NES September Employee Spotlight

NES Employee Spotlight

Jordan Good

At his job interview in May 2019, Jordan Good was asked if there was anything specific on the shop floor that interested him.

Good figured he’d be a bigger asset on mills and lathes; after all, he’d just graduated from Alfred State College, where he’d become proficient on those very machines while earning a degree in machine tool technology.

Despite having no experience, however, he was intrigued by the grind channel. And as it happened, Napoleon Engineering Services needed more grind line machinists. So began Good’s career, which has now spanned seven-plus years, in one of the most critical areas of NES’ complete bearing manufacturing process.

“They were able to almost … forgo the experience that I had in the lathes and mills and say, ‘We’ll teach you (the finished grinding machines),’” Good recalled, noting that it took about 6-12 months to bring him up to speed, “and specifically (grind line supervisor) Craig Cobb really took me under his wing and is still taking me under his wing to teach me.

“And I’m glad I said that, because what really did interest me was the grind channel.”

NES is certainly glad he said that, too. Because Good has become a consummate professional in that particular sector.

DESPITE BEING in one channel from the beginning, Good has bounced around a little bit.

He started out on the KO Lee surface grinder (for rough outside diameter) then moved to finished width on machines like the 261. He also spent a couple of months on the 2EF Cincinnati before shifting to the MRSE Cinternal grinder.

And that latter machine has been his primary home ever since.

“Normally, I’m always running the blue centerless grinders,” he explained of his day-to-day. “That entails setting it up, programming it and running it through. … There will be times where I’ll set up a job, get it running, then hand it off to someone else – then maybe go and start repeating that operation. But normally, I’m running that process through.”

He added, “I would say 75% of the parts I’m running, I’m doing the finished raceway grind, and then from there they go onto Ken Parris, for honing/superfinishing.”

Given that he began at NES right out of college, Good had only limited interning experience prior to his arrival. The difference between NES and those few organizations, he said, is that here, one has control of his operation for the duration.

“I love seeing the process through,” he said.

That’s what he finds rewarding about the work. And it’s his ability do so – reliably, and a high level – that made him so deserving of our September spotlight.

“This is the only spot that I’ve ever worked that you’re able to go through that entire process (due mostly to being a specialty shop and not a mass manufacturing operation),” Good said. As such, aside from programming and running his machine, he’s also in the gauge lab determining Acceptable Quality Level (AQLs) on his parts and performing his own inspection work.

“I’m doing pretty much all the features that inspection is going to be doing,” he noted.

“That’s what I really love about it, and I think that’s what makes this spot – there are a lot of things that make this place unique – but one of the things that I really enjoy about this is it’s the only place I’ve been where you can see the process through, from my operation standpoint, from start to finish.”

Said Chris Truman, NES vice president: “Jordan has consistently demonstrated initiative, reliability and a team-first attitude, taking on additional responsibilities without hesitation. His ability to keep things moving and support those around him has not gone unnoticed, and his continued growth as a leader is greatly appreciated.”

TO GOOD, the day he began a job for which he had no experience, NES made an “investment” in him. He’s grateful that the company gave him time – and training – needed for the investment to pay off.

“It does mean a lot,” he said of the spotlight honor, “and I’m honestly very thankful for the belief that, not just Cobb, but that Chris Truman (the one who asked Good what interested him during his job interview) and Chris Napoleon have put into me.”

The Alfred native has become such a proficient, and trusted, presence that he’s earned an affectionate, if comical, nickname: Bub, which stands for “Back-up Boss.”

“So, when Cobb’s gone, I’m the go-to guy,” Good said humbly. “He gave me experience at each grind operation, so therefore, while I might not be an expert spending 20 years (in one area), I can give input into each operation, or even, if they’re dealing with a problem, I’ll be able to give them some kind of solution.”

He added jokingly, “Whether it’s the right one or not is up for debate.”

Outside of work, Good prioritizes what he calls the “three Fs:” Faith, family and fun. In terms of faith, he’s one of the leaders of his local church group. “That definitely takes up quite a bit of my time and it’s definitely the most important aspect of my life, for sure,” he said. “And then family (his wife Shannon and their now 8-month-old daughter Brielle) would be after that.”

The fun entails his biggest hobby, working out. Good has set up an all-encompassing cross-fit gym in his home garage, where he trains to compete in Spartan Races, Tough Mudders and other intense physical competitions.