Academy visits Rockwell Collins in Melbourne

By Terri Friedlander, Academy Director

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Academy visits Rockwell Collins in Melbourne

By Terri Friedlander, Academy Director

On January 9, 2009, the Academy of International Business students of Cocoa Beach Jr/Sr High School visited Rockwell Collins in Melbourne. The students learned about how the company manufactures avionics equipment, including the soldering of circuit boards and the implementation of Lean Engineering. We heard about their global manufacturing business with 60 locations in 27 countries! The students were met by the HR staff, Peggy and Pat. They started their exciting field trip in an official security entrance where they signed in and were given safety glasses to wear in the white marked areas. They were told the importance of confidentiality in the Rockwell Collins workplace and that no photographs were permitted. The students were then led on the tour by Industrial Engineers, Justin and James.

The students were taken to several actual “production cells”. They saw a very cool VHF radio used in airplanes showing the pilot multiple things. The students learned about how there are multiple radios in an airplane, ranging from those in the nose, wings, and tails, all to balance the plane out. The students then proceeded to another “production cell” making the AFD’s (Air Flight Displays) with colorful monitors for pilots to see the velocity and altitude. They saw how each component and circuit board eventually gets assembled, tested, shipped and sold to their customers who are airplane manufactures. They even saw a huge robot in action, delivering parts to an operator while she assembled a board. The tour continued in stock room where huge JIT (Just in Time) boxes are ready for transit to be shipped to different countries. The students also saw a “supply train”, used to move certain parts between buildings on a self-driven train that travels with no track but using infra-red light.

After the tour, the students went into a classroom to experience some Rockwell Collins training. Tara and Karen introduce the new Rockwell Collins employees to the two week Basic Assembly School. After the two week course, a written and a production test must be passed for the employee to begin work. We also heard about the incredible benefits including tuition reimbursement and how many employees are paid to go back to college to obtain further education! One of our Academy officers, Troy, the webmaster, asked about an internship at Rockwell Collins, getting a very exciting response. (The Academy of International Business includes an internship credit to put its students into firsthand business experience). We were thrilled to learn that Rockwell Collins replied they usually offer college internships but would be interested in working with the Academy also.

Afterwards, the students went back to the boardroom and had a delicious lunch provided by Rockwell Collins. They told us about the corporate history with an informative PowerPoint and video starting in 1933 to the present. Started by Arthur Collins in Cedar Rapids, Iowa as a radio manufacturing business, the company has gone through many changes over its 75 year history. The students heard that all new employees are drug tested and randomly tested after they are employed. The students learned how much Rockwell Collins is committed to diversity and how it cares about a family environment for the workers there, and how important the customer is to them.

On the bus trip home the Academy students reflected on the successful field trip, wondering where the advice and knowledge the field trip had given to them, will take them in life. This was the fourth and final field trip of the school year. The Academy of International Business provides students with the technology and skills to succeed in today’s global business world. The motto of the Academy is “Education is Best When It’s Real”. The Academy program provides students with real guest speakers, real career shadowing and resume building, as well as constant learning in a state-of-the-art technology lab with such applications as Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Access.
The Academy of International Business is currently accepting applications for the 2009-2010 school year. Please visit the Academy website at http://www.cbhs.brevard.k12.fl.us/teachers/friedlander/academy.html or email Mrs. Friedlander at Friedlander.terese@brevardschools.org.

On January 9, 2009, the Academy of International Business students of Cocoa Beach Jr/Sr High School visited Rockwell Collins in Melbourne. The students learned about how the company manufactures avionics equipment, including the soldering of circuit boards and the implementation of Lean Engineering. We heard about their global manufacturing business with 60 locations in 27 countries! The students were met by the HR staff, Peggy and Pat. They started their exciting field trip in an official security entrance where they signed in and were given safety glasses to wear in the white marked areas. They were told the importance of confidentiality in the Rockwell Collins workplace and that no photographs were permitted. The students were then led on the tour by Industrial Engineers, Justin and James.

The students were taken to several actual “production cells”. They saw a very cool VHF radio used in airplanes showing the pilot multiple things. The students learned about how there are multiple radios in an airplane, ranging from those in the nose, wings, and tails, all to balance the plane out. The students then proceeded to another “production cell” making the AFD’s (Air Flight Displays) with colorful monitors for pilots to see the velocity and altitude. They saw how each component and circuit board eventually gets assembled, tested, shipped and sold to their customers who are airplane manufactures. They even saw a huge robot in action, delivering parts to an operator while she assembled a board. The tour continued in stock room where huge JIT (Just in Time) boxes are ready for transit to be shipped to different countries. The students also saw a “supply train”, used to move certain parts between buildings on a self-driven train that travels with no track but using infra-red light.

After the tour, the students went into a classroom to experience some Rockwell Collins training. Tara and Karen introduce the new Rockwell Collins employees to the two week Basic Assembly School. After the two week course, a written and a production test must be passed for the employee to begin work. We also heard about the incredible benefits including tuition reimbursement and how many employees are paid to go back to college to obtain further education! One of our Academy officers, Troy, the webmaster, asked about an internship at Rockwell Collins, getting a very exciting response. (The Academy of International Business includes an internship credit to put its students into firsthand business experience). We were thrilled to learn that Rockwell Collins replied they usually offer college internships but would be interested in working with the Academy also.

Afterwards, the students went back to the boardroom and had a delicious lunch provided by Rockwell Collins. They told us about the corporate history with an informative PowerPoint and video starting in 1933 to the present. Started by Arthur Collins in Cedar Rapids, Iowa as a radio manufacturing business, the company has gone through many changes over its 75 year history. The students heard that all new employees are drug tested and randomly tested after they are employed. The students learned how much Rockwell Collins is committed to diversity and how it cares about a family environment for the workers there, and how important the customer is to them.

On the bus trip home the Academy students reflected on the successful field trip, wondering where the advice and knowledge the field trip had given to them, will take them in life. This was the fourth and final field trip of the school year. The Academy of International Business provides students with the technology and skills to succeed in today’s global business world. The motto of the Academy is “Education is Best When It’s Real”. The Academy program provides students with real guest speakers, real career shadowing and resume building, as well as constant learning in a state-of-the-art technology lab with such applications as Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Access.

The Academy of International Business is currently accepting applications for the 2009-2010 school year. Please visit the Academy website at http://www.cbhs.brevard.k12.fl.us/teachers/friedlander/academy.html or email Mrs. Friedlander at Friedlander.terese@brevardschools.org.