Workforce Development
Empowerment – How Do They Know?
The trend to flatter organizations has made it necessary for people throughout our companies to make decisions and take immediate action. Our customers demand 100-percent on-time and zero-parts-per-million defects rates. This makes it mandatory that every person who recognizes a nonconforming condition must take immediate action.
Read MoreTeaching Machine Tool Skills
This transcript is from an interview with Dr. Yamazaki, professor and director of the IMS (Intelligent Manufacturing Systems) – Mechatronics Laboratory at the University of California Davis and CEO and president of the Machine Tool Technologies Research Foundation (MTTRF). He covers his involvement with MTTRF and the University of California, and his outlook on the continuing development of quality machine operators for both the domestic and worldwide machine tool industries.
Read MoreTime For A Change
The past century has witnessed significant advancements in cutting machines, cutting tools, machine controls, processing materials and coolant-lubricant chemistries. However, very little has changed with regards to the application of cooling lubrication. It's time for a change.
Read MoreSuccession Planning Two Ways: Business Items And Emotional Items
All experts agree that looking at succession planning sooner rather than later is the first step for a successful transition from one generation to the next. The reasons to start succession planning early are abundant: Most family businesses don’t survive from one generation to the next.
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Is Your Order Book Telling You To Consider Activity-Based Costing?
Activity-Based Costing (ABC) is often mentioned in conversations between shop owners, but it seems to be an idea that most shops never get around to fully investigating. There are many benefits to performing even a short-term ABC project, but costs and personnel time need to be considered. These days, everyone is too busy to take on an extra project, especially another accounting study. However, your order book might be sufficient evidence that you need to get to work on an ABC project. Here’s a brief explanation of how and why.
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PMPA Education Foundation
In 1999, the PMPA Board of Trustees established the PMPA Education Foundation to "ensure the future success of our industry by supporting educational research and related projects."
Read MoreSkill Shortage
Fewer and fewer people are aspiring to hands-on trades in the manufacturing industry. Is it approaching a crisis situation or is it a rationalization that is good for the industry and will serve to increase shop rates and individual wages, which, in turn, will attract people to the profession?
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Corporate Support Maximizes Students’ Experience
An example of a positive technical school/corporate relationship is that of the Ferris State University (FSU) Manufacturing Tooling Technology program (Big Rapids, Michigan) and Hurco Companies, Inc. (Indianapolis, Indiana).
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Sentinel Events – Recognize, Respond, Revisit
Every day, we face numerous challenges. Urgent demands from others, unexpected events, system breakdowns, equipment malfunctions, and failed communications are "all in a day’s work," for most of us. Occasionally, a singular event arrives that has the potential to alter the circumstances of our life or work. Such an event is called a sentinel event.
Read MoreNine Common Mistakes In Business Succession Planning
Business succession planning is one of the most important—and most overlooked—tasks that a business owner should incorporate into creating his or her business plan.
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