Blog | Tooling U-SME

Proper Training a Must for Employee Safety

Date: August 21, 2018
Posted by:Jeannine Kunz, Vice President, Tooling U-SME

One of the biggest reasons for production slowdowns is workplace injuries. And one of the biggest reasons for workplace injuries is lack of employee training.

Picture the following scenario, which is happening with increasing regularity as aging Baby Boomers leave the manufacturing workforce. One of your best workers, who’s been with your company for years and knows your operation inside and out, retires. Replacing that worker will require screening, HR time, onboarding and training — including safety training. Read More.

Workforce Study: Formalized Training Reduces Scrap and Rework

Date: August 14, 2018
Posted by:Jeannine Kunz, Vice President, Tooling U-SME

Scrap and rework costs are a reality for manufacturers across all industries. Wasted prototypes, parts that don't fit properly, and changes in materials are just some of the many things that cause scrap and rework costs. But their impact on a manufacturing organization is the same — wasted time and money. Although it is near-impossible to eliminate scrap and rework completely, you can reduce the amount in your organization by upskilling your workforce with training that addresses issues such as quality, inspection, and lean. Read More.

New Technology Requires Advanced Workforce Training

Date: August 09, 2018
Posted by:Jeannine Kunz, Vice President, Tooling U-SME

“Smart Manufacturing” has been a hot topic in industry over the past few years. So it’s not surprising that many manufacturers are experiencing challenges related to smart manufacturing technologies. According to the latest Tooling U-SME Industry Pulse: Manufacturing Workforce Study, 82 percent of respondents indicate that implementing smart technologies is going to be at least somewhat challenging over the next three years, while 41 percent say it will be very or extremely challenging. Read More.

Community Partnering with Customized Internships Fills Goodyear Skills Gap

Date: August 07, 2018
Posted by:Kevin Henson, Technical Training Coordinator, Great Plains Technology Center

Kevin Henson joins us today to discuss how Great Plains Technology Center, and its longtime training and economic partner Goodyear Tire and Rubber, collaborated to develop an industrial maintenance internship to fill Goodyear’s workforce pipeline. Read More.

Manufacturers Drive Productivity with a Skilled Workforce

Date: July 31, 2018
Posted by:Jeannine Kunz, Vice President, Tooling U-SME

Productivity improvements are one of the top challenges manufacturers face over the next three years, according to the latest Tooling U-SME Industry Pulse: 2018 Manufacturing Workforce Study.

Launched in the second quarter of 2018, the study indicated that 83 percent of respondents are going to be at least somewhat challenged by productivity improvements over the next three years, while 41 percent are going to be very or extremely challenged. Read More.

What Lean Means – A Big Picture View

Date: July 23, 2018
Posted by:Jeff Fuchs, Executive Director, MWCC

Jeff Fuchs is Executive Director of the Maryland World Class Consortia, a lean learning collaborative in the mid-Atlantic. He is President of Neovista Consulting, providing lean transformation training and leadership coaching services. Read More.

The Power of Partnerships to Advance the Manufacturing Industry

Date: July 16, 2018
Posted by:Jeannine Kunz, Vice President, Tooling U-SME

For decades, Tooling U-SME has advocated for advancements in manufacturing, specifically as it relates to the professional development and training of the people who work in the industry. As we move into the Fourth Industrial Revolution, Tooling U-SME continues to identify opportunities to improve processes, boost productivity, strengthen product quality and ready our workforce for Industry 4.0. Partnerships with other organizations that support a strong, advanced manufacturing industry are key to accomplishing these goals. Read More.

Workforce Training: A Must in the Age of Advanced Technology

Date: July 09, 2018
Posted by:Jeannine Kunz, Vice President, Tooling U-SME

A current misconception is that automation always leads to job elimination. Industry Week refutes this oft-repeated fallacy in an article about Minnesota-based Protolabs , which — despite the fact that it boasts millions of dollars’ worth of 3D-printing hardware — creates scores of jobs. Read More.

A Vibrant Learning Culture Drives Success

Date: June 18, 2018
Posted by:Jeannine Kunz, Vice President, Tooling U-SME

With ongoing pressures to streamline operations, increase productivity, and build profitability, it's hard to stop and think about corporate culture. Yet a relentless focus on a learning culture is at the root of successful companies. Read More.

A Manufacturing Solution: Women

Date: June 14, 2018
Posted by:Jeff Krause, Chief Executive Officer, SME

Manufacturing employment has been continuing to grow. Year-to-date the industry has grown by 115,000 workers, and women are leading that charge. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, women accounted for more than 80 percent of May’s manufacturing employment growth. In 2017, women saw their best year of growth in manufacturing employment in 20 years – and 2018 has already seen growth three times that of the same period last year! Read More.