With a childhood filled with riding ATVs, go-karts and motorcycles, working on Honda powersports products at South Carolina Mfg. (SCM) is an ideal job for Jermaine Eason.
Eason, a 22-year Honda associate, is a member of Production Engineering Department where he tests Honda products to make sure customers experience joy in the seat of Honda products.
“My day is different every time I walk through the doors,” Eason said. “One day, I might be testing, or I might go talk to a school, or do a STEM night. Some days I’m analyzing parts and testing. We have a team here that works to make sure the next day is better than today and is helping the company get to a better place.”
After a start on the production line at SCM building engines, Eason soon transferred to driving forklifts before his coordinator told him he needed to find an opportunity that better used his many skills. “He said I need to find a different job because I was excelling beyond,” Eason said. “I saw a job for the Production Engineering Department and applied.”
Eason was hired, and the position has given him the chance to lead projects, drive units and so much more. Part of testing includes riding Honda products on the SCM test track, something Eason has plenty of experience in.
“When we have testing, we go out and ride 1,000 laps,” Eason said, adding that the goal is to ride the unit like a customer would. “We have a woods course to do abnormal testing. You’re not just riding in circles. The woods course keeps you interested because it’s different every time.”
The test tracks at SCM are special to Eason; he helps maintain them and even helped make improvements. “I’ve driven all over the world and go to different tracks to see what they have to offer,” he said. “We’ve brought some of those ideas here to the woods course.”
Eason’s contribution to the improvements were jumps and some serious turns. He even helped craft the course behind the wheel of a tractor, bulldozer and other equipment. While he often rides the course, he takes even more joy seeing others experience Honda’s powersports products.
“We do ride events here and take associates out and let them ride around on the unit,” Eason said. “A lot of people don’t know what our products do. I love to see peoples’ reactions when you show them what that unit can do.”
Above: Eason with his wife Tasha and grandson Bryson.
Outside of work, Eason enjoys traveling and riding his motorcycle. He also spends a great deal of time with his grandson, Bryson and wife Tasha, and DJs in his spare time. “I enjoy seeing people happy,” he said.
And that joy bleeds into his work, where Eason helps to make products Honda customers enjoy.
“When people give me a project to do, I try to make sure I get the best out of it and learn from it,” he said. “I don’t look at me failing as a failure. I look at it as starting over and trying it again. Everyone fails at something. It may hurt for a second, but I wake up every morning and don’t let it affect me. You have to stay motivated and stay on your path.”
