Thomas Melton Continues to Thrive Within Compass Operating Company
Charlotte, NC – July 18, 2022 – Compass Precision, a Charlotte-based manufacturer of custom, close-tolerance metal components for mission critical applications, announced Monday that Thomas Melton has been promoted to Manufacturing Engineer at Gray Manufacturing Technologies in Denver, NC.
The 21-year-old Lenoir, NC, native, has been with the company since the winter of 2017 and is thrilled about the opportunity to take on more responsibility.
“I’m very happy about the promotion, having more responsibility and an increased impact on the company,” said Thomas. “I worked as a part-time machinist for 4 years while pursuing my degree in Mechanical Engineering at UNC Charlotte. Working part-time and going to school full-time was definitely a challenge at times, but I’m truly thankful how supportive and accommodating the company was in helping me obtain my degree.”
“Thomas is a great asset to us at Gray,” explained General Manager Jacob Trahan. “We knew that he would have plenty of job offers once he got his degree. I am really happy that he wanted to stay with us.”
Through education, knowledge and on-the-job-experience, Thomas brings many essential personal and professional assets to the new role that will help Gray, and Compass Precision, continue to prosper in the future.
“I value my exceptional communication skills to convey points and ideas,” said Thomas. “I can teach others the skills I’ve obtained while continuing to learn from more seasoned professionals by keeping an open mind. I appreciate my solid work ethic and the drive to always want to learn and continue to be versatile in my ability to work a variety of positions to ensure constant productivity.”
The avid fan of mechanical engineering, who enjoys restoring varies automobiles in his leisure time, uses his proactive perspective to anticipate possible obstacles and challenges that come with added responsibility.
“I’m going to buckle-down and seek different perspectives from seasoned machinists for insight,” said Thomas. “I know trouble-shooting issues is an extremely integral part of my role. Being able to look at trends and part data from the inspection room and comparing to what’s on the floor ensures we are making adjustments to ensure quality control. Taking a proactive approach is especially important to stay ahead of the curve.”
Gray Manufacturing Technologies is an ISO9001, AS9100D certified, 5-axis machining supplier which supports these demanding industries.
Since incorporation in June 2013, the company has purchased a state-of-the-art facility in Denver, NC, which houses our advanced 5-axis machining and metrology equipment. The secret behind Gray’s rapid success is the talented individuals who work on the team.
“I really enjoy what I do,” said Thomas. “There’s a purpose behind my role and I know what I’m doing is making a difference while having a lasting impact on the aerospace industry. The company has a family-oriented atmosphere, and we get along well with each other. Everyone is so helpful and supportive.”
The highly-skilled workforce has been in various venues such as medical implant and professional motorsports while also accumulating more than 40 years of combined certified aerospace experience. The diverse background of such highly-skilled individuals gives Gray the competitive edge when applying the most advanced manufacturing techniques in exotic aerospace materials. These strategies allow the company to not only meet but exceed expectations which saves customer’s time and money by helping them beat the competition to market.
Under Compass Precision, Gray continues to invest in highly-skilled labor and the most innovative machinery. Gray now also has easy access to numerous additional resources through its sister companies — Advanced Machining & Tooling, Douglas Machining Services, Quality Products & Machine, R&D Machine, Strom Manufacturing, Tri-Tec Industries — which further enhances the customer’s ability to do one-stop shopping.
For more information about Gray Manufacturing Technologies and Compass Precision, please contact David Wyscaver, Compass’s Communications Manager at [email protected].