[LISA] My name is Lisa Schoborg. I'm a senior data analyst at Viking Pump and I've been here for 18 years. [CHRIS] My name is Chris Mihm. I'm the program manager with the global distribution group and I've been with Viking for just over 20 years. [Andi] My name is Andi Bicket. That's an I, not a Y. I am a senior graphic designer at Viking Pump and I have worked here for 20 years. [BRUCE] Bruce Helgeson. I'm a senior operations engineer here at Viking Pump. Been with Viking for roughly 36 years. [INTERVIEWER] Look back.

Viking Pump is the global leader in positive displacement pumping solutions and we proudly manufacture and assemble our products in Cedar Falls, Iowa. With our own dedicated foundry and machine shop, we build our products from start to finish to our own high standards. This vertical integration gives us better control of our supply lines, enhances our ability to respond to change, and creates stability for our partners and customers. We’ve been centrally located in Iowa since 1911. We're proud of that history. We're proud of the work we've done, still do, and will do together.

So I started at Viking 6 and a half years ago as an account manager with the OEM team, moved up as a senior account manager and then a supervisor. Currently I'm the customer support manager for the OEM and energy teams. I really started with OEM but I got to work with energy here or there. Really cool to see just starting out having no knowledge of pumps and not knowing what any of the components are to having a lot more knowledge but even looking more at the process and how we can continue to grow better each day.

So I did an internship here. Once I graduated, transitioned into a production planning and scheduling type of role and then recently transitioned to production manager for about 2 years now over the assembly team. I've had some great mentors along the way, ones that have really pushed me to be the best that I can be. I think those kinds of opportunities are important because it helps motivate.

So I'm the HR support for several different functions within Viking Pump. Right now I support our foundry, our team in Windsor, Canada, and our finance team which sits at a couple of different locations. I did not have the foundry when I first started and I have the foundry now so that was a huge change in responsibilities since we have a union in the foundry and I actually had no experience working in a union environment when I started here. It actually was one of the reasons that I was interested in this job when I took it though.

[NARRATOR] The Viking Pump ROOTS program is proud to partner with the Iowa Heartland Habitat for Humanity to provide affordable housing and home ownership programs to our local communities. [DUSTY] Habitat for Humanity is an international organization that has helped over 70 million people find affordable housing throughout the globe. Our local affiliate here - Iowa Heartland Habitat for Humanity - serves four counties. We're a Christian-centered organization so our mission is to put God's love into action by bringing people together to build homes, communities, and hopes.

[INTERVIEWER] In kind of your own words, how would you describe your role as HR manager after being here for 5 years? [KRISTIE] That's a great question because every day is a little bit different... So I'm the HR support for several different functions within Viking Pump. [LUKE] I worked in Viking Pump's PE lab for 13 years now I'm part of the applications team. [MICHAEL] So I did an internship here. Once I graduated, transitioned into a production planning and scheduling type of role and then recently transitioned to production manager for about 2 years now over the assembly team.

The machine shop is Viking Pump’s largest facility. Since its opening in 1960, the shop has undergone multiple expansions and has now grown to 320 thousand square feet. Today this facility houses many departments including machining, tooling, assembly, paint, shipping, quality, procurement and planning. In the machine shop, parts are machined from castings and bar stock. Dimensions, especially those inside the pump cavity, must be precise to ensure the pumps operate efficiently and are capable of high pressures and self-priming.

Located on Viking Road in the Cedar Falls Industrial Park, the 78,000 square foot facility is used to produce gray iron, carbon steel, 316 stainless steel, and 770 non-galling stainless steel. 
In a foundry, parts are cast by pouring molten metal into a hollow mold. To create a mold, core and mold technicians pull patterns for the various cast parts. Each pattern is a template for one side of one or more parts. Sand is compressed against the plate and when the plate is removed the shape of the part remains and half of a mold is created.