NRTC Honors Our Women Employees

For Women’s History Month, NRTC is featuring Tosha Hornbuckle and Erica Hooks, two highly valued women employees in our warehouse. 

March marks Women’s History Month, giving us the opportunity to appreciate the struggles, hardships, and triumphs women have experienced to get to where they are today.  

Women have been advocating for themselves for centuries. With every legislative act and cultural challenge, women continue to break through the glass ceilings that have oppressed them. And although they have made great strides, there are still areas where women are underrepresented, such as in manufacturing.  

NRTC Automation offers several solutions to these challenges below. We also feature several of our own women employees to inspire future generations of women to join the manufacturing industry. 

Women’s History Month 

Honoring women’s journey to independence 

In the last few centuries, there have been amazing leaps of progress in the journey to equality and independence.  

From the suffragettes in the 19th and 20th centuries to the women's liberation movement in the 1960s and ‘70s to the #MeToo movement today, women are making great strides to achieve the equality they deserve. 

There is still much work left to be done, however. 

The challenge to encourage women in manufacturing 

There is a clear difference in the ratio of women to men in the manufacturing workforce. Women make up less than one-third of the manufacturing industry in the United States, whereas half of Bachelor's degrees come from women. 

How do we get women to join the manufacturing workforce? Could this be the way to decrease the two million unfulfilled jobs caused by a skills gap in the industry? 

Methods to encourage women to apply to manufacturing jobs include: 

• increasing visibility of women on manufacturing teams, such as quality team leads and operators 

• ensuring that women have work/life balance and programs to support their careers, such as maternity leave and continuing education 

• minimizing the gender pay gap to provide women with the pay they deserve for the skills they bring to the table 

• providing ways for women to report sexual harassment in the workplace, and taking them seriously when they do report it 

Manufacturers benefit when they hire women by gaining increasingly diverse perspectives, particularly for decision-making and problem-solving. Also, attracting and hiring women manufacturing workers will help decrease the skills gap that is currently plaguing the industry. 

Looking toward the next generation of young women is key to bringing more women into the manufacturing workforce. Hosting events like plant tours and mentoring women through internships are both great ways to encourage women to join manufacturing facilities.  

Also, nurturing girls' skills in STEM and encouraging them to express their interests in STEM in grade school and high school will set up the manufacturing industry for success. 

Women who work for NRTC 

In honor of Women’s History Month, NRTC Automation is featuring the wonderful women who work in our warehouse. 

TOSHA HORNBUCKLE, QUALITY TEAM LEAD 

Tosha Hornbuckle is the Quality Team Lead at NRTC Automation. She has been in the automotive industry for 10 years, starting as an operator in the assembly process. She later specialized in Class A Surface Inspections and metal finishing liaising for Mercedes and Kamtek. Tosha has also worked as a Quality Supervisor for a stamping company. 

At NRTC, Tosha is focused on assuring that we produce quality parts in a safe work environment. She is the person to turn to when quality issues arise in the assembly process, and she also assists the management team with ideas to become more efficient in daily operations. 

We asked Tosha what challenges she has experienced as a woman in a male-dominated industry. She says, “It can be a very competitive environment. You must be assertive and consistent and stay sharp. Make your skills and abilities count!” 

Outside of NRTC, Tosha is a supremely accomplished woman with diverse interests.  

• Tosha loves to sing (and is quite good at it, too!). 

• She describes herself as a devoted wife and mother.  

• She is a certified life coach and wellness coach, as well as an author of the book, Finesse Your Fine: Transforming Your Life Heart, Mind & Body.

• Not only that, but Tosha also runs a podcast with her husband called Heart 2 Heart, touching on relationships and life purpose. 

Tosha’s favorite thing about working with NRTC is being able to bring her ideas to the table and helping our customers grow their business: “I enjoy being a part of cultivating a work environment that will set the company up for success.” 

Ultimately, Tosha’s drive for success and helping others achieve their goals, both personally and professionally, make her a great fit at NRTC Automation. 

ERICA HOOKS, SHIPPING COORDINATOR  

Erica Hooks works in shipping for our Service Parts department, providing our customers with the parts they need, when they need them.  

She worked in healthcare for 15 years before starting her first warehouse job at Auto Car as a material handler. After proving herself with hard work, self-education, and determination, she was promoted to shipping coordinator. Despite her promotion, Erica struggled to be respected by her male coworkers. She had to do heavy labor late into her pregnancy, and, unable to get the help she needed from her team, she ended up having an early labor. Thankfully, her 1-year-old son is now a healthy 28-pound baby. 

Erica has a very different experience working at NRTC. She says that she has the “best supervisor” and couldn’t ask for a better person to lead her team. Her other team leads and managers make her feel like her work is appreciated, and she feels like she’s “finally a part of a team.” 

Every day at NRTC Automation, Erica communicates with drivers, from UPS to FedEx to truck drivers, to make sure all incoming and outgoing packages are accounted for. She communicates with the team and stays on top of NRTC’s goals with a daily morning meeting to go over work objectives. 

According to Erica, working in a male-dominated field can be intimidating. She says, “I feel like I have to work extra hard just to prove I belong. I have to stand firm on whatever I believe in.” This perspective is common for many women in any male-dominated field. Even though she loves the atmosphere at NRTC—it is a very family-oriented environment, she says—being a woman in a mostly-male environment has its challenges. 

What are some fun facts about Erica? 

• She is a die-hard Alabama fan. In her own words, “ROLL TIDE!” 

• Erica is a proud sports mom of two teenage boys and one pre-teen boy. Her sons play basketball, football, and baseball, and she loves being able to watch and support their interests. 

• She has a strong relationship with her loving husband who helps her weather any phase of life. She says, “He’s my calming spirit to any storm I face; he always lets me know we got this.” 

Overall, Erica is an enthusiastic and down-to-earth mother, wife, and NRTC team member, giving her best in every area of her life. 

NRTC appreciates the diligent women on our team 

The women who work for NRTC are valued members of the warehouse, offering their insights, experience, and expertise to help us provide the best service possible.  

With Tosha and Erica, as well as all our employees at NRTC, we give our customers the service that we’ve been recognized for by partners like Toyota, Mercedes, Ford, and more. Join us to meet your production goals by scheduling a free consultation today. 

VISIT NRTC AUTOMATION TODAY 

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. 

Visit our website today to learn more about our comprehensive decommissioning and automation services. 

Meet Joey Marimberga!

This Employee Spotlight shines on Joey Marimberga, our Senior Robot Programmer and Technician for our Service Parts department. 

Since technology is constantly changing, staying on top of industrial robot trends and knowledge is a challenge. 

That’s why it’s important to continue to learn by working with many different robot manufacturers and educating yourself with certifications. 

That’s exactly what Joey Marimberga, our Senior Robot Programmer and Technician, does to offer our customers the best service possible. 

Learn more about Joey and his work with NRTC Automation below! 

Joey Marimberga, Senior Robot Programmer and Technician

Background 

Prior to joining NRTC Automation, Joey worked as an integrator mostly in OEM plants. He integrated entire body shop lines, assisting with everything from robotics engineering to welding. Joey has installed over 500 robots during his time working for these large automotive companies. 

Some examples of companies he has worked with include: 

• Tesla 

• BMW 

• Chrysler 

• Mercedes 

• Ford 

• General Motors 

Joey also has certifications in advanced programming in KUKA robotics, FANUC robotics, and ABB robotics. He also has an intermediate certification for Comau robots. 

His experience working with the listed corporations, as well as his certifications, makes him a perfect fit to assist our customers with their engineering needs.  

Working at NRTC 

Joey began working for NRTC Automation full-time in July 2020 as our Senior Robot Technician and Programmer. He started as a contractor and, after working on a project in South Carolina, was invited to join the company in his current position. 

What does a day in the life at NRTC Automation look like for a Senior Robot Technician and Programmer? 

Joey says that he never stops moving. He oversees all the robot technicians that work for NRTC, meaning he spends a portion of his day managing their work assignments. He also assists with all troubleshooting services. 

Joey has a wide range of experience in working with robots. He can diagnose and troubleshoot the following models: 

• KUKA 

• ABB 

• FANUC 

• Comau 

• Motoman 

In addition to the tasks above, Joey will help with mechanical and electrical tasks. He is the person to turn to when robotic payload or reach is in question. 

Joey's method to diagnose a robot 

When it comes to diagnosing and troubleshooting a robot, Joey has a process that he follows. It differs depending on the age and type of robot, but the general procedure is the same. 

1. Power up: The robot must turn on and communication must be active between the cabinet and the robot. He also looks for encoder and motor values from the robot, meaning the robot should be able to move. 

2. Software: The software should be applicable to the robot’s application, such as welding, material handling, or gluing. 

3. PLC and other devices: Communication should be established between the PLC and any other device that the robot uses. The IO should be configured to make sure that it is all functional. 

Joey says that he frequently finds that there are missing boards, cables, and other important parts, so he ensures that the robot has all the equipment it needs to function properly. 

What is Joey’s most interesting project? 

We asked Joey what his favorite project was that he worked on. 

He responded that it must be the Tesla Model 3 project: “I did a glass marriage, which means we took rear quarter glass—it was encapsulated glass—and married all the trim onto it robotically. It's never been done before. This is something that's always been done by hand, and it's usually performed in Mexico and they ship it out to the customer.” 

“However,” he continued, “we were able to automate it and we put it line side at Tesla for their Model 3. It's the only line in the world like it. So, I would definitely say that was probably the coolest project I've ever done because I can say I'm the only man that's ever done it.” 

Plus, Elon Musk himself has praised Joey and his team about the line. We can imagine how exciting that would be! 

Life outside of NRTC Automation 

Joey not only excels as Senior Robot Programmer and Technician at NRTC, but he also lives an active life outside of work. 

Joey used to be a professional athlete for several years. He was a combat athlete for 25 years, and now he coaches to share his knowledge of the sport with the next generation. 

On top of being an athlete, Joey is also a former Marine Sargeant. The discipline, determination, honor, and enthusiasm that Joey showed for these passions carry into the services he provides at NRTC every day! 

Tips for customers 

We asked Joey what he suggests that customers should do to protect their equipment.  

Above all, Joey recommends preventative maintenance to protect equipment and extend useable life. 

Preventative maintenance, or PdM, is a regularly scheduled maintenance for equipment, including tasks such as inspection, cleaning, replacing robot grease, repairing parts, and more. 

The maintenance schedule is listed in the equipment's documentation, so be sure to add it to your calendar so you don’t miss it. 

NRTC Automation offers Industrial Robot Refurbishing Services so you can extend the life of your equipment with ease. Visit our website to learn more. 

GET THE DIAGNOSTICS SUPPORT YOU NEED AT NRTC AUTOMATION 

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 us today to learn how we can help you reach your production goals.