Meet Sean Burke!
Sean Burke is the General Manager of Automation at NRTC. We interviewed him for our Employee Spotlight feature to learn more about his typical workday and favorite hobbies outside of work.
After wearing many hats in different companies, Sean is a great fit to manage NRTC’s Automation Services.
Learn more about Sean and his work with NRTC Automation, as well as some fun facts, below!
Sean Burke, General Manager of Automation at NRTC
Background
Sean has diverse experience in automation and engineering, allowing him to run our Automation Services with confidence.
He started with Ford Motor Company in Chicago as a facilities engineer, working on plant layouts, new line installation drawings, and more. He was then promoted to a project management position that allowed him to launch programs and a press, as well as manage programs on the warehouse floor.
He then moved on to Woodhaven Stamping in Michigan to work as a material handling engineer, all while working on packaging, line layout, storage, parts, and forklift management. He transitioned into management at Woodhaven, continuing his work in large facilities: 2.5 million square feet, to be exact!
Sean spent a few years in South Carolina as a material planning and logistics manager before working with Magna. He says that his work varied widely at Magna, ranging from launching programs and assembly to material planning and logistics management, as well as decommissioning.
Before moving to Alabama to launch a Mercedes program as an assembly operations manager, Sean ended his work in South Carolina in a sales role, revamping the aftermarket parts processes for improved coordination.
Regarding the Mercedes program, Sean says, “It was an extremely intense launch, one of the tightest-tolerance bodies that have ever been launched by an automotive company. It was two-and-a-half years that went by very quickly. After that ended, I thought, okay, what's next? And it wound up being an opportunity to join NRTC and iGAM.”
Working with NRTC
Clearly, Sean is a great fit for the role of General Manager of Automation at NRTC. He started with NRTC in November, and he puts in long days to ensure that every customer is cared for up to NRTC’s standards.
Sean mostly works in the Fleming Road warehouse, but he also offers support to the Carson Road warehouse when needed.
A typical day for Sean looks like a 5:30 wake-up, getting his kids ready and hopping on the road to the plant. Before hitting the floor, he’ll check his emails. His mornings always include a “morning brainstorm,” in which Sean walks the warehouse floor to determine where the team is at, what they are doing at the moment, and what they can do better.
He then ensures that the team’s plans are prepared for the day, supporting them with any roadblocks they may have for a more efficient workflow.
Once everyone is set for the day, Sean jumps into his own projects to plan for the weeks and even months ahead to make sure NRTC is going where we need to be. He’ll also set up meetings with other departments for full integration across NRTC’s services.
After a full day of work, Sean stays after the team finishes to walk around the warehouse for one last checkup around 6:00 pm.
From Sean’s perspective, NRTC’s Automation Services excel beyond the competition because of our flexibility and dedication to the customer: “Whatever the customer needs a solution for, we try to provide that. We want to build relationships with our customers; wherever they need help, and we can help them, that’s what we try to do.”
Favorite projects
Sean may be a bit biased, but his favorite project has been working with NRTC to get the new warehouse up and running. He says, “Being able to do it like it’s a blank sheet of paper is really neat. It’s all about getting all the ideas on the table and watching them become a reality on the floor and the excitement that the guys and gals have for where we're heading.”
In terms of past projects, a memorable one for Sean is the automated guided vehicle systems project with Ford. He was able to take the vehicles into the pressroom, which, Sean says, had never been done before. It had taken four years to implement the plan, making it one of the most impressive projects Sean has completed.
Fun facts
What is Sean like outside of the warehouse?
Sean is a dedicated husband and father to four boys, spending his time outside NRTC at home and at school sports events.
He is also a keen fisherman. Sean says the most exciting catch he’s made was a nine-and-a-half-foot tiger shark in Jupiter, Florida. According to a local fisherman that Sean was with, the odds to catch that large of a tiger shark in that area were so low, it should have been impossible!
Sean has another secret: when he was in college, he ranked in the top 50 in the country in billiards. He played against Jeanette Lee, a professional billiards player, in New York City (for fun, he says). Sean continues to play every now and then to keep his skills sharp.
Sean provides top-level services for our customers
As you can see, Sean is an appreciated member of the NRTC team. With his guidance and expertise, we can serve our customers with quality services to meet their needs.
If you are looking for automation services, then work with Sean and the team by visiting the Automation page here.
GET THE AUTOMATION SERVICES YOU NEED AT NRTC
NRTC Automation is dedicated to providing high-value industrial automation and manufacturing equipment solutions to all its customers.
From decommissioning and tear out to industrial robotic training services to custom flexible work cells, NRTC is the key to integrate your workplace. With personalized training and custom-built designs, NRTC Automation is the destination for all your industrial automation and manufacturing equipment services.
Schedule a free consultation with NRTC today to learn more.
