Talent Accelerates a Digital Transformation

• Date: February 12, 2019
• Posted by:Jeannine Kunz, Vice President, Tooling U-SME

According to SME’s Manufacturing in the New Industry 4.0 Era Survey, manufacturers say that two top barriers preventing smart technology are people related:

• Lack of corporate leadership to lead and plan a smart manufacturing strategy

Uncovering the True Cost of Turnover

• Date: February 05, 2019
• Posted by:Jeannine Kunz, Vice President, Tooling U-SME

Relentless turnover in the manufacturing industry is threatening companies focused on driving productivity and profitability. Voluntary turnover takes its toll on company culture, and also costs organizations hundreds of thousands and up to millions of dollars.

It is concerning that two out of five manufacturers (43%) indicate an average 20% or higher annual turnover, according to Tooling U-SME’s Industry Pulse: 2018 Manufacturing Workforce Report. Read More.

Don’t Fear What’s Ahead for Smart Workforce

• Date: January 22, 2019
• Posted by:John Hindman, Director of Learning Services, Tooling U-SME

As the Smart Manufacturing revolution transforms the industry, some are concerned that technology will end up trumping human capital. That is unlikely to happen and here’s why.

Technology, including artificial intelligence, robotics, Internet of Things (IoT), is already changing how business is done. Yet with all these advancements, people are still a critical piece of our collective success in the manufacturing industry. Read More.

Three Ways to Commit to Training & Development in 2019

• Date: January 15, 2019
• Posted by:John Hindman, Director of Learning Services, Tooling U-SME

The digital revolution is here. Manufacturing 4.0 is changing the way companies approach the business of making things. In 2019, innovation will continue around the Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence, big data, robotics, virtual reality, 3D printing and more.

To stay competitive, it’s imperative that manufacturers engage employees by honing their knowledge and skills, boosting productivity and agility. Read More.

Looking Back at Tooling U-SME’s Progress in 2018

• Date: December 11, 2018
• Posted by:Jeannine Kunz, Vice President, Tooling U-SME

As I look back on 2018, I’m proud of the progress we’ve made. From new partnerships to product launches, we introduced initiatives and secured programs that will positively impact the training and development of the incumbent and next-generation manufacturing workforce – now and in the future. Read More.

Becoming the Best of the Best

• Date: December 06, 2018
• Posted by:Jeannine Kunz, Vice President, Tooling U-SME

The players in the top 10 are consistent high performers such as Apple, Amazon.com, Microsoft, Johnson & Johnson, and Procter & Gamble. Companies are evaluated in five categories: innovation, financial strength, social responsibility, employment engagement and development, and customer satisfaction.

The Journal found that the top 50 companies distinguished themselves from the rest of the organizations on the list by consistently ranking above the others in each of the five evaluation areas. Read More.

Job Seekers and Employers Benefit From Community Training Programs

• Date: December 04, 2018
• Posted by:John Hindman, Director of Learning Services, Tooling U-SME

Tooling U-SME’s Industry Pulse: 2018 Workforce Manufacturing Report shows that despite feeling the impact of the workforce shortage, many manufacturers aren’t taking the necessary steps to combat the skills gap. Yet, many are, and these innovative manufacturers are reaching out to their local communities for support. Read More.

That Next Generation: Achieving Results, Retention and Reasonable Expectations

• Date: November 29, 2018
• Posted by:Denise Ball, Workforce Development Specialist, Tooling U-SME

Everyone’s talking about the manufacturing skills gap, and many are saying: “There are not enough skilled trained workers.” “My workforce bench is retiring and taking their knowledge with them.” “I don’t have the resources or patience to deal with training this new generation!”

Let’s face it, the problems are not going away. One solution is to change the way manufacturers are thinking about the future and about the generation that can help them pave the way to success. Read More.

Industry-Education Partnerships Help Solve the Manufacturing Skills Gap

• Date: November 13, 2018
• Posted by:Jeannine Kunz, Vice President, Tooling U-SME

Emerging technologies and partnerships were the overarching theme at this year’s National Coalition of Advanced Technology Centers’ (NCATC) recent 30 ^th-anniversary conference. Smart Manufacturing, Industry 4.0 and work-based learning were catalysts for discussions about training a new generation, bringing trainers up-to-speed with new technology and providing manufacturers with flexible solutions for workforce education. Read More.

A journey of personal continuous improvement through Lean Certification

• Date: November 06, 2018
• Posted by:Chad Vincent, Director of Lean Manufacturing, American Railcar Industries

Chad Vincent is the director of lean manufacturing for American Railcar Industries (ARI) in Saint Charles, Missouri, where he leads the Lean Enterprise Program for the organization. He is a Certified Quality Engineer (CQE), Certified Reliability Engineer (CRE), Certified Manager of Quality/Operational Excellence (CMQ/OE), Certified Six Sigma Black Belt (CSSBB), and is Lean Bronze Certified (LBC), Lean Silver Certified (LSC) and Lean Gold Certified (LGC). In this guest blog post, he reflects on his personal lean journey. Read More.