Workforce Development
Inventory Control Systems For The Shop
An ongoing effort towards more efficient operations drove this shop to take a closer look at indirect material usage, subsequently leading to implementation of a new system for tracking toolroom inventory.
Read MoreCelebrating Labor’s Freedom
I see Labor Day as being about learning as well as working. It’s about each of us practicing the freedoms we have to work by using the freedoms we have to learn new things. The economic freedom we each have to market our value is a function of how marketable that value is. No central planners are going to tell us what to do if the market for us changes.
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PMPA Members Pitch In To Buy CNC Lathe For Vo-Tech School
When a vocational school in Mount Joy, Pennsylvania, recently found itself without a CNC lathe, a number of PMPA members and non-members came to the rescue. For years, the Lancaster County Career & Technology Center (LCCTC) served as a local showroom for a machine equipment manufacturer. That arrangement ended last year when the manufacturer sold the last of the lathes and the school didn’t have money budgeted to replace the machines.
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Choosing ERP Vendors And Consultants: It's All About The Right Fit
Looking to upgrade your company's ERP and IT systems? It's all about the right fit between your company and the vendor you select. You will be working with the people you choose for months or even years.
Read MoreWeighing Company Sale Vs. Family Succession
There are many different products and techniques available to a small business owner that will protect a business and ensure that it is transferred appropriately to the next generation.
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Reliable Monitoring For Small Tools
Continuous developments in sensor technology for machine tool monitoring open new possibilities and solutions for in-process tool breakage and tool wear detection. This article looks at effective ways to approach the problem of in-process tool monitoring.
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Training–Perform, Document, Manage Effectiveness
The need for training in our shops and businesses is indisputable. No one graduates from high school with the skills and knowledge to perform as a journeyman machinist. If your company is ISO 9001:2000, Section 6.2.2 describes the records of training that must be maintained; if you are TS16949:2002, the requirement is found in Section 6.2.2.2. If you are FDA Medical Device-compliant, 21CFR, Part 820.25 describes the training requirements for your company.
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Training Youth In Manufacturing Keeps Industry Growing
As U.S. and overseas manufacturing become more competitive, it's critical not only for manufacturers, but for school districts and technical colleges in the States, to focus on producing and maintaining a strong labor pool. Producing employees and students for the workforce who are well trained, knowledgeable and most importantly, interested in manufacturing is the key to a prosperous industry.
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Critical Skills For Effectiveness In Today's New World--Part 2 of 4
The four trends that define the differences between yesterday's and today's way of maximizing effectiveness include the following: 1) Solo to team performance; 2) Stand-alone company to link in supply chain; 3) From problem detection to process failure prevention; and 4) From managing data to empowering decision making. This month's article looks at the second of these trends.
Read MoreCritical Skills For Effectiveness
Today's business and competitive world is different than it was even a couple of years ago. Are we using the right tools to maximize our effectiveness today or are we still using yesterday's tools because we are comfortable with them?
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