QUALITY INSPECTOR:
TORI KOHLMAN
“College isn’t always the right choice for everybody.”
Toris’S ROLE
at a Glance:
Role: Quality Inspector
Company: Eck Industries
Career Start: 2014
Education: High School Diploma
Path: Fast Food Worker → Wood Manufacturing → Castings Quality Inspector
Started With a Job Search and Found a Fit
“Before this job, I had never been in a casting facility.”
Tori didn’t grow up around metalcasting or come in with a clear plan to work in manufacturing. Before Eck, she had worked in fast food and at a wood factory. Then she found the job on Indeed, came in for an interview, toured the plant, and got the call that she was hired.
At first, it was unfamiliar. She had never seen metal casting before. But she was interested in taking the industry route, trying something hands-on, and seeing where it could lead. What started as a job search turned into a career path she actually enjoys.
Work that Offers Independence and Responsibility
“I like that when I know my job, I can get right in, and I don't have to wait on anybody else.”
As a quality inspector, Tori checks cast parts under a UV lamp to look for defects that could cause the casting to fail. It’s focused, detailed work, and it gives her a sense of ownership over her day.
What she likes most is the structure and independence. The schedule is usually set. She can work at her own pace, and she has a clear understanding of what needs to get done. For someone who likes to stay focused and work independently, quality inspection can be a great career path.
Doing Work You Can Be Proud Of
“Would I buy this as a customer?”
For Tori, quality isn’t just checking a box. The parts she inspects go into real products, including aircraft parts and engine components. That means the work has to be done right, or it could have disastrous consequences.
When she cleans up parts and checks them, she asks herself whether she would accept that part as a customer. If the answer is no, it does not leave her station. That pride in doing good work is part of what makes the job so meaningful. She knows the parts they make help other people, and she takes that responsibility seriously.
College Isn’t the Only Way Forward
“If you don't think that you want to go to college or… don't know what you want to do… go into the trades for a little bit.”
Tori wants young people to know that college is not the only path to a good future. It might be right for some people, but not everyone needs to go straight into a degree program to start building skills, earning money, and figuring out what they want. A career in metalcasting can be a great starting point, a fulfilling long-term career, or a way to find out what kind of work you actually enjoy.
It can also surprise you. Sometimes the only way to find out if something is right for you is to try it. Tori didn’t expect to end up in metalcasting, but by trying it out, she’s found steady work, responsibility, and pride in what she does.
More Women Should Try This Work
“Do work that you don’t think that you could do. It might surprise you how much you like it.”
Manufacturing isn’t always the first thing women picture when they think about their future. And for a long time, it wasn’t something they were encouraged to try. But that’s changing.
Tori feels supported in her role and confident in the work she does, even though it wasn’t something she originally saw herself doing. And she’s found her company to always have her best interest in mind.
That’s why she encourages more women to give it a shot. You don’t have to come in knowing everything. You don’t have to fit a mold. And you don’t have to limit yourself to what you think you’re “supposed” to do. Sometimes the work you least expect to enjoy is the work you end up being most proud of.
Her advice is simple: don’t write it off just because it looks unfamiliar. You might learn something, and find out you’re more capable than you thought.
