PMMI has, once again, recognized 10 individuals who are quickly advancing in the industry in its sixth annual PMMI ON THE RISE AWARDS 2023 developed by the Emerging Leaders Committee. The winners were honored in October 2023 at PMMI’s Annual Meeting in Stone Mountain, Georgia. But there’s a lot to learn about these forward-thinking problem-solvers. So, OEM took some time to get to know these outstanding rising stars. Here are their stories.
As a senior controls engineer in the Systems group at Applied Manufacturing Technologies (AMT), a maker of autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) for warehousing and logistics and automated end-of-line offerings, Michael Horth is involved with just about every stage of a new project. From quoting to designing to developing, testing, and installation, Horth focuses on accelerating the execution of each project.
“If there is ever some downtime where I’m waiting for a project to reach one of these phases, I’ll work on updating our code library to make sure future projects can be created even easier,” Horth said.
Horth started with the company over 10 years ago as an entry-level automation engineer. In 2020, he moved into AMT’s Systems group and into his current position with a primary focus on PLCs and HMIs, plus a little robot programming. His dedication to process improvement and mentorship has earned Horth a strong reputation both within AMT and throughout the broader industry. “Mike truly embodies our AMT core values,” said Engineering Group leader Jason Markesino, Horth’s manager. “He is always willing to embrace new challenges and drive our company forward.”
Horth takes an analytical approach to each task, asking himself, “what changes would make it easier and quicker for me to start up a system?” And he enjoys his work—so much so that that he declined a management position offer because he loves to be hands-on and writing code. “One quirk that I think has contributed heavily to my success in the field is that I truly enjoy programming. I look at the task of programming a machine and I don’t see a chore. I see an opportunity to imagine what it could be, and the power to make that real.”
That passion for programming is often passed on to his colleagues as well. “Employees cherish their time with Mike; he is patient and understanding. His knack for simplifying complex topics into learnable chunks greatly enhances retention, ultimately making our team stronger,” Markesino said.
As a rising star in the organization Horth is involved in brainstorming ideas and the feasibility of some off-the-shelf systems, leading the controls engineering portion of the project.
His advice for other young professionals starting a career in packaging: Stay curious. “Ask your co-workers how they would have solved a problem, even if you’ve already solved it. This will help you grow as an engineer, and make good relationships along the way.”
