With the best of intentions... When we start doing Essential Asset Care classes for operators we make sure that we spend time with site leadership laying out a roadmap for success. This usually involves spending a couple of days on site, reviewing class content and doing a leadership workshop to ensure that everyone is on the same page. Leadership is always excited to get moving forward on a training series that is going to improve operator skills, and in turn improve site

For industrial and manufacturing businesses, the cost of assembly and installation errors may be as much as 30% of reported failure and associated repair costs. For many this could mean millions of lost profit dollars each year! The problem as we all know is that it is not just the cost of repair but also; unscheduled production down time, poor product quality, a reduced reliability (OEE), diminished life cycle performance with an increase in parasitical/frictional forces tha

Skilled trades are faltering in today’s market and the numbers do not lie. Skilled labor is decreasing in manufacturing and industry as seasoned trades-personnel retire from the job market. In an article by Forbes, out of the 2.9 Million Skilled-Trade Jobs, the North American workforce is comprised of 52.9% of workers over the age of 45 and 20.6% of workers over the age of 55. With the Baby-Boomers reaching retirement age and the current workforce not having the proper skil

Everywhere in the manufacturing world, you hear the term “reliability.” You must have a “reliable” manufacturing process to be able to compete with your competition. Large companies all over the world are spending a lot of money trying to become more “reliable.” Better technology, better inspections, better operating procedures, better skills sets, everyone is looking for that magic bullet called “reliable manufacturing.” Interesting thing is that even though everyone is chas

After putting a training session on, we hand out a course evaluation for the attendees to fill in. After 2-5 days of intense instruction this is one of the last pieces of paperwork standing between a student in the class and a quick exit out the door; evaluations are not always filled out as diligently as one would like. After seven years of doing this, you tend to be able to spot a trend. One of the questions on the evaluation is “What roadblocks are there that would stop y

In today’s manufacturing environment, America and the world seem to be determined to become “reliable.” There are all kinds of catch phrases, programs and classes dedicated to making your assets and your processes more reliable. “You need better rounds.” “You need better tools.” “You need better…” so, what to do? There has been an awakening in Manufacturing America. We have awakened to the realization that there is a real shortage of skilled and engaged workers! Who will make

With the best of intentions... When we start doing Essential Asset Care classes for operators we make sure that we spend time with site leadership laying out a roadmap for success. This usually involves spending a couple of days on site, reviewing class content and doing a leadership workshop to ensure that everyone is on the same page. Leadership is always excited to get moving forward on a training series that is going to improve operator skills, and in turn improve site