When most kids are introduced to simple machines in science class, they learn everything they need for a test and move on. When Harry Lancaster was introduced to them, his life course was set.
“When I learned how to use a lever to my advantage, I thought, ‘Whoa!’” he says. “That was mind- blowing to me.”
Although Harry had grown up as more of a creative kid – writing, painting and drawing – a job with a septic company in high school nudged his excitement about simple machines into a passion for mechanical systems and problem solving. And that led him to pursue a degree in mechanical engineering from Loyola Marymount University and, ultimately, a master’s degree from The University of Notre Dame Engineering, Science and Technology Entrepreneurship Excellence (ESTEEM) program.
It was while he was at Notre Dame that Harry met Kem Krest President and CEO Amish Shah, who impressed him with his entrepreneurial drive and his high-level view of manufacturing. In October of 2021, Harry joined Kem Krest, where he works as an industrial engineer, responsible for ensuring that the company’s warehouses operate efficiently and profitably.
As an Elkhart supply chain and logistics solutions company for large automotive equipment manufacturers, Kem Krest is built on a model typical of automotive companies – a model that’s undergoing transformation. Fortunately, Harry says, Kem Krest is a company dedicated to being a leader in that transformation, updating processes and technology. This means Harry, who says he “wears a lot of hats” at Kem Krest, has lots of opportunities to solve problems, introduce new technologies and implement the continuous improvement practices he so firmly believes in.
“The beauty of my job is, if you see something that can be improved and more organized, they’re all for it,” he says.
Long-term, Harry dreams of using his engineering skills to develop a new technology – possibly in the renewable energy field – and start his own company. He once assumed he would do that somewhere in the Boston area, where he grew up, but he has since found that he really likes living in Elkhart. He recently bought a house that he enjoys working on, and he’s enjoying the area’s lower cost-of-living. With all of this in mind, Harry encourages other young up-and-comers to explore the opportunities to make a difference in Indiana’s manufacturing sector.
“There’s so much room for improvement and fresh eyes on these problems that haven’t been looked at for 20 or 30 years,” he says. “You can make a massive, massive impact on these companies.”
