Ron Schwar is our featured employee spotlight this month. Ron has been with Glide-Line since 2005. As a product development engineer, Ron said that the two accomplishments he’s most proud of are the development of Glide-Line and its configuration tool, IMPACT!. He was also instrumental in the development and implementation of our unique manufacturing system.
Ron Schwar, or the Godfather of Glide-Line as we like to call him, is the backbone of our product development. Ron has an amazing gift for creating not only a tremendous product design, but a simplified approach to manufacturing and assembly as well. There are a lot of good designers in the world, but good designers who also understand the manufacturability and assembly of a line of products are hard to find. We are lucky to have found Ron as he has been instrumental in making Glide-Line the very successful and refreshing product offering it is today.
My favorite challenge is to try to have Ron take the marker from me as I try to white board a hair-brained concept. Once Ron takes the marker, the once-awful concept transforms into an amazing solution before your eyes. Ron truly has a rare gift and it’s a privilege to be on a team with him.
Throughout his career at NCC, Ron has loved design, but innovative product development is where his heart truly lies. His love for this type of work goes far beyond just developing the product itself -- it’s the entire offering and infrastructure built around developing, promoting, producing and supporting highly configurable solutions and relationships. “I strive to develop best-in-class products that solve real problems and an operational infrastructure that will withstand the test of time,” Ron adds -- and his passion for his work comes through in every word.
Ron has worked on a number of large projects during his time with NCCAS working with Glide-Line. The one success that stands out most to him is the development of Glide-Line’s new roller chain variation - a better roller chain for today’s engineers. Read more about it here.
Ron loves working on the Glide-Line product line. When asked what makes us different from other employers, Ron says, “Well, many things. First and foremost, we’re an employee owned company, so I don’t really consider NCC an employer, we’re all highly dedicated forward-thinking partners that are truly excited about what we’re doing.” (For more on our Employee Owner culture, click here.) He adds, “Our infrastructure is dynamically compartmentalized in a way that allows us to remain agile and responsive even as we grow. A continuous improvement element is a major part of our overall operating philosophy, ensuring what we do remains relevant even as industry and the world around us rapidly evolves.”
Offline, Ron has diverse interests: RC airplanes and music. “I’ve had a serious interest in aerospace starting at around eight years old upon discovering my father’s model RC airplane collection in our attic. Through the years I’ve designed built and flown all types of UAV’s (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles), several of them professionally.” Additionally, Ron is a musician and writer of music -- he plays guitar and occasionally writes and records with other musicians. He’d love to learn more about editing and producing music, as well!
Our Employee Spotlight series celebrates our phenomenal co-owners at Glide-Line, highlighting one person and their contributions to our team. Read the rest of the series here.
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