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When Productivity Slows Industrial Training Picks up the Pieces

Tuesday, March 13th, 2012

Washington recently reported that U.S. employers added nearly 227,000 jobs during the month of February. The spike in hiring continued the greatest three month rise of job creation since the recession. The Labor Department noted that the unemployment rate remained at 8.3 percent during February, staying at its lowest percentage within the past three years.

During the past three months the U.S economy has created an average of 245,000 jobs. A survey conducted by the Associated Press said the U.S. economy is in fact improving at a faster pace than what was originally predicted by some of today’s leading economists. And some of those economists expect the unemployment rate to fall below 9 percent by the November election time.

The recent hiring frenzy has been a broad one, ranging from high paying to low paying jobs in fields such as manufacturing, mining and professional services.

While hiring has increased over the past few months, it seems it may be able to continue to grow. We’ve previously reported that worker productivity slowed during the final months of 2011. With worker output not able to reach the increasing demand, corporate profits are hurt. But a slower workforce is good news for the unemployment rate, because ultimately manufacturing employers will need to continue hiring in order to meet consumer demand.

Last week the Labor Department reported productivity rose at the annual rate of 0.9 percent from October through December of last year. 2011’s final quarter’s numbers are higher than originally estimated, however the productivity rate is almost half the pace seen in the July through September quarter.

An increase in hiring is always great news for our recovering economy. But, often, when output is down and industrial managers are strapped for funds to take on new hires, industrial training is a great alternative. While industrial skills training is ideal for both new hires and current plant workers, when implemented the idea is to increase your ROI (Return On Investment) so that workers are more productive and efficient all while your bottom line reaps the benefits of your new smoothly run plant floor. Whether it is for process control training, air compressor training or simply maintenance training, industrial skills training courseware is built to enhance the efficiency and safety practices of your workforce. Utilizing multi format industrial skills training programs also make it easier to put your courses into action. ITC Learning offers SCORM based online courseware, full motion video courseware as well as CD and DVD courses, so presenting your industrial training courseware is hassle free. Contact ITC Learning today to find out more about how our industrial skills training courseware can help benefit the progress on your plant floor.

Posted in Air Compressor Repair, Industrial Training, Maintenance Training, Manufacturing Training, Mechanical Training, Plant Training, SCORM, Safety Training, Training Classes | No Comments »

Another Month of Growth Shows Promise for 2012 Manufacturing

Thursday, March 1st, 2012

Thus far into the new year, the economy has seen promising growth. Factories have been fulfilling more orders, retailers have been making more sales and more jobs have been created as a result. On Wednesday morning, the Federal Reserve reported all 12 of the banking districts have seen growth all through January as well as during the first half of February.

Thanks to the positive economic growth the manufacturing industry has also seen a rise in output. Metal producers, auto manufacturers and steel makers have all reported progress since the beginning of 2012. While some manufacturers were concerned with the state of Europe’s economy, it seems that it has not greatly affect production. On average, employers have added nearly 200,000 jobs per month since November of last year which has resulted in a steady decrease in the unemployment rate over the past five consecutive months. In January the unemployment rate reached the low of 8.3 percent.

Economists and manufacturing managers alike predict another positive month for the economy and industrial production. More jobs result in more consumer spending which ultimately increases factory orders and output. On Wednesday, the Commerce Department reported that incomes across the nation increased in the second half of 2011 by much more than was originally expected.

Another month of continued economic growth and job development allows manufacturers to once again feel confident in hiring and training. Perhaps just as important as finding a qualified employee is the industrial skills training implemented to train those new hires as well as the existing workforce of any given plant. Technology is constantly evolving and in order for manufacturers to effectively and efficiently produce enough output to meet the growing consumer demand, employees must possess the proper industrial skills. ITC Learning provides industrial skills training to help improve your bottom line. With well-maintained equipment and a well-educated staff your plant floor is more likely to run smoothly. ITC Learning offers specifically designed courseware for process training, maintenance training, boiler training, hydraulic training and much more. All ITC Learning courseware has undergone a rigorous SME review to ensure content accuracy and guarantee your industrial training is the best available.

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Posted in Electrical Training, Hydraulic Training, Industrial Training, Maintenance Training, Manufacturing Training, Mechanical Training, Plant Training, Pneumatic Training, Safety Training, Skills Testing, Training Classes | No Comments »

Slowing in Productivity Could Mean an Increase in Hiring

Wednesday, February 8th, 2012

This past Thursday the United Sates Labor Department stated that worker productivity in the final three months of 2011 rose relatively slowly. During the October to December quarter the annual rate reached only 0.7 percent. This rate was significantly lower than that of the previous quarter which reached nearly 1.9 percent. The recent slow in productivity could potentially mean increased hiring if the economy picks up.

Productivity is defined as the amount of output per hour within a given plant. While a slowdown in productivity is damaging to company profits, it can be beneficial for hiring if businesses see their current staff is meeting their full potential. This usually results in the need to take on new hires if the intention is to expand.

Growth accelerated to an annual rate of 2.8 percent in the final months of 2011. The increase spurred hiring and businesses added nearly 137,000 jobs each month. The number of jobs added was lower than the third quarter’s expected average however it was a spike from the April-June quarter which added only 97,000 jobs per month.

During the recession productivity jumped as employers found ways to boost output without hiring. In the short term, they were able to boost profits. But by 2011, productivity slowed as the workforce only slightly expanded and staff had to work longer hours. Increased plant productivity allows businesses to increase wages without having to bump the prices of their goods, which in turn can cause inflation.

The hope is that the slowed productivity seen on plant floors will encourage managers to continue hiring in an effort to meet the growing demands of an economy full of consumers who are once again regaining confidence in spending. With new hires comes the opportunity to train and even re train current company workforces. Industrial training skills are the essence of being able to increase productivity efficiently and effectively. Utilizing a well trained workforce through the use of industrial training courseware will only benefit businesses and boost their bottom line. Technology has even simplified the delivery methods of industrial training with online courseware and full motion video courseware. These platforms allow trainees to see industrial training skills where and when they’re comfortable learning. Learn more about the benefits of industrial training here.

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AGC to Restart Idled Plant in Church Hill, TN

Friday, February 3rd, 2012

On Monday, AGC Glass Company North America announced their plans to restart production in their Greenland Plant. The Church Hill, TN plant production line was idled in 2008 when the company also had to lay off nearly 250 employees. The restart hopes to bring back 100 jobs once the line begins operating again.

The G1 production line will manufacture automotive glass and architectural float glass. Production line construction is expected to begin this summer and be completed by the end of the year. The North American glass company hopes to offer the available new jobs to those that were recently laid off due to the shutdown of its Blue Ridge plant in Kingsport. The K1 production line in Kingsport produces glass for the solar industry. Since its shutdown AGC officials say that business has been negatively affected by the large amounts of imports from China.

President and CEO of the AGC Glass Company, Mark Ishiko, stated “We plan to service the growing demands of the North American automotive business, and grow our architectural business with higher quality clear and tinted float glass…Northeast Tennessee is an important region for our company and hopefully this restart [in Church Hill] will help lessen the effects from the K1 shutdown.”

Tennessee state officials as well as The Hawkins County Industrial Development Board have been working with AGC over the past two years to help secure taxes and other incentives to help restart the Church Hill plant. AGC Glass Company says they plan to include the latest environmentally friendly equipment as part of the reconstruction and have already for its state construction permit. AGC is based in Alpharetta, GA and is owned by Asahi Glass of Japan.

Increased hiring always leads to the opportunity to further industrial training skills. With easily accessible online courseware, employees are able receive industrial training from virtually anywhere and advance their education in an effort to boost productivity on the plant floor.

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Industrial Skills Training to Dictate the Future

Tuesday, January 24th, 2012

Manufacturers have long been playing the waiting game when it comes to hiring new employees. The question is consistently whether to hire then train or to wait for the properly trained employee to come along. Well, the problem with the latter is that as the Baby Boomer generation continues to retire, older skilled workers are going to be hard to come by. According to the National Association of Manufacturers, a third of manufacturers are already facing relatively serious shortages of skilled employees left in the labor pool. So the only answer is to recruit, develop and maintain a talented workforce.

In order to develop and maintain a workforce rich in industrial training skills, top level managers must realize that the culture of their plant may also need to adapt to the younger industrial worker. Instead of a command and control environment, the younger generation responds better to working as a team.

When it comes to hiring, manufacturers need to look at the long term rather than the immediate. Although an employee that has extensive industrial skills upon hiring may seem ideal, technology is constantly changing and retraining will be required at some point. So then, why not train new hires properly when they first hit the plant floor? By developing the industrial skill sets of committed workers, younger employees can see the potential path ahead of them and in turn work harder to achieve those goals. But in order for them to reach those ambitions they must not only work hard but also efficiently and productively. By providing industrial skills training, manufacturers will benefit their business and their workforce. The return on investment is obvious, as productivity is bound to increase when abled and knowledgeable employees are working the plant floor.

So in today’s high tech society how do we supply training skills to new hires in an easy and accessible format? SCORM (Sharable Content Object Reference Model) based e learning systems make this simple. With SCORM online courseware is required to meet specific software standards so that trainees can access modules from an office computer or even their home computer. SCORM also makes it easy for plant managers to track their progress and update the courseware. In a quickly evolving world, SCORM makes delivering online industrial training simple and effective.

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South Korea’s Samsung Group to Create Thousands of Industrial Jobs

Thursday, January 19th, 2012

On Tuesday the Samsung Group, an electronics firm headquartered in South Korea, announced they will invest upwards of 47.8 trillion won, which translates to approximately 41.56 billion U.S. dollars, in expansion. They plan to spend this year which will prompt them to hire nearly 26,000 new employees. The electronics conglomerate has proposed to largely invest funds in their new business segment. The group is made up of 66 affiliates which range from electronics to insurance and even finance. In South Korea, the top 30 business groups vowed to invest a collective 151.4 trillion won in 2012 and hire nearly 123,000 new workers.

With new plants come new responsibilities and in many cases new hires as well. All plant developers, owners and managers want their new beginning to run smoothly and profitably. So, in an effort to meet that goal, employing a properly trained workforce can help. Over the years technology has greatly affected process monitoring, control and industrial automation which has in turn helped improve productivity. This is precisely why control training and process training are critical when it comes to educating a new staff. Same goes for hydraulic training, pump training and boiler training.

Since all aspects of the manufacturing industry are constantly changing, we recommend keeping your employees up to date on the newest industrial advances and procedures. Online training courseware, like ITC Learning’s, can make training new employees and re-training your existing staff simple and affordable. Our online courseware was built following the SCORM standards so that we could provide our clients with the most user friendly industrial courseware that could be accessed from anywhere. Not only has SCORM allowed us to offer easily accessible online courseware but it also permits us to deliver courses that are easy to track and update, so you can see the progression of your trainees. Contact ITC Learning today to learn more.

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Posted in Electrical Training, Hydraulic Training, Industrial Training, Plant Training, Pneumatic Training, SCORM, Safety Training, Training Classes | No Comments »

Chrysler’s Come Back

Friday, January 6th, 2012

With the manufacturing production output for the coming year seeming much more positive than those of the past, many economists are already looking to 2013 as another great year for hiring. The once struggling automaker, Chrysler, plans to add nearly 1,250 jobs to two Detroit factories. 1,100 new hires will go to The Jefferson North Assembly Plant which will also add a third shift to help produce the new diesel model of the Jeep Grand Cherokee. An addition 150 new hires will go to the Conner Avenue factory once it reopens later this year to produce a new version of the Dodge Viper for the Street Racing Team.

Eager for new hiring to begin, the United Auto Workers Union Vice President General Holiefield stated, “Our workers nationwide have had a rough couple of years along with the American auto industry and we are proud to be partners in building a future of success starting right here in Detroit.”

Last Thursday, an update to Mayor Dave Bing’s financial and operational restricting plan noted the city’s unemployment rate had reached 24 percent. The Chief of Governmental and Corporate Affairs, Kirk Lewis, said the percentage accounted for those in Detroit actively looking for work. He said, “It could be as high as 40 percent of our citizens who don’t have jobs.”

A state appointed review team is currently looking into the city’s finances which could ultimately result in Michigan taking over Detroit’s city government. As of now the city is faced with a general fund deficit of almost $200 million. In an effort to save nearly $14 million, thousands of city jobs will be cut in the next few weeks. The hope is that a stable auto industry hiring will help fill jobs.

During the bailouts of 2009 the U.S. auto industry reached record lows over the past 30 years. Since then, auto sales have grown for two years and are expected to rise again this year. Automakers are once again making profits which give high hopes to those searching for manufacturing jobs in the industry.

When new jobs are in development, training your industrial employees becomes an essential part of hiring. The greatest benefit to industrial skills training is that it benefits both your business and your workforce. By enhancing the industrial training skills of your employees you can potentially increase output and ultimately increase revenue. With ITC Learning’s SORM based online courseware industrial skills training is made easy to learn and track. With increased output and a properly trained workforce your return on investment will be easy to see.

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New Year Brings a Bright Outlook

Wednesday, January 4th, 2012

December of 2011 has been noted as the month in which manufacturing grew at the fastest pace during the past six months. Hiring in U.S. factories continued to rise, with plants hiring more people more quickly since June of 2011. New orders also increased which shows a positive future in store for production. According to the Institute for Supply Management, in November the manufacturing index rose from 52.7 to 53.9-any reading above 50 marks expansion.

With the end of 2011 indicating expansions in the manufacturing industry, stocks surged on the first trading day of 2012 partly due to news that manufacturing also grew in India and China. The industrial average of the Dow Jones was reported to have gone up more than 250 points during the first hour of trading.

After the recession was officially over in 2009, factories were the first area of the economy to see improvement. And now, consumers have become more confident and in turn are spending more money. The Conference Board says its consumer confidence index increased in December to the highest point since last April. This greatly affects the economy as consumer spending accounts for approximately 70% of the economy. Economists predict that car sales also went up in December due to increased sales in November. Not only will those increased sales boost output of automakers but also for other industry suppliers such as steel companies and tire makers. The Department of Commerce reported that orders made for long-lasting goods also rose in November, mostly due to increased commercial aircraft orders.

Unemployment applications continue to drop as well, which proves companies have laid off fewer employees and are expanding their workforces. During the past three months, weekly applications have dropped by almost 10%. With such positive outlooks for 2012, an Associated Press survey of economists predicts a steady expansion of 2.4% in 2012.

As confidence grows and agencies continue to hire, proper industrial training increases in importance. ITC Learning offers SCORM based online courseware which is dedicated to improving the industrial skills of your employees. From control training and process training to air compressor repair and boiler training, ITC Learning administers all necessary training skills in an online format that is sure to educate your workforce. Contact us today to learn how our manufacturing training courseware can make a difference in your output.

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Posted in Air Compressor Repair, Industrial Training, Manufacturing Training, Plant Training, SCORM, Skills Testing, Training Classes | No Comments »

Indiana is a Home Run for the Manufacturing Industry

Friday, December 30th, 2011

In 1871, the first professional baseball game was played in Fort Wayne, Indiana. And today, almost 141 years later, Indiana is proving to be more than just a great place to hold baseball games, it has become a welcoming host to the manufacturing industry.

In 2003, Brian Emerick narrowed the focus of his Columbia City, Indiana based manufacturing plant to concentrate on the medical device industry after business in other segments had slowed down. Today, Mr. Emerick says it was the greatest move he ever made for his privately owned company, Micropulse Inc. Now, Micropulse has upwards of 200 employees and operates out of a 100,000 square foot manufacturing plant in Columbia City, Indiana, just 30 minutes outside of Warsaw where medical device manufacturing moguls such as Biomet, Symmetry Medical and Zimmer are headquartered. Fortunately, Columbia City is far enough from the Warsaw that is has no trouble finding qualified help. Emerick says, “There’s a rich manufacturing heritage in the area. It’s a very stable climate”. Micropulse has experienced steady expansion since it started and with the help of Whitley County and the state of Indiana it’s been able to further its business even more. In 2007, Micropulse was given tax cuts and matching funds to help add 47,000 square feet to their manufacturing facility in Columbia City.

While Warsaw has proven to be the orthopedic device manufacturing capital of the world, Northeast Indiana is in close second. With Fort Wayne at its center, the 10 county region is home to over 60 medical device companies that employ almost 2,000 workers. The areas proximity to Warsaw is also a major factor. In fact, it was a major selling point to Iotron Industries Canada Inc., a manufacturer that uses electron-beam radiation technology to sterilize agricultural products and medical devices. Iotron, which is based out of Vancouver, is currently finishing up a $15.3 million project that will build a new 54,000 square foot facility near Columbia County which is due to start production in 2012.

Not too far from Iotron, Fort Wayne Metals, which already has six facilities in Northeast Indiana, is expanding their production capabilities even more with a $12.9 million expansion project that hopes to create approximately 68 jobs by 2014. The metal manufacturer produces fine-grade wire used in medical tools.

While the medical device manufacturing industry is booming in the region, Northeast Indiana’s largest money makers continue to be industries such as transportation equipment, metals and plastics and rubber. General Motors is the region’s biggest industry employer and just recently announced in October that they will invest almost $275 million in its Fort Wayne plant in order to develop its next generation pickup truck.

Government officials in the region have made it a top priority to make sure the 335,000 industrial employees in the region continue to be properly prepared and placed for their work in the manufacturing field. With this effort in mind, there is a $20 million grant in the works, named the Talent Initiative, which plans to improve the industrial skill sets of the areas labor force. The Talent Initiative, which is being funded by a philanthropic foundation based in Indianapolis, will attempt to retrain adult workers for manufacturing jobs that are evolving due to changing technologies, expand engineering programs at Indiana-Purdue Fort Wayne and start New Tech high schools that utilize project based learning models in an effort to keep the youth interested in the manufacturing industry.

While government intervention is a great way to amp up industrial training, ultimately the responsibility is left to manufacturing employers to ensure their workforce is properly trained with the right industrial skill sets. At ITC Learning we offer superior industrial training that is offered through a variety of mediums, each of which enables trainees to educate themselves on the basic and advanced industrial skills sets necessary in the manufacturing industry. Contact ITC Learning today to find out how you can get stared.

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Open for Business

Wednesday, November 30th, 2011

Last week General Motors announced they will start manufacturing the Chevrolet Equinox at its plant in Tennessee. They also plan to start producing additional midsized cars there in the near future. The $244 million investment is expected to create almost 1,900 jobs at the former Saturn plant located just outside of Nashville. To get the ball rolling, General Motors will initially invest $61 million and plans to generate nearly 700 jobs to begin producing the Equinox by July of 2012. The remaining $183 million will be invested to manufacture 2015 models of unnamed midsized vehicles and create another 1,200 jobs. GM officials would not say more in an attempt to keep their competition on their toes. The upcoming move will allow General Motors to react to the growing demand for a greater variety of models.

In Idaho things are less definite but hopes are just as high. Zonda USA, a Chinese manufacturer of electric buses plans to move its U.S. office to Boise, Idaho in the next year and eventually start producing its electric buses in the southwestern Idaho region. Although the Chinese corporation has refrained from announcing when and where a manufacturing plant would be built or just how many jobs the plant opening could create, local Idaho government officials are optimistic of the move but are also realistic in that nothing is definite yet and the process may take some time. At its Chinese plant, Zonda USA, a branch of Zhongda Industrial Group in the United States, can produce nearly 15,000 buses in a year with a workforce of about 6,900 employees. Zhonga decided on Idaho due to the fact that the region is located relatively close to Pacific Ocean shipping ports and conveys a business-friendly outlook. Elected Idaho officials realize the project is only in the beginning stages of becoming a full-fledged move to their region but that has not stopped them from growing eager about the possibility. Nampa, Idaho Mayor, Tom Dale, said, “They’re a prominent company in China, and the technology with these electric buses seems to be leading edge.” Only time will tell what will become of this project, but the hope is that it will boost the local economy and create thousands of U.S. manufacturing jobs.

With the possibility of new manufacturing plants opening in the near future, plant managers need to be sure employees are trained and educated to their full potential. ITC learning is dedicated to providing full motion courseware, CD-ROM courses and online courseware that focus on essential industrial