The New Face of Manufacturing: Q&A with Molycorp's Stephanie Lentz

Q: Why did you choose a job/career in manufacturing?

A: I wanted to work in an environment that would allow me to work directly on a product, and particularly in a cutting-edge, advanced manufacturing facility.  I have been able to advance in our company by working to optimize our new facility, and improve the quality of the advanced rare earth materials we make.

Q: Tell us about your position with Molycorp—what’s your official title and basic responsibilities?

A: I work as a process development scientist for Molycorp, the only producer in the Western Hemisphere of rare earth oxides. Our materials are used across a wide variety of manufacturing sectors such as electronics, communications, clean energy, transportation, aerospace, defense systems and many others. I am based at our new rare earth production facility in Mountain Pass, Calif., and I help manage some of the new, state-of-the-art processing technologies that we have developed here. My work includes such things as mass balance accountability, operations staff support, and optimizing production throughput by testing and implementing innovative concepts.

Q: What is the most rewarding aspect of your job and/or working in manufacturing?

A: I have a passion for transitioning things from a lab concept to implementation on the production line. I get to see ideas turn into lab tests, lab tests move to plant tests, and then—when it makes sense—those new ideas implemented into process operations. To observe the effect a new idea can have on increasing or optimizing production is very satisfying.

Q: What would you say to someone in high school today to recruit them to a manufacturing career?

A: Producing a product that improves people’s lives, like our products do, is extremely rewarding. Getting there is a direct result of hard work and understanding both the product and its markets.  If you want a job that is challenging and rewarding, manufacturing is the way to go!

Q: What’s your best advice for those seeking jobs in manufacturing?

A: Work hard and keep the end goal in mind.  Have trust that your ideas can change things for the better.