Tooling U-SME Blog

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.

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.