Accounting Majors Tour Kenworth Manufacturing Facility

Ohio Christian University's Business School accounting students, led by Professors Betsy Magill and Lane Patrick, met with Kenworth’s accounting management staff on October 25, 2018. Assistant Controller Ron Butterbaugh and Human Resources Manager Brian Putnam led the group on the tour.  Kenworth has manufactured trucks since 1923.

Students toured the factory where the Kenworth trucks are produced. They saw the assembly of raw materials, truck production in progress, and the finished units. They watched as the trucks were assembled, including viewing the components and parts that go into building heavy and medium duty trucks, and how each production stage is measured and documented. The students then met with Kenworth's accounting management staff in their offices.  

The accounting managers explained the responsibilities of each staffer's role and their daily tasks. They described how they use documents received from the production floor in daily financial reporting.

The goal of the trip was for students to gain a real-life understanding of the work of accountants in manufacturing to help them make good decisions about their choice of majors and career employment pursuits after graduation.

Assistant Controller Butterbaugh told the students that, when they hire new graduates, the company's managers look at the applicants' GPA and their major. He encouraged students to apply for internships at Kenworth as well as full-time positions.

The visit concluded with lunch in a conference room, joined by the accounting staff, of whom the students were able to ask more questions and learn more during casual conversations.