Continuing our i-Connect007 series on Millennials in Manufacturing, we next feature Mya Walton, associate coordinator in the circuit board testing department at Saline Lectronics.

Mya has been with Lectronics for almost three years now. So far, she finds her work to be fulfilling. “I’ve gained knowledge I didn’t expect to get from this job. For example, I’ve learned every unique component and exactly what role it plays in completing an assembly. Working in the test department really exposed me to learning new things such as truth tables, logic gates, measuring components, and figuring out problems. It’s rewarding to be a part of creating products that help other people, such as heart monitors and black boxes.”

A New World of Possibilities

When she applied for a job at Lectronics, Mya said her focus was strictly to make more money.

“At the time, I was going to school for criminal justice and criminology. It wasn’t until about a year into Lectronics that I thought the criminal justice field wasn’t my dream anymore. Here I am at a job I enjoy, a job I can continuously grow in, and if I wanted to, I could get some type of related degree that wouldn’t take me as long to achieve. This job opened a whole new world of possibilities that I could see myself doing in the future, and the neat thing is I’m watching and learning it all firsthand. My expectation for my future career is one that teaches me new things every day, that challenges me to be better than I am, and a career that I can wake up and be proud to do my best at. Although I may have my frustrating days, Lectronics seems to be providing all those things.”

Challenges are a part of the electronics manufacturing industry. For Mya, communication is one of the big ones. “When you’re working to a deadline, things can get hectic. When multiple factors such as material shortages, vendor issues, and test fixture issues arise, and you’re trying to commit to a date with a quality assembly, it’s a challenge.”

Another issue is not being taken seriously. “In upper management, my hard work and position is recognized and appreciated; but some of my coworkers can’t handle a young female achieving higher roles.”

To hear more about Mya’s future vision for electronics manufacturing, read the rest of the column here.

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