Blog | Tooling U-SME

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.

The Gemba Walk in Action

Date: June 07, 2018
Posted by:Beth Reid, MBA, LBC - Lean/Lead Auditor, Five Stones Research Corporation, Huntsville, AL

Beth Reid is a leader in directing, facilitating and managing Continuous Process Improvement projects, utilizing Lean and Six Sigma methodologies for complex strategic programs within the defense and service industries. In this blog post, she discusses the Gemba Walk and how it is used to make frequent, incremental improvements. Read More.

Making Sushi or Cars: Continuous Improvement Needed

Date: May 29, 2018
Posted by:John Hindman, Director of Learning Services, Tooling U-SME

On a recent trip, I watched an in-flight video about Masaki Saito who started studying to be a sushi chef at age 18. This year, his New York restaurant Sushi Ginza Onodera received a second star for the 2018 MICHELIN Guide New York City. Despite being at the top of his game, Chef Saito said in the video, “I am still a student now.” Read More.

After the Grant: How to Sustain Your Manufacturing Program

Date: May 23, 2018
Posted by:Michael Freed, Manager Manufacturing Solutions, Workforce Development, Sinclair Community College, Dayton, OH

Mr. Freed discusses how Sinclair Community College was able to sustain its Industrial Maintenance Program long after grant funding was over. Read More.

Students and Parents Should Consider Vocational Schools

Date: May 22, 2018
Posted by:Jeff Krause, Chief Executive Officer, SME

Over the next few weeks, high school seniors across the country will graduate and receive their diploma. Nearly 70 percent of those graduates will move on to college or a four-year university, while few choose vocational or trade school; in 2015, 20 million Americans attended degree-granting postsecondary institutions, while only 412,000 attended non-degree-granting institutions or those that offer career and technical programs. Read More.

Building a “Smart” Workforce

Date: May 15, 2018
Posted by:Jeannine Kunz, Vice President, Tooling U-SME

While still early stage, manufacturers are seeing the necessity of implementing a Smart Manufacturing strategy for benefits including increased efficiency, improved quality, shorter cycle times, increased innovation, and cost reduction.

As explained in SME’s first of three Smart Manufacturing Reports, Smart Manufacturing: A Competitive Necessity, the same technical revolution underway at home—with smart devices like Amazon’s intelligent personal assistant Alexa to play a favorite song or change the temperature—is taking place in the manufacturing facility. Read More.

Developing a Custom Lean Program for a Nontraditional Audience

Date: May 07, 2018
Posted by:Jeannine Kunz, Vice President, Tooling U-SME

Lean has long been associated with manufacturing, and in particular, the automotive industry. But since it was first introduced decades ago, industries of all types have begun to understand that the basic premises of lean — continuous improvement and delivering maximum value while minimizing waste — are beneficial in manufacturing and far beyond. Read More.