Broadwater Robotics Visits Boeing Manufacturing Facility in Helena
Author: Roger Flynn, STOKE
Roger Flynn
STOKE
Students from Broadwater Robotics recently had the opportunity to tour the Boeing manufacturing facility in Helena, getting a firsthand look at how engineering and advanced manufacturing happen every day. The visit gave students a chance to step outside the classroom and see STEM careers in action at a world-class manufacturer.
The Helena facility produces highly specialized aerospace parts, including wing attachment systems used on the Boeing 787 Dreamliner and Boeing 777, along with engine mounting hardware found on aircraft flying all over the world. While these parts aren’t visible to passengers, students learned just how important they are. Every component must be built with extreme accuracy to handle the forces aircraft experience during flight.
One of the biggest highlights was walking the production floor and seeing the massive multi-axis metal machining tools up close. Students watched as large blocks of metal were slowly shaped into complex parts through precise, computer-controlled movements. The machines were enormous, but the precision was incredible — often working within tolerances measured in thousandths of an inch. For students familiar with programming and fine-tuning their robotics competition builds, it was easy to see the connection between what they do and how these components are manufactured.
The visit began with a welcome and safety overview from Lean Practitioner Paul Witham before the group headed onto the floor. Tool fabricator Bobbie McCauley and NC Programmer Kyle Beto then led the tour, explaining how programming, tooling, and skilled craftsmanship all come together to produce aerospace components. Hearing directly from professionals working in the field helped students better understand what STEM pathways can look like beyond school.
Experiences like this are especially meaningful for young students. Seeing advanced technology, problem solving, and teamwork inside a global manufacturing environment helps connect robotics, math, and science lessons to future opportunities. As Broadwater Robotics coach Dr. Adam Six shared, “It was such a great opportunity to take students to see and experience manufacturing at this scale. These are the critical parts that keep the products literally airborne. It really gave the students a tangible connection to the world around them, in a time when ‘virtual opportunities’ are becoming increasingly commonplace.”
Broadwater Robotics would like to sincerely thank Boeing and especially Paul, Bobbie, and Kyle for welcoming the team and taking the time to share their work. Opportunities like this help students see that world-class innovation and STEM careers aren’t just something they read about; they’re happening right here in Montana.
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PhotoCredit: Roger Flynn
Image 1 Caption: The Broadwater Robotics team gathers in the Boeing Helena lobby during their visit, with model aircraft displayed behind them.
Photo Credit: Roger Flynn
Image 2 Caption: Broadwater Robotics students stand in front of the Bulldog school bus holding a Boeing banner after their tour in Helena as snow falls.
Photo Credit: Roger Flynn
