Steven E. Phillips

President of Phillips Precision, Inc.,
Co-owner, The Pitbull Clamp Co., Inc. Inventor, The Pitbull Clamp

How did you get started in manufacturing?

I was drawn to a career in manufacturing for two reasons; one is that I've always felt I was better at learning by working with my hands than in a lecture hall, and two, it must have run in the family because I grew up working in my father's machine shop so he handed down the aptitude for making things."

I think you're going to see a lot more women entering the field. This is not my father's manufacturing facility, it's precise and clean. Most women have an eye for detail and offer a different perspective which is very helpful.

So you've always been good at this?

"I wasn't good in all the trades... for example I failed electronics when I was a freshman in trade school. Shuffling paper is not my idea of a good time either. What I do find rewarding is taking something from an idea to reality. I'm very good at mechanical thinking and love to solve problems."

What's your favorite thing about your job?

"Being in a manufacturing environment fosters a higher level of creativity. I have one patent and several others pending, and there are tons of other guys just like me, out there solving problems. I love the challenge."

What's one change you see coming?

"I think you're going to see a lot more women entering the field. This is not my father's manufacturing facility, it's precise and clean. Most women have an eye for detail and offer a different perspective which is very helpful. One suggestion that I would make to any woman looking to get into the manufacturing field is to look into metrology or inspection services as a jumping-off point."