The need for advanced skilled workers in the manufacturing industry is at an all-time high. With baby boomers beginning to retire, a new era of skilled workers will need to be trained and developed in order to run a plant smoothly and successfully. Since 2007, nearly 2.4 million manufacturers have been laid off. However, despite the fact that these trade workers are looking to fill the 600,000 job openings, manufacturers are looking for something more than just an average worker, they’re looking for employees trained to encompass an advanced industry skill set. The next generation of workers will need to go beyond critical thinking skills and filling the gaps that technology cannot, they need to be able to develop, acclimate and reinvent on a daily basis. These workers need to think like engineers, they need to look for solutions before issues arise and must bring an array of production and development knowledge to the table.

So what does being an advanced skilled worker entail? Some manufacturers have categorized advanced industrial skills as the ability to operate and maintain manufacturing machinery and read intricate blueprints. A fertilizer manufacturer broke down the requirements a bit more. They described two types of advanced skilled workers:

• The Journeyman Mechanic: This category of skilled workers is capable of rigging, welding, iron working and pipe fitting.
• The Electrical Instrumentation and Automation Specialist (EIA): These workers manage instrumentation, electrical components and machines controlled by computers and network systems.

In order to attain these advanced levels of knowledge and to become a viable candidate in the job market, employees must be trained by a program that offers the best quality courseware. ITC Learning provides online courseware that offers superior control training, hydraulic training, process training instrumentation training and much more. Maintaining current employee skills training is also essential to any manufacturers’ success. If you’re looking for industrial skills training that is user friendly and easy to manage then ITC Learning is right for you. Our SCORM based manufacturing training will properly train future and current employees to ensure your business is run by informed and efficient workers.

With the national unemployment rate reaching around 9% it may seem hard to understand why so many job postings have gone unfilled. But in the manufacturing industry, it’s actually not such a hard concept to grasp. The reason being, most job opening are left unfilled due to the lack of technical and industrial skills. And as the gap between what’s available and what is needed widens, the necessity for a workforce that is properly trained and can keep up with evolving technology is critical.

Baby boomers are slowly approaching the age of retirement and while many will most likely continue to work during these challenging economic times, the next generation will begin to rise to the top. The plus side is this maturing generation is tech savvy so technological training may come easier than, say, industrial skills training.

So with a technology prone generation, what is the best form of industrial skills training for this new breed of adult learners? Well, in order to succeed you need a training skills program that delivers quality plant training not only to your doorstep but also to your laptop. ITC Learning’s e learning programs focus on the fundamentals of manufacturing training knowledge in order to help your business maintain a competitive advantage. Companies are actively seeking better qualified employees. To ensure your team is properly trained for their trade, managers need to implement interactive industrial skills training courseware that can deliver fast, customized and updateable training.

Online industrial training allows adult learners to expand their industrial skills anytime, anywhere and at their own pace. With ITC Learning’s SCORM based program, your courseware can be updated regularly and your employee’s progress can easily be tracked. E learning offers easy access to maintenance training, instrumentation training or process training and reflects the industry’s evolving standards.

As the future becomes our present, manufacturers need to be prepared to train new hires and re train existing employees so that they can employ a unified, adaptable and well trained workforce. Contact ITC Learning today to learn how we can help your business fill job openings with educated industrial workers better prepared for our future.

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Across America, many manufacturers are taking the necessary steps to assure their business will succeed in the coming generations. Last week we discussed the benefits of Lean Manufacturing, however this is not the only way to steer plants towards increased productivity through practice improvement.

In early October, the American Small Manufacturers Coalition outlined steps that manufacturers can take to stay ahead of the curve in the “2011 Next Generation Manufacturing Study.” The survey reveals actions and investments small manufacturers can take in order to maintain a competitive advantage.

The survey noted the following procedures are critical to maintain in order to succeed in the generations to come.

• Secure competitive advantage by implementing a know-all team for recruiting, hiring, training and retaining talent. By utilizing quality training programs new hires will be able to enter the work force with superior skill sets.
• Create a supply chain and partnerships that offer your business a higher standard in flexibility, delivery performance and response times. This will give your plant the upper hand in competition and by properly maintaining such a collaboration your firm will reach its desired outcomes.
• Sustainability is no longer a trend. The next generation of hires see it as a must in order to maintain and improve our way of life. Implement processes that aim to decrease waste and energy use and consumers will see you as a business looking towards a better future.
• Be globally involved. By securing global partnerships with entities that offer superior talents and enforce superior industrial training, your competition will be no comparison.

Approximately 6 out of 10 manufacturers surveyed suggested their firms could have new managers within the next 5 years as more boomers reach retirement age and the next generation comes to power. As this migration goes into effect few manufacturers will realize they will need both skill and workforce development programs in place. The aging workforce and the gap in skilled labor presents a potential problem to employers. However, if actions are taken now to ensure new hires and the future leaders of your company are properly trained and retrained as technology evolves then the evolution of your firm into a new generation will be smooth sailing.

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Lean manufacturing is a fast growing trend in manufacturing production processes. The idea is to consider the expenditures of resources that produce any product and determine how a plant’s practices can be trimmed down to preserve value while eliminating unnecessary work. How this is achieved varies on the specific business and its employees. Ultimately the goal for every business is to increase efficiency, decrease waste and use practical methods to reach a valuable outcome. However, it is important to keep in mind that a remedy for one business does not always apply to the next and we must always leave room for human error.

To be able to properly apply the Lean methodology to your manufacturing business you must first be certain that your own and your employees skills are developed to their full potential. One text book formula will not work for all plants, so the success of slimming down your processes depends on the skill sets which your employees possess. With a higher degree of industrial training your employees will be able to understand and work with you to tailor a solution specific to your company’s needs.

What you’ll need is professional quality training courseware. Courseware content that can be trusted to train and re train employees in order to assure they have adequate training skills. ITC learning offer this and much more. While human error is always a factor, with proper safety and maintenance training the odds of an accident or mistake occurring are much less. ITC Learning’s online training courseware offers manufacturing businesses the opportunity to train employees in an effort to advance both their business and their staff’s careers. Our courseware is designed to offer real time solutions for your business. ITC Learning’s content has also undergone SME review to assure accuracy in our courses.

The Lean methodology is a great way to reduce waste and improve quality in your organization. However, since your employees are the only tools that can successfully help you reach your desired outcome, they’ll skill level is vital. Contact the ITC Learning sales team today to discover how we can train and re train your industrial employees while in the long run helping improve your production process and efficiency.

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On Friday, President Obama signed off on the first three free trade agreements of his administration with South Korea, Colombia and Panama. These agreements will most likely be the first and last made during his current term. The deals have the potential to be worth billions of dollars to American exporters and could create tens of thousands of jobs, including thousands of jobs in the manufacturing industry. The three deals took years to finalize, therefore the trouble it took to pass the agreements makes it all the more likely that there will not be any further bilateral agreements during this presidential term. Republicans have accused the administration of taking too long to develop new free trade partners and as a result said many U.S. exporters were losing out to foreign rivals. The agreement with South Korea, America’s seventh largest trading partner, alone is said to have the ability to produce almost 70,000 jobs. Democrats also supported Obama’s signing of legislation to extend a program that helps workers hurt by foreign trade. The treaty with South Korea could increase exports by $10 billion, essentially eliminating the current trade gap. Exports could also go up another $1 million per year in Colombia.

Manufacturers have asked for these agreements with South Korea, Colombia and Panama for a while in an effort to create jobs and make us a greater global competitor. However, with hundreds of thousands of jobs potentially about to penetrate the job market, proper industrial skills training is all the more important. ITC Learning is committed to training and retraining industrial employees. We offer employers and employees the chance to improve business and production with instrumentation training, maintenance skills training and operations training. No matter what your training needs are ITC Learning is sure to have the right industrial skills training program for your business. Not only is our online courseware easily accessible and user friendly but by utilizing SCORM, or Shareable Content Object Reference Model, our web based e-learning programs guide learners through a fixed path of skills training courseware tailored specifically to your company’s training needs. Our Learning Management System also makes administration, tracking and reporting your skills training programs a breeze. Contact ITC Learning today to find out how we can help train your employees in an effort to increase output, quality and ultimately your bottom line.

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Industry surveys show that 86% of Americans agree manufacturing is important to their standard of living. 79% are reported saying, a strong manufacturing base should be a top national priority. While many say that if they could create 1,000 jobs in their community, manufacturing would be at the top of their list, only 33% said they could encourage their children to pursue a career in manufacturing.

Americans seem to understand the importance of manufacturing jobs, however they want them for someone other than themselves. As the industry evolves, the most important factor that will contribute to industrial success will be employing a highly educated and extremely skilled workforce. To do so employees must be properly trained using quality training courseware.

In recent surveys, manufacturing companies have revealed that nearly 5% of current jobs are unfilled due to the lack of qualified skilled workers. These unfilled jobs are generally in the fields of operators, machinists, craft workers and technicians. And with more and more Baby Boomers reaching the age of retirement, the next generation will need to be properly trained for these specialized skills.

ITC Learning offers a refreshing approach to training industrial employees through the use of interactive online training courseware as well as full motion video courseware. Our industrial training courseware is designed to enhance industrial skills in current and future employees. We offer SCORM compliant skills training for a variety of trades including, control training, process training, boiler training, pump training, hydraulic training and much more. Investing in superior training courseware will greatly benefit your business and maximize your ROI. ITC Learning is dedicated to providing quality training for essential industrial skills. With the right courseware you can increase productivity, ensure safety and optimize the quality of work. Because our online courseware is SCORM compliant you can remain confident your employees will be able to easily access content across multiple platforms and managers will be able to modify modules in order to customize online courseware depending on individual and organizational needs. Contact us today to find out how ITC Learning can help properly train your employees as well as the next generation of industrial workers.

Experts say that nearly 25% of the 11 million manufacturing workers in the U.S are 55 years of age or older. Just as in any industry, experience brings about the most knowledge. The longer you are in a particular trade the more you learn, whether it is through training, hands on application or trial and error. This group of approximately 2.7 million middle aged workers are a valuable asset to every manufacturing plant, they are the most experienced and typically the most skilled workers.  The knowledge base they have acquired over their years of work is endless and much of it has never been written down. Because their industrial skills are vital to how your business is run and play a large part in your plant’s competitive advantage, it is critical their acquired knowledge is recorded for the future training of new hires.

In order to attain the invaluable knowledge these employees possess you must first identify those in your workforce that may have this type of experience and education. Most of the workers that have been with your business for a number of years have worked on the all of the machines you’ve utilized and have repair tips and service tricks that no one else may know about. Next you should identify the knowledge and record what is practical and important. It’s essential you commit some time to documenting their knowledge base before their retirement approaches. With their service tips and diagnostic procedures logged you can use this material to supplement additional training courseware.

Although the industrial skills these workers have developed over time are vital to help train new employees, new hires may also need further training. Manufacturing of industrial products requires specialized industrial skills and with interest in the field decreasing in younger generations, it is critical we hold onto the older tricks of the trade. A recent survey done by the Fabricators and Manufacturers Association showed that 52% of teens have little to no interest in a career in manufacturing, while 21% are undecided. These statistics further prove that investing in quality training for current workers and new hires is vital to having a well trained staff that will ultimately increase productivity. ITC Learning offers online courseware that specializes in control training, process training, maintenance training and many more training skills necessary to succeed in manufacturing. Contact us today to find out how our SCORM based online courseware is right for you and your employees.

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The unsteady economy has surely changed the way many businesses operate. From pay cuts to layoffs, many industries have had to adapt and endure, and the manufacturing business is just one of many. During these tough economic times, manufacturers have had to learn to run their business with a smaller workforce. This means having a staff that has the ability to take the lead and execute tasks all across the board. Since quality workers are now the most critical investment, organizations must employ training programs that can quickly and accurately educate employees in order to maximize productivity.

Blended learning is a new form of training being explored by many businesses. Instead of solely depending on traditional classroom learning, blended learning incorporates different learning environments, including online and video formats. Integrating multiple forms of instruction into your training program can help meet the needs of workers with a variety of learning styles. Utilizing alternate mediums for training also saves time and money by virtually eliminating travel and keeping people on the job. In order to make use of a successful blended learning program, you must:

• Encourage your employees’ ability to recall and continually apply what they have learned.
• Follow their performance and offer feedback
• Mirror organizational methodologies and culture to assure an engaged and productive workforce.

Skills training is a critical aspect of every business plan. Not only does it enhance individual and team performance, but it also impacts your bottom line. In order to select and utilize the right industrial training program you must first decide what business goals you wish to achieve. By setting expectations, you will be able to accurately measure the effectiveness of your training initiatives. To accomplish your desired outcome you must ensure your employees have quality and accurate courseware to refer to. ITC Learning offers online industrial training which utilizes SCORM in order to allow content to be shared across multiple platforms. This facilitates tracking employee progress and accessing the courseware. With ITC Learning your operations training is more likely to maximize your ROI and help your business achieve measurable results.

When it comes to industrial training, to increase your success rate, you must first determine your desired outcomes. More than often businesses train employees when a standard of work is not met, however training workers in advance will allow you to maintain a superior quality of work. To accomplish this you must be able to clearly communicate what your desired standard is as well as assess the level of skill your workforce currently possesses.

By identifying your desired outcome as well as the skills of your workers, you will be able to focus your training initiatives on relevant and critical skill sets that your employees may lack.  After all, if your industrial training in not tailored around the job skills that are vital to your production environment, your initiatives will prove to be useless. Below are a few guidelines that should be addressed prior to implementing industrial training. If these steps are not taken your return on investment will be minimal.

Identify training goals:

Describe the performance required in detail and in a way that is measurable. This will allow you to accurately evaluate employee performance to determine whether training was effective of not after the training courses are completed.

Focus training on the most crucial outcomes:

Your training should be based on the goals you wish to achieve. By tailoring training courses around the skills necessary to achieve these goals your workers are more likely to aim to accomplish your objectives. It is equally critical to recognize that individuals learn differently. ITC Learning offers a variety of training courseware that ranges from online courseware, to CD-ROM courses to full motion video courseware. Your employees should be matched with a courseware format that best fits their style of learning.

Be sure your selected trainees are willing to learn:

Be certain that the employees you choose to attend training classes are willing to take the time to further educate themselves and work to achieve your desired outcome. Make your objectives clear and reiterate them as often as possible so that employees don’t only take away an extended knowledge base but also a keenness to apply their new skills to their trade.

Allow opportunities to showcase their skill:

Performance cannot be properly evaluated if employees do not have the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned. Their new skills will need to be applied so make sure your workers have the chance to use their newly acquired knowledge.

Maintain an open communication channel:

Your employees may have questions or they may even have answers. Offer feedback and listen to the challenges they face. With proper industrial training, workers will be able to help you identify issues you may have otherwise missed or have not been exposed to and assist you to find the necessary solutions.

These guidelines are not the only important steps to take to ensure your employees are accurately trained. Developing and implementing user friendly content and trade relevant courseware is also essential. ITC Learning is an industry leader when it comes to industrial skills training. We offer a sizeable library of courseware for mechanical, electrical and instrumentation maintenance training. All of our courseware content has undergone inspection to ensure it is accurate and meets the needs of today’s industrial adult learner. Click here, to discover what ITC Learning has to offer your business.