Alec Crook didn’t know much about advanced automation and robotics when he was in high school, but he knew he liked taking things apart and wanted to do something hands-on.

“I signed up to go to Utah State University to train to be an electrical engineer, but they don’t tell you what an electrical engineer actually does,” he says. “So I thought, ‘I’m going to spend five grand a semester, and I don’t know what I’m actually going to do.’”

He then signed up for a class through Bridgerland Technology College (BTECH) on automation controls and learned about an advanced automation program the school was offering that could be completed within 18 months. The program had a 99 percent job placement rate, offered a solid salary, and would cost a total of $5,000.

BTECH is one of the over 1,600 schools that partners with FANUC America to offer advanced automation education and certification programs using real-world FANUC automation equipment. These programs are developed with industry-recognized technology and demonstrate the collaboration between industry and education.

Initially, Crook took three classes based on FANUC products: FANUC Basic, Dual Check Safety (DCS), and IR Vision. He says the experience was invaluable because working with actual advanced automation products used in real manufacturing applications laid the groundwork for all future work he did with robotics.

“You can teach yourself a robot, you can go pick it up and read the manuals, but to have an instructor and try it out and test it,” he says, “it’s so much different because you can ask questions.”

While attending BTECH, Crook started working in the manufacturing industry as a maintenance technician for Autoliv, the world’s largest automotive safety supplier. The company designs, develops, and manufactures world-leading passive safety systems for the automotive industry as well as mobility safety solutions.

Autoliv helped Crook pay for his schooling, which he completed. Soon after graduation, he went to work for Premier Tech, a FANUC Authorized System Integrator, as an installation and commissioning technician helping the company build packaging systems.

“They’d ship them out all over the world, and I’d fly out with them to install, program, tune-up, as well as teach customers’ staff how to run them,” says Crook.

He was traveling the world right out of school to places like China and Austria, helping to program FANUC robots to boost productivity for Premier Tech’s clients.

He then again enrolled at Utah State University, but this time with the ability to use his work experience to count as college credit. After an internship at another FANUC Authorized System Integrator, JR Automation, where Crook continued to program FANUC robots, he was ready to graduate with his bachelor’s degree and began looking for a full-time job.

Crook landed an automation control engineer position back at his old stomping grounds, Autoliv. Quickly after, he moved into a robotics engineer role at the company and is currently the Lead Robotics Engineer at Autoliv.

“When I first started in the robot position, we had about 30 robots. Right now, we have hundreds and hope to have even more by the end of the year,” says Crook. “I also often support training for my coworkers as needed. Taking classes about FANUC products not only helped me learn robotics, but it also taught me how to teach them to other people.”

The fact that FANUC robots are so easy to operate also aids his teaching, he adds. He appreciates that even though someone can learn how to use FANUC robots in a couple of minutes, the automation is capable of extremely complex tasks.

As an automotive safety product provider, FANUC has supported Autoliv well in providing consistent and reliable applications for Autoliv’s high-quality products.

“Right now we’re creating cells that have 20 FANUC robots working together. So it’s not just that we’re adding more automation, but that the complexity has skyrocketed,” he says.

To keep himself and his staff current, Crook came to FANUC America’s headquarters in Rochester Hills, Michigan, to train at FANUC Academy. Over the years, he has taken a total of ten FANUC Academy classes, which are all designed to teach FANUC customers how to operate, maintain, and optimize FANUC equipment.

“I’m taking 3D camera training because we’re trying to create more complex robotic cells that need a lot more vision,” says Crook. “We’ve sent a bunch of people to train here because we’re ramping up so fast.”

To support the growth, Autoliv is continuing to hire more automation engineers, sometimes with four-year degrees. However, Crook says that in his opinion, he’s noticed the best robotics workers started out as technicians at the company.

“That’s why I’m really happy I started out going to a trade school and working, not just getting an engineering degree,” he says. “Working in the industry, I think, is amazing. It’s a great opportunity to start doing hands-on work fast.”

By Debra Schug, PR and Content Lead