volumes, and labor costs are still key considerations. As someone who likes the business aspect, I’ve enjoyed being able to be a larger part of the conversation and build additional skills on the job. 

What advice would you give current students/seniors about being successful in today's world?
Be open to opportunity when it knocks. Your biggest asset is your experience and how you leverage it. With so much information available at the tip of our fingers, the knowledge base is not as important as knowing how to use that information to create informed decisions. So look for opportunities, big or small, to start building that experience you think you want to develop.