He said that they question if they can sell ground material to other non-aerospace applications , and he said they also reduce the waste so that it becomes more ecologically friendly . They are working to determine if they can produce other parts with the plastic waste .
“ We want to be an industry leader in waste reduction ,” Lee said .
Perceptions about environmentalism , safety and the working environment are all important to leadership at Tool Gauge . Both Debbie and Jim Lee have been involved with industry trade groups like PNAA and AFA over the years . They give back their time through volunteerism , and by training the next generation through work with Bates Technical College , Clover Park Technical College , and Renton Technical College . They also provide support for the Aerospace Joint Apprenticeship Committee .
While their employee count is down , due to the pandemic , they feel optimistic it will pick back up soon . Currently they have 88 employees , and they are hiring .
Lee said that because of recent work with cultural development , he sees a bright future for the company . “ We have a good employee culture and a great track record for keeping and developing employees . We have a great history of developing people into new roles .”
30 NORTHWEST AEROSPACE NEWS