Okuma Australia managing director Philip Hayes congratulates Chisholm apprentice David Stanley on winning the trip to Japan.A CRANBOURNE apprentice is jetting off to Japan after winning a trip to tour robot factories.
David Stanley, a Chisholm Institute engineering student, was announced as this year’s winner of the Okuma Australia TAFE Incentive Program.
At the end of the month he will be treated to five days exploring Okuma’s massive, technologically-advanced manufacturing facilities and seeing first hand modern marvels such as robots building robots.
Mr Stanley was over the moon at the win and said he was looking forward to seeing the processes and technology on his Japanese trip.
He said his family and friends were nearly as excited as he was.
“My fiancee is rapt,” he said with a grin.
Now in its third year, the rigorous Okuma program accepts only five applicants, who are assessed over a week of work experience at Okuma Australia in Rowville.
Mr Stanley is the second Chisholm student to win the Japan trip.
He finished his Certificate III in Engineering (Mechanical Trade) in August, and is now undertaking an Advanced Diploma of Engineering (Robotics and Mechatronics).
“Eventually I hope to work in designing and building machines that interface with robots,” he said. “Okuma is the world leader, so I’ll be seeing the state of the art.”
Mr Stanley has shone at Chisholm and he said the industry experience and exposure to programs like Okuma’s at the TAFE sat well with his own goals.
“I went to uni when I left high school but it’s hard to get motivated because they don’t link the theory to any practical application,” he said.
“At Chisholm, everything is linked to the occupation, and project based, so it’s easy to get motivation.”
Presenting Mr Stanley with his award, Okuma Australia managing director Phil Hayes praised the calibre of all the entrants.
“This year every one of them was a winner,” he said.
Proud employer Ed Cameron of C and I Precision Engineering at Seaford also congratulated Mr Stanley on the success he had achieved at Chisholm.
“He’s in his element now,” Mr Cameron said. “He’s doing very well.”
