A
Th e
Component Manufacturing dverti$ dverti $ er
Don’t Forget! You Saw it in the
Adverti$$er
January 2026 #18318 Page #19
Is It Possible to Learn From Mistakes? By Glenn Traylor
E
arly in my career, I had the opportunity to teach woodworking. For five years at North Carolina State University, I served as both a student and a faculty member within the University Student Center. I arrived with extensive knowledge of woodworking, and during my first week, I met two individuals who recognized my aptitude and experience, promptly offering me a position managing the workshop. This role soon evolved into assisting with classes and eventually becoming an instructor. My initial understanding of woodworking was primarily shaped by my father, an accomplished woodworker and craftsman, who inherited his skills from his cabinetmaker father. Thus, my expertise stemmed not from traditional classroom education, but from the apprenticeship model, which provided me with a solid foundation in both skill and knowledge. When I began teaching my first class, I collaborated with a degree-holding educator—a physics teacher from Millbrook High School—who guided me in developing a syllabus and contributed valuable insights that complemented my hands-on training. My most meaningful growth in woodworking came from my students. Some arrived with no knowledge of the craft, others brought solid experience, and many hoped to refine their abilities through formal lessons. Every class pushed me to deepen what I knew—usually in a supportive, constructive manner, but sometimes by questioning me directly. These interactions broadened my understanding far beyond what I could have achieved alone. We frequently debated techniques, philosophies, and methods. Often, a student who had just watched Roy Underhill or similar shows would ask why he chose certain tools or approaches. More often than not, my answer was that he simply used what was at hand. Teaching woodworking expanded my expertise far more than my decade-long apprenticeship ever did, and it demanded that I both increase my knowledge and be ready to justify my perspectives.
How This Relates to Components and QC I currently work as a component industry consultant, mainly teaching and coaching. My role over the last decade closely resembles my time at NCSU, especially the teaching challenges. The main difference is that my plant evaluation grades now carry weight, whereas at NCSU they didn’t affect students’ graduation or credit hours. Recently, I faced a challenge with something I thought I understood. During a plant inspection, my client questioned my findings, and an expert reviewed my evaluation. It turned out I was mistaken. While there was a clear cause for my confusion, it doesn’t excuse the error—here’s why.
Continued next page
PHONE: 800-289-5627
Read/Subscribe online at www.componentadvertiser.com
FAX: 800-524-4982