As technology continues to evolve the manufacturing industry is sure to follow. Computers and robotics have undoubtedly changed the industry and in some ways made it more accurate and efficient. The Association for Manufacturing Technology and The American Machine Tool Distributors Association reported that in July of this year, manufacturing technology consumption amounted to more than $500 million dollars. The amount shows a 93% increase from July of 2010, when machine tool...
The Association for Manufacturing Excellence has been a driving force behind the Rebirth of Manufacturing Jobs initiative. The project hopes to stimulate the manufacturing job market by reaching out to policy makers locally and nationally. The goal of the program is to get executives and government officials motivated to join and develop efforts to increase awareness of the green movement and manufacturing’s goal in it. It also aims to unite nearby businesses...
Employee turnover is a problem that many companies experience, but there are ways to resolve this problem. At ITC Learning, we understand that frequent employee turnover is a major problem and should be looked at because it can significantly affect the financial performance of any organization. How to calculate the turnover rate? Turnover is calculated simply by dividing the number of annual terminations by the average number of employees in the work...
Do you remember the telephone game, where one person would share a sentence or secret and then see how drastically the message changed by the end of the game? Informal hands-on training is sometimes like this game. By the time the pump training instructions have been repeated to the new employee the training procedures as been drastically changed. In fact, it happens more often than you think. Some machines have complex systems...
When it comes to industrial training organizations like to have a selection of training methods to choose from. AT ITC Learning, we understand that a one-size-fits-none training program won’t work, which is why we have developed a variety of training formats for your organization to choose from. Online Training ITC Learning offers iKnow online training classes that can be performed anytime or anywhere there is a computer and internet access. A few...
With the increasing energy prices, you might have contemplated the best way to improve boiler efficiency and extend boiler life. You might even have thought about replacing you current boiler, but boiler installation is expensive and should only be done when absolutely necessary. Consider implementing a boiler training program which is sure to result in reduced overall operating cost. This is an excellent way to get more out of the boilers while...
A recent survey conducted by the National Association for Business Economics says that the U.S. economy’s health is improving “substantially.” “Companies appear to be positioning themselves for a firming economic environment,” said Shawn DuBravac, an economist with the Consumer Electronics Association, who analyzed the findings. The survey is conducted quarterly and expresses the views of economists from a select size of trade groups and privately held companies. Results are measured by the...
Boiler systems are often the most commonly used steam or hot water generators in an industrial plant. As a result, great care and attention should be given to ensure that they continue to operate efficiently and safely while responding rapidly to changes. By incorporating boiler training into your plant’s training program, it will allow your employees to develop better control techniques, as well as enable you to have greater flexibility in deciding...
Every once in a while, we are challenged to do something different or great. But because everyone deals with challenges differently, some people embrace them and others run away. Today, manufacturing organizations face many challenges including having to effectively train their employees to perform complex tasks. If an equipment operator is asked to perform a task he has never done before, he might break a critical tool which will cause the project...
People are human, we make mistakes. However, in a small or mid-sized industrial plant mistakes can be extremely costly. These errors are usually committed because of omissions or lack of knowledge on your employees’ part. A good strategy to reduce errors is to provide industrial skills training to your employees. Many small and mid-sized companies can benefit from addressing their employee needs and finding out what subjects they need to be taught....
After 87 days the Gulf of Mexico oil spill has finally been plugged. This unfortunate accident is the biggest example of what happens when equipment such as valves and other instruments are not maintained properly. It’s possible that if the companies involved had a worst case scenario plan for their employees to implement, the disaster would not have been so catastrophic. But industrial companies can take note and use this disaster as...
Since the industrial revolution, our society has becomes more and more dependent upon the use of machinery to power and operate our plants and factories. Today, there is an even greater dependency upon those individuals that are skilled at keeping those machines running smoothly. It’s the mechanics, hydraulics technicians, electricians, and operators who are the unsung heroes that keep everything from the power plant machines to electrical systems running smoothly. What would...
You know when to walk your dog, change your eye contact solution and take your car to the mechanic. These things come naturally to us………… or the directions tell us when it’s time. But do you know when your employees need training? You can identify whether an industrial training program is need by asking yourself: • How well are we doing? • How productive are our employees? • If there is already...
Many people fear change, but sometimes the cost of maintaining the status quo is too high. Often, we would rather do nothing than upset the balance. It’s even become a default solution. But in a manufacturing plant, doing nothing can be detrimental to both the equipment and the facility as a whole. Yet in many plants, you can often see the cost of doing nothing many times throughout the day. For instance,...
