Felling Trailers has been proudly manufacturing trailers for nearly 50 years. Join us as we take a look back and see how much our company, along with our employees, has grown. Many of you may already know the story of how Felling Trailers started as a small fabrication shop in downtown Sauk Centre in 1974. Continuing to add to this story, we invite you to read our “Grow with Us Series – 31.” Here you will meet the people of Felling; we will share a bit about the people who have played a part in what our company is today and where we will be tomorrow. Some of the people you will meet have been with us for many years, some decades, and others are starting their careers. We want you to meet Josh Benage, Quality Control Inspector for Felling Trailers, Inc., Litchfield, to continue our series.
Josh Benage
Quality Control Inspector
Name: Josh Benage
Status: 9 years
Title: Quality Control Inspector
Josh joined the Felling Trailers’ Litchfield team in the summer of 2014 and recently celebrated nine years with the company this July. Josh was part of the weld production team working on the generator trailer production line. Felling Trailers manufactures generator trailers built to the genset specification of each OEM (original equipment manufacturer), serving OEMs like Moser, Cummins, and Condux. “When I started at Felling, I was a welder on the generator line. We had a heavy backlog of Mosers, and my goal was to make a good impression and a big impact on getting the team caught up. After a couple of weeks, I was promoted to a lead welder on the line,” said Josh. For the generator trailer line, many of the orders are multi-unit orders, making welding precision and consistency key. Each welder must review trailer blueprints and detailed drawings to ensure that the jig is set to the necessary build specifications. In every build, the weld team follows the Quality Work Instruction (QWI) that ensures that each weld is to the proper weld quality standard and performs any necessary clean-up.
An experienced welder, Josh attended St. Cloud Technical College, graduating with a diploma in their Weld program. After completing his schooling, he worked for American Energy Systems and Warrior Mfg. each for 3.5 years before joining the Felling Trailers team. Josh worked as the lead welder on the generator line for three years, then transitioned into his current role as a Quality Control Inspector.
“I had been welding for a total of 10 years and was ready to move into a different role and take on new challenges.”
– Josh Benage
Embracing New Opportunities
Always willing to help where he can, Josh has volunteered to take on extra roles, being an ISO internal auditor for the company, part of the 5s team, and assisting in implementing new software, Global Shop, with training, processes, and such at the Litchfield location. “I enjoy being challenged and firmly believe you need to step outside your comfort zone to help yourself grow!”
When asked why Josh chose Felling to be where he worked, he said, “I have really enjoyed working for Felling Trailers! Felling is a great company to work for! They have given me opportunities for growth. They are a very flexible company. They understand family comes first, and being that I have a young family at home, that is important to me.”
Since Josh joined the Felling Trailers Litchfield team in 2014, he has seen and been a part of much of the company’s growth.
“The Litchfield facility has changed and grown a ton since I first started, just the building alone. Seeing so many improvements, from painting the interior/exterior walls to the added yard space and concrete. That kind of stuff means a lot to us who work in this environment every day!”
— Josh Benage
We are glad to have Josh as part of our team. Thank you, Josh!
Learn more about Joining the Felling Trailers Team!
Are you interested in becoming part of the Felling Team? Learn more about a career at Felling Trailers and grow with us!
This is the thirty-first feature in our “Grow with Us” series. Read the other stories about Tim Bell, Senior Machine Operator, Juan Juarez, Lead Painter, Robby Horn, Lead Welder Night Shift, Josh Meyer, Maintenance Technician, Chris Senger, Senior Material handler, Ron Funk, Machinist, Johnny Woodman, Lead Welder, Lloyd Shoutz, Maintenance Technician, Warren Weber, Product Manager, Scott Brown, Parts & Service Supervisor, Jim Robischion, Accounting Coordinator, Wade Skillings, Lead Machine Operator, Jacob Meyer, Inside Trailer Sales, Bob Vangstad, (retired) Painter, Chad Steinhofer, Lead Welder, Benji Hudalla, Final Inspector, Nathan Uphus, Sales, Sheri Leonard, Human Resource & Safety Coordinator, Greg Waletzko, (retired) Quality Assurance Manager at Felling Trailers, and Kristie Moritz, Scheduling Coordinator.
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