Ankit Dhandhania didn’t grow up dreaming specifically of becoming an engineer tasked with injecting technology into the world of manufacturing. But his path to that role probably couldn’t have been any more direct if he had planned it all along.
Now a Manufacturing Systems Manager for Global Manufacturing at Cummins Inc., Dhandhania believes his experience offers a model for other young people who want to build on curiosity to create a career.
Dhandhania’s path to the advanced manufacturing industry originated in India, where as a kid, he says, the only thing he ever wanted was a computer… which he then wanted to take apart. Fascinated by how pieces come together to form machines, and how technology merges into the process, Dhandhania says he initially found the perfect fusion of these interests in Formula One racing.
“That kind of propelled me into this space,” Dhandhania says.
Tapping into these passions, Dhandhania earned an undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering in India and then came to the U.S. to earn a master’s in industrial and systems engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. In 2013, he was chosen for an internship with Cummins. A few months later, Cummins hired Dhandhania as a full-time manufacturing engineer.
In his current role, Dhandhania connects global manufacturing teams with state-of-the-art technology, from 3D printing and robotics to artificial intelligence and augmented reality. He sees countless opportunities ahead for workers interested in these high-tech roles, and he says qualifying for such jobs might be easier than workers expect. Roles that once required four-year degrees now can be gained by pursuing certifications, many of which are available online.
But Dhandhania counsels that technology should be a two-way street in today’s marketplace. As much as employers are assessing workers based on their tech capabilities, workers should assess potential employers based on whether they are investing in technology.
Of course, tech investment isn’t the only criteria Dhandhania urges workers to consider. He also believes that it’s imperative to assess a company’s ethical foundation, leadership style and belief in work-life balance.
That last factor is especially important to Dhandhania, who has a number of interests outside the workplace. He is working toward a yoga certification – “My personal goal is to open up my own yoga studio,” he says – and has nearly completed writing a fantasy novel that he says is based on a blend of Indian mythology and spirituality.
In addition, Dhandhania enjoys recreational soccer, traveling, hiking, visiting his twin brother in San Francisco, and immersing himself in spirituality. How can he manage all of this? By working for an employer that he says does indeed value a healthy work-life balance.
