Skilled industrial jobs have long been the hardest to fill. Electricians, carpenters and welders are constantly in demand within the industrial workforce, but more and more it seems that the hiring pool is becoming scarce. This could partly be due to the retirement of baby boomers and partly due to the disinterest of today’s youth.

A 2010 poll sponsored by Nuts Bolts and Thingamajigs (NBT) and the Fabricators and Manufacturers Association (FMA) reported that 52 percent of teens have little to no interest in obtaining a career in manufacturing, another 21 percent were said to be undecided. When the teens polled were asked why 61 percent said they would rather seek a professional career, a number that greatly exceeded the 17 percent that said it was due to pay, the 15 percent that said it was due to career growth and the 14 percent said the issue was physical work.

Perhaps one of the driving forces behind the lack of interest is the fact that many students are no longer shown manufacturing as a viable career option. Instead, it seems to be illustrated as an outdated industry or one that pays only minimum wage. But in fact, the manufacturing industry is quite the opposite, it is one that our nation thrives on and can prove to be quite a successful career with plenty of room for advancement. It also gives meaning to its workforce who is able to see innovative ideas and technology come to life. In an earlier blog we’ve addressed some ideas on how to revive interest and begin industrial training at an earlier age. Essentially, educators and businesses must partner together in order to improve the perceived image of the manufacturing industry among today’s youth. Government agencies may also get involved to help spark interest in skilled labor by implementing industrial skills training programs that encourage apprenticeships and internships within the manufacturing industry.

With the average skilled worker in today’s manufacturing industry around 56 years old, the baby boomer generation should be retired within the next 5-15 years. The rate of retirement will ultimately create a need for nearly 10 million new industrial workers by 2020. In an effort to preserve this knowledge base, businesses must step up. Manufacturing businesses should collect as much of the knowledge their aging workforce has to offer in order to use those best practices and procedures for future industrial skills training. Executing an industrial skills training program is one of the best ways to stimulate interest and further knowledge of the manufacturing industry and its methods. Contact ITC Learning today to learn how our online courseware and full motion video courseware can help train your new hires.

It’s clear that bouncing back from the economic crisis our country faced not too long ago has not been an easy task for many manufacturing businesses. However, one factory is beating the odds. Almost a decade ago, a small steel mill located in central Indiana faced bankruptcy until it was eventually bought out by Steel Dynamics. Today, the plant is successful and plans are in place to invest $76 million towards expansion. The upcoming expansion will bump the factory’s annual production to almost 1 million tons of steel. The mill is the largest of its kind, employing nearly 500 industrial workers.

Originally, the factory was built in the 90’s by Qualitech Steel Corp. and made high quality bar steel for use in appliances and automotive manufacturing, however cheaper Chinese exports beat them to the market and ultimately caused steel prices to drop significantly. Years later, in 2002, following a legally disputed auction Steel Dynamics bought the mini-mill for $45 million. Initially, they invested $100 million to redesign, remodel and re-equip the factory that would later reopen in 2004. The new expansion will add a second line for producing longer bars with high quality steel. The addition will be one of the largest in North America.

The Pittsboro, Indiana based plant isn’t the only one expanding. Pipe manufacturer Welspun Corp., based in Little Rock, Arkansas, reported that they will invest $100 million in their plant expansion program as well as add nearly 200 jobs. With the economy seemingly continuing to grow, more and more factories are investing in expansion and are hiring once again. A positive turn like this marks a great time to enhance the industrial skills of current employees and even new hires. Most investments include new machinery or technology in an effort to increase efficiency and productivity. In order to keep both up, employees must have the proper maintenance training and industrial skills training. ITC Learning provides both and strives to offer industrial professionals of all kinds quality industrial skills training. From online courseware to full motion video courseware, ITC Learning is able to provide adult learners with more than 300 courses and over 2,000 hours of content. Investment means spending wisely with the goal to maximize your return and with ITC Learning’s industrial skills courseware you’ll be able to do just that.

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The manufacturing industry has long been a challenging and innovative field. The resulting products of the industry have shaped our technology and in many ways the way that our society functions. But now, as baby boomers begin to retire and the next generation is forced to step to the plate the turnout seems a bit scarce. So, who’s to blame? Manufacturers of course. It is the responsibility of industrial leaders to keep our youth interested in the trade and ignite interest in learning more. So the question remains, how do we do this? Karin Linder, the founder of Karico Performance Solutions, discusses some options in her article, Addressing the Skilled Trade Shortage, which include school field trips to plants, industry leaders presenting the advantages in schools and answering student questions as well as promoting apprenticeship programs and internships within local factories. She notes that motivating our youth to continue the learning process after schooling and well into their careers is a critical step in staying ahead in the game. By keeping both young professionals and their parents interested in the manufacturing industry and by communicating the importance of its future, the new manufacturing era will hopefully be made up of a team of talented young leaders.

Linder is currently developing a partnership with the Society of Manufacturing Engineers in an effort to create a Youth Award that will increase awareness all around from within the industry, to in schools, colleges and universities and ultimately within society as a whole. The idea is to spark passion in the manufacturing community and remind our leaders that only we can keep our youth involved and eager to learn more. To read Linder’s full article, click here.

Karin Linder’s goal is a realistic one that could potentially jump start a renewed interest of the manufacturing industry in today’s youth. They are, after all, our future. ITC Learning is dedicated to furthing the education within the industrial sector. The specialized skills that often  traditional classrooms cannot teach, ITC Learning can. Our courseware comes in a variety of formats, from online courseware to CD-ROM courses to full motion video courseware, so whatever your industrial skills training needs, ITC Learning can help.  We provide training skills to over 6,000 global organizations and pride ourselves in having more than 1 million users in the process and manufacturing industry. To learn more about our mechanical, electrical and instrumentation maintenance training programs contact us today and let us help boost your industrial training skills.

The Federal Reserve reported that manufacturing output increased by 0.7% during the month of January. However, with an increase of 1.5% December of last year has remained the best month in terms of growth since December 2006. As a result manufacturers have been hiring on a more consistent basis compared to other industries.

Industrial production output, including utilities and mines, remained unchanged in January. Utility output actually saw a decline during last month, with a drop of nearly 2.5 percent. This decrease may have been affected by the uncommonly warm winter which left many Americans with lower heating bills. Mining production also dropped in January. But factory output was the month’s saving grace. Manufacturing production has increased by 16.7 percent since its lowest point in June 2009, during the peak of the recession. However, factory output remains below its December 2007 high point of 7.1 percent.

The past two consecutive months showing strong manufacturing growth could prove to be a signal that the economy will continue to grow at a steady pace in 2012. The increase in production coincides with the consistent rise in hiring over the past five months, which has ultimately helped lower the unemployment rate to 8.3 percent. Although no one believes the manufacturing industry will ever be able to return to its pinnacle in the 1950s, seeing as the factory sector makes up only one tenth of today’s economy, factories have greatly contributed to recent economic recovery. Aside from increased hiring, one of the main reasons economists say manufacturing has made a positive impact is because consumers and businesses have begun making purchases that they had put off during the recession.  Consumers are reported to be buying more cars and household appliances while businesses are again investing in industrial equipment and technology.

The government reports that, in January, factories added a net 50,000 workers to the job market. Last year, factories alone created 13 percent of new jobs. Consistent growth in the manufacturing industry has also encouraged hiring in related industries such as warehousing, shipping and auto sales. A spike in hiring confidence presents the perfect opportunity to ensure your workforce is properly trained. A staff that is well educated and which possesses all necessary industrial skills helps enhance productivity and ultimately increases your bottom line. The benefits from industrial skills training are endless and with the right courseware you’ll be sure to boost your factory output too. Contact ITC Learning today to learn more about how our industrials skills training courseware is right for your business.

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The industrial manufacturing industry employs nearly 13.8 million people. With such an immense workforce, an untrained employee can cost a plant millions of dollars whether it is through accidents or inefficiency. Providing an industrial workforce with the proper industrial training is not only an expense but also an investment of resources such as time and money that can potentially either make or break a plants success.

During a recent inspection of a dental products factory in Newark, NJ, the FDA was forced to order them to discontinue production until they can verify that their dental implants meet federal standards. Cases like these serve as evidence that industrial training is an essential element to operating a safe and efficient plant. Workers deal with heavy machinery and electrical currents on a daily basis, making safety and maintenance training equally as important as industrial skills training.

With the economy on the rise and manufacturers once again confident in hiring, industrial training is a must for the safety of your business and your workforce’s wellbeing. Since the beginning of the OSHA in the 1970’s, safe practices within factories have been measured by the rate of failure. However, lowering a recordable rate is not the most effective strategy to making your plant floor a safer place. Your safety program should address everything from leadership to key industrial training skills. The idea is to target not the rate of failure but instead the issues that impact that rate. Quality industrial training is the perfect way to boost leadership and enhance industrial skills in an effort to lower the chances of accidents and/or simple mistakes happening on your plant floor.

ITC Learning is dedicated to offering your business a seamless learning experience for all your trainees, no matter what industrial skills you plan to focus on. Our SCORM based software allows our online courseware to be accessed and saved from any location. We also offer CD and DVD courseware, allowing you to train anyone just about anywhere. Our courseware is interactive and utilizes graphics, audio and animation to engage users and offer the most accurate content available. Contact us today to learn more.

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In December U.S. factory orders rose in response to the increased number of investments in capital goods like heavy machinery. The Commerce Department reported that orders rose approximately 1.1 percent in December, down slightly from the 2.2 percent gain in November. 2011 as a whole saw orders go up by 12.1 percent following 2010’s 12.9 percent gain. But in 2009, when the recession is said to have officially ended, factory orders plunged by 22.1 percent.

Looking back to the positive close of 2011, the Commerce Department’s results topped off another productive year. 2011’s figures along with reports of strong job growth in January seem to signal that economic growth is continuing its climb to recovery. The increase drove the year’s orders to reach $5.36 trillion, just below the pinnacle of $5.44 trillion back in 2008.

December marked a successful month for factory orders. Capital goods rose by 3.1 percent while durable goods, which are those that are expected to last at least three years, increased by 3 percent. While the gains in both are expected to be due partly to businesses taking advantage of expiring tax breaks, most economists predict spending on new equipment will continue as businesses strive to modernize their plant operations.

Currently companies are more confident in hiring, factories are producing more goods and consumers are spending. All these factors point towards positive economic growth. But, with factories purchasing new equipment, proper maintenance becomes a pressing issue. In order to maintain the quality and effectiveness of durable goods that like those that manufacturing businesses continue to invest in, they must also consider investing in advanced industrial training skills. By implementing an industrial maintenance training program, workers can become educated on the newest technologies and learn how to properly maintain their plant’s new equipment. Investing in the newest technologies in the first step to advancing any manufacturing business, but also investing time and money in the most effective maintenance training program is essential to truly being able to maximize your ROI.  Contact ITC Learning today to learn how our SCORM based online courseware can assist your business with maintenance training.

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Industrial training is the heart of every manufacturing business. From safety training to maintenance training to basic boiler and air compressor training, industrial training skills serve as one of the most important building blocks to a successful plant. Just ask durable goods manufacturers around the U.S. who saw a strong 3% increase in December.

On January 26^th, the U.S. Census Bureau announced that during the final month of 2011 manufactured durable goods increased $6.2 billion amounting to a whopping $214.5 billion. Transportation equipment alone has increased for two consecutive months and had the largest growth of nearly $3.0 billion, totaling $58.4 billion. All of which was due to non-defense aircraft and parts. Cliff Waldman, economist for the Manufacturers Alliance for Productivity and Innovation stated, “Like other recent data, the December report on demand for long lasting goods paints a picture of an economy that ended a volatile and challenging 2011 on a positive note…Total new orders, now up during five of the last six months, increased a strong 3% after an even stronger 4.3% advance in November and for the year registered a solid 10% gain over 2010 levels”

Waldman’s statement has given the industry a sense of hope which may incite restored confidence in many manufacturers who have been hesitant to begin hiring new talent. But with a brighter outlook on the new year as the first month comes to a close, manufacturers should see an opportunity to tailor new hires and create an effective and productive industrial worker. How? Simple, by offering easy to use industrial training courseware. Whether it is via an online SCORM based platform or through the use of full motion video courseware, quality industrial training is bound to give you the greatest return on investment. Looking for a nudge in the right direction? Contact ITC Learning today to find out how our industrial training courseware can benefit your plant and your workforce.

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