R&D Quality Inspector Earns Outstanding Recognition
Tyler Garcia’s one year and nearly two months at the Compass Precision operating company R&D Machine could be summarized with one cliché – he’s been in the right place at the right time.
Tyler had never heard of R&D Machine until the day he found the Compass Precision YouTube channel. And it wasn’t like Tyler was looking for CNC machining videos on the social media platform. He just happened to come across one of the company’s videos while searching for help on a specific part for his car.
But after pursuing Compass’ YouTube channel, Tyler applied to an opening at R&D. He quickly landed a job in deburring.
Tyler remained in that position for a few months before the operating company began searching for a new quality inspector. He was not originally a candidate for the role, let alone a leading choice for the opening. But all the candidates for the position took a test, which Tyler elected to try too.
“I thought, ‘Let me just take it like a joke. Let me just see what I would do,’” said Tyler. “It ended up being the highest score of all the interviewees.”
He didn’t just earn the highest grade. Tyler nearly aced the test, scoring a 95. So, R&D general manager Justin Kovscek offered Tyler the job.
Tyler has been one of the fastest rising key contributors at any of Compass’ operating companies ever since then. His mentor, QC Inspector Dave Andrews, referred to him as a sponge for learning.
“He is a pleasure to teach,” Dave wrote in an email response about Tyler. “He goes home and studies on his own, then comes in and asks the questions.
“He has come a long way. I’m so glad he is here.”
“Tyler’s key attribute is his positive attitude toward change and learning and growing that will continue to propel him forward in his future career,” said Justin.
Tyler expressed how vital Dave has been to his development.
“He’s taught me a lot. He’s trained me on everything I know about quality,” Tyler said of Dave. “Even in times of frustrations, he’s just helped and guided me through all the processes.”
Tyler’s daily tasks as quality inspector include receiving parts from outprocessing, checking parts from debur, and conducting first-piece inspection for machinists when needed. He and his department are also responsible for “keeping everything flowing smoothly.”
Although he’s only been at R&D for a little more than a year and in the QC lab for roughly nine months, Tyler already takes great pride in his work.
“It’s the last spot. The final check before it goes out,” Tyler said of his department. “You are like the last thing that could stop a problem or prevent something that’s going out that’s not correct.
“We have the best quality. I look at other machine shops. I see other videos and stuff. I think we have one of the best quality machine shops around.”
After graduating high school, Tyler entered the construction and environmental drilling field. He considered that career path his “forever” industry, but Tyler said he wanted to pursue a new career after he suffered a couple injuries.
He accepted a job to become an assembly technician at Baymar in 2021. Tyler served in that role for two years before joining R&D.
He’s come a long way over the last few years, particularly at R&D. But Dave constantly reminds Tyler to remember the journey.
“I’d say the most important thing [Dave] has taught me is not to forget where you came from,” said Tyler. “A lot of people want to start to get a big head. Remember where you came from and kind of use that as motivation.”