Manufacturing 2019 Manufacturing Week Bus Tour | Page 13

Skills Inc.
Auburn
Founded in 1966, Skills Inc. is a self-supporting nonprofit social
enterprise that makes aerospace parts at three manufacturing plants
in Auburn. Of its 550 employees, 60% have a disability. An internship
program that began in 2001 has grown to 14 local high schools.
An employee at Skills Inc. in
Auburn washes off fluorescent
dye-based oil on aerospace
parts. Black lights will excite
the fluorescent dye, showing
any cracks, corrosion, pits or
surface defects.
Employees in the Skills Inc. paint booth in Auburn paint an aluminum part that will become
a stanchion in a Boeing 767.
Monica Dooley began
working at Skills Inc.
right out of high school.
After 17 years and time
as finance manager, she
was promoted to plant
manager. “We’re teach-
ing them what they
need to succeed,” she
said of the nonprofit’s
interns and employees.