Page 28 - MetalForming July 2015

Skilled Workforce, Error-Proofing
In-depth theoretical and hands-on die training for shop-
floor personnel is a major component in the company’s drive
to adopt new tech- nologies such as die sensing and error- proofing.
and the success of the team.”
The company’s skills program
involves a combination of classroom, online and hands-on training com- plete with competency assessments throughout the process. Larsen & Shaw has developed its own standard work, core and technical modules and has recently organized them into a formal training plan by work area. Skill sets are established upon successful comple- tion in various phases.
“This leads to development of com- petent operators much earlier in their careers than in the past,” says Bushell. “It’s a morale booster since we all want to feel good about our accomplish- ments each day. The next steps are to build this into the architecture of our new ERP system (from Plex Systems, Troy, MI) so that the training programs and progress will be more visible than ever before.”
Such training requires investment in
time and money, but for Larsen & Shaw, results justify the expenditures.
“This has been (and will continue to be) a significant investment on the part of the company as it requires the time and attention of our technical leaders to develop and deliver the various com- ponents of the program,” Bushell explains. “We certainly have a lot more work to do; however, it is also the most effective way to ensure that this knowl- edge is passed along to the next gener- ation of hinge-making experts.”
But what about the standard and most common model of training in North America, where new employees simply shadow more senior ones with- out any formal exposure to the theories and reasoning behind the operation of a given machine? It just doesn’t stack up, according to Bushell.
“Gone are the days where manu- facturers can afford to wait for employ- ees to acquire skills through years of experience only,” she says. “Global competitive pressures will not allow it.
Power / Speed / Value
Pressroom Solutions
Transfer • Progressive • Tandem
Mechanical and Servo Presses
JIER North America, www.jier-na.com, Plymouth, MI USA, 734.404.6683
26 MetalForming/July 2015
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