The Labor Department reports the number of unemployment applications fell in the first week of November. The number of applications dropped to the lowest level since April 2011. The drop in applications may be an indication that employers are beginning to feel comfortable hiring again. Additionally, the Commerce Department announced the U.S trade deficit reached its lowest point of the year in September 2011. With foreign sales of American machinery reaching an...
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...
When researching ways in which web-based industrial training will benefit your business you will learn about the many advantages of online courseware, like ITC’s. Some of the major returns on investment include an increase in safety knowledge among your employees and the opportunity to further their trade education as a means to increase your company’s productivity and efficiency. While these advantages are crucial to the advancement of your business, considering the structure...
As we have mentioned time and time again, occupational safety training is essential to any industrial job. Young and new employees are more likely to be injured on the job than experienced workers. However, hundreds of thousands of industrial workers, new and experienced, are injured every year while working. Training and re-training your employees can not only benefit your business but also their well-being. Anytime an employee handles an electrical circuit, there...
Air compressors are used in a wide variety of fields, from manufacturing and industrial plants to commercial businesses and households. Among their many functions, air compressors are used to power pneumatic tools. These air tools utilize tough flexible hosing to connect to an air compressor that channels 60-120 pounds of air per square inch. The compressed air moves pistons back and forth that in turn power the pneumatic tools. While air compressors...
Hydraulic systems are a vital aspect to an array of industries today, among them, manufacturing, construction, and agriculture. Hydraulic systems are used to conduct power through the use of pressurized fluids. Dealing with hydraulic machinery can be extremely dangerous and the fluids can be incredibly toxic. With the proper hydraulic training employees are less likely to injure themselves and others on the job. ITC offers basic and in depth industrial training courseware...
There are countless benefits to industrial skills training that range from safety to profitability. ITC’s skills training courseware is dedicated to improving your employee’s knowledge of basic and complex industrial skills. Here are just a few ways ITC’s industrial skills training programs will benefit your organization. SAFETY First and foremost, safety is the most important aspect of industrial skills training. With properly trained employees in the field you can rest assure the...
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...
Can we learn anything from Japan’s action in the wake of its catastrophe? There was a sigh of relief when news broke on Wednesday that Japan was able to plug a radiation leak that spilled hazardous material into the Pacific Ocean. There was even more relief when Japanese officials suggested that the radiation levels in the Pacific Ocean wasn’t thought to have an effect on the marine life — most notably fish....
In an industrial setting any job can be dangerous especially when working around hazardous materials and heavy equipment. Before your employees are given their duties, they should first be given safety training to ensure their own safety and that of their co-workers. ITC Learning’s Regulatory Compliance Series offers training in all the safety skills your employees will need. Our training skills courses are designed to educate your employees about what rules must...
Factories added 17,000 jobs in March as unemployment rate dips to two-year low March marked the fourth month in a row, unemployment declined in March. Nearly 216,000 new jobs were added. Since the beginning of 2011, unemployment fell a full percentage point, the largest drop since 1983. Among industries that expanded payroll were factories. With the addition of 17,000 jobs in March, it marked the fifth month in a row of growth...
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...
We don’t always react the right way or the way we’re expected to in life. But in a plant setting reacting without thinking can be a dangerous thing. For instance, when a machine begins to perform erratically, the operator might become frustrated and reach in to remove the obstructing material. But, this reaction may cause the operator to physically injury himself. By not adequately training your maintenance employees and technicians you’re only...
In the industrial field, electrical safety training is just as important as plant safety. Equipments that are safe under normal working conditions can be unsafe when they’re not working properly. Any employee assigned to task associated with electrical energy should be qualified and trained to perform the job. Employees assigned to work near electrical equipment should at least know the common safety rules. ITC Learning’s electrical safety training course is the ideal...
