Archive for the ‘SCORM’ Category

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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Posted in Industrial Training, Manufacturing Training, Plant Training, SCORM, Training Classes | No Comments »

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.

Image courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net & Salvatore Vuono

Posted in Industrial Training, Manufacturing Training, Plant Training, SCORM, Skills Testing, Training Classes, Uncategorized | No Comments »

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.

Image courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net & Salvatore Vuono

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

Could Renewable Energy be a Good Source for Industrial Jobs?

Thursday, December 22nd, 2011

On Tuesday the Obama administration approved onshore solar and wind farms in the West and pressed for off shore wind power in the Atlantic Ocean, in an attempt to increase renewable energy on each coast. The Interior department approved 300-megawatt solar farm to be placed on public land in Arizona as well as a 200-megawatt wind farm to be located in Southern California. The farms are the 24th and 25th renewable energy projects to be approved for placement on public land within the past two years. The two farms are expected to produce the amount of clean energy equivalent to that of 18 coal fired power plants. Currently developing Arizona’s Sonoran Solar Energy Project is NextEra Energy Resources from Florida. The solar energy farm aims to produce enough energy to power upwards of 90,000 homes.  Iberdrola Renewables, a Spanish based energy company, is heading the Tule Wind Project in California which hopes to produce enough electricity to power approximately 65,000 homes.

Last year, Interior Secretary, Ken Salazar sanctioned the Cape Wind project located in Massachusetts. The project was reviewed federally for several years before being approved and allowing the first offshore wind farm to be built.

Salazar stated on Tuesday they are also moving forward with a massive transmission project that plans to transmit wind energy produced offshore from Virginia to New Jersey. The project would require the construction of high voltage transmission lines along the Atlantic Coast.

Over the years the wind industry has faced some setbacks. Including the failure of Congress to extend a production tax credit and a cash grant program, that has helped advance the industry’s growth in the past. The American Wind Energy Association led a study that found that should Congress not renew the tax credit, almost 37,000 U.S. jobs could potentially be lost.

However, with the two new renewable energy farm projects underway the hope it that they will create U.S. jobs within the industry. And with projects starting fresh, employers have the opportunity to train a well-rounded industrial workforce. ITC Learning offers just that, the materials you need in an easy and accessible format that will enhance the industrial skill sets of your staff as well as ensure the success of your industrial business. With ITC Learning’s online training courseware, content is user friendly and the progress of your trainees can easily be tracked. Contact ITC Learning today to find out how our SCORM based online training courseware can help boost your output.

Image courtesy of Exsodus & FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Posted in Manufacturing Training, Plant Training, SCORM, Safety Training, Training Classes | No Comments »

How SCORM Can Benefit Your Business

Thursday, September 1st, 2011

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 of the actual courseware you plan on purchasing is just as important.

Today, SCORM (Sharable Content Reference Model) is an essential tool when it comes to e learning. Simply put, it is a technical standard that manages how online training courseware is developed and delivered to students. It dictates the stipulations for developing web-based learning material (i.e. what software language to use) and ensures any content that meets the SCORM standards is compatible with your Learning management System (LMS). The Learning Management System allows SCORM to communicate with the actual instructional material and share its contents across multiple platforms. Ultimately, SCORM permits your online courseware to be delivered quicker and at a lower cost. All ITC courseware is SCORM compliant and our LMS is designed to simplify directing your e learners to the appropriate courseware, monitoring their progress and tracking their scores.

The intentions of SCORM are to make online courseware accessible, adjustable, affordable, durable, interoperable and reusable for the following reasons:

  • SCORM allows users to pinpoint instructional materials from one location and share them with multiple locations.
  • Organizations are able to modify online courseware depending on individual and organizational needs.
  • With SCORM, your company can increase online training productivity by decreasing the time and costs of distributing courseware content. Since the software is compatible with all SCORM compliant Learning Management Systems (LMS’s), it also reduces the chance of needing costly upgrades or redesigns.
  • Regardless of how technology changes, your web-based training materials will maintain compatibility through the use of SCORM.
  • SCORM allows users to manage instructional content developed in one place and share it across multiple platforms. In other words, your courseware can run on different LMS’s.
  • With SCORM, instructors or managers can pull modules and content from different courseware and reassign them to new lessons or utilize them in a different context.

By using online courseware that is SCORM compliant, like ITC Learning’s, you can remain confident your industrial employees will receive the proper training for their trade through manageable and easily accessible content.

Posted in Industrial Training, SCORM, Safety Training, Training Classes | No Comments »

The Benefits of Industrial Skills Training

Thursday, August 18th, 2011

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 likelihood of someone being injured on the job is reduced.

INCREASE PRODUCTIVITY & ENHANCE THE QUALITY OF WORK
When your staff has a well-rounded skill set, they are more likely to perform efficiently and effectively. They will be able to work at a quicker pace since they no longer need to stop and ask simple questions. The quality of your output will also increase since your workers will know the expected level of superiority that is required to correctly complete the job.

OPTOMIZE ROI
With adequately trained employees you will optimize your return on investment. As a business executive you know that what you put into your business directly effects what your employees put out. If you make the extra effort to ensure your staff is appropriately trained for their job, you are sure to increase your profitability.

EXPAND EMPLOYEE KNOWLEDGE
As technology continues to evolve, the necessary skill sets required to work in the field and properly operate industrial equipment are changing. ITC offers interactive software that can easily improve your staff’s knowledge. By utilizing SCORM (Sharable Content Object Reference) we ensure our online skills training courseware is sharable between systems so you can track employee improvement as well as update courseware as necessary.

Posted in Industrial Training, SCORM, Safety Training, Training Classes | No Comments »

Manufacturing productivity up 6.3 percent in first quarter

Thursday, May 5th, 2011

Jobless rates are up, but manufacturing rates are rising too? How can you train your current workforce to meet the current market needs? ITC Learning offers a catalogue of courses to aide training skills.

A report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics shows a 6.3 rise in manufacturing output in the first quarter of 2011. Hours worked and compensation grew by 3.3 and 2.6 percent respectively. Unit labor costs, however, have declined by 1.4 percent, but that is simply because the output growth is up by 9.7 percent. (more…)

Posted in Industrial Training, SCORM, Training Classes, Uncategorized | No Comments »

What is SCORM?

Thursday, March 17th, 2011

SCORM compliant modular training

What does SCORM compliant mean?

SCORM stands for Sharable Courseware Object Reference Model (SCORM), which is a set of specifications that, when applied to course content, produces small, reusable e-Learning objects. A result of the Department of Defense’s Advanced Distributed Learning (ADL) initiative, SCORM-compliant courseware elements are easily merged with other compliant elements to produce a highly modular repository of training materials.

SCORM in layman’s terms

Basically, in a general sense, SCORM compliance means that videos and e-Learning tools ensure that it can be played across multiple platforms. Think of it in the context of a DVD release. Say, MGM launches a DVD, but it can only be played on MGM DVD players. Well when you want to watch a Warner Bros. DVD, you have to purchase a Warner Bros. DVD player. You don’t want 10 different DVD players to watch 10 different movies. That’s what SCORM compliance is. You and your business aren’t interested in downloading 10 different video platforms for e-Learning content. SCORM uses a universal code so companies across the board can use the same material. The benefits, along with streamlining the process, allow for a universal adoption of training standards as well. So when a company hires workers that are certified or trained in a particular area, they are hiring an employee with universal training.

E-Learning online courses

The goal is to streamline and simplify the e-Learning experience. Not only do we meet SCORM compliance standards with our instructionally sound and easy-to-use training videos, we minimize bandwidth and security concerns.

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Posted in Electrical Training, Hydraulic Training, Industrial Training, Maintenance Training, Manufacturing Training, Mechanical Training, SCORM | No Comments »