Simple Solutions That Work! Issue 14

• Use of time compression technologies: CAD, CAM, Simulation, CNC, robotic work cells, and additive manufacturing • Upgrades to equipment and process that reduce scrap, improve ergonomics, reduce regulatory liabilities, improve worker safety, health, and morale • Injecting and maintaining useful new technology into the culture • Willingness to network with foundry peers to stay current, and avoid pitfalls through shared experiences This list is built by observing the foundries that are succeeding at bringing in new business, and weathering the storm, and contrasting them against those foundries and pattern shops whose doors were closed over the past couple years. It has been tempered by reading the back stories on industry obituaries I’ve circulated over the past couple years. The old foundrymen who built much of the American industry were not complacent. They were investors of energy, influence, and ingenuity as well as money. So, as we write about “advanced manufacturing technology” and “Industry 4.0” we have to remember that these things are tools. Their stewards are the owners, employees and students who are the hearts and minds of the business. If you haven’t bought in to developing human resources to research, select, install and optimize the tools available for the last couple decades, then you need to begin to invest in your future starting today! Included here is a small subset of the training resources that are available today, most of them can be delivered online. Breakout box links: Places to go now, for online training resources: Foundry e-Learning | American Foundry Society (afsinc.org) Robotics Training - United States (ABB University) Additive Manufacturing Certification (sme.org) Statistical Process Control (SPC) Training & Courses | ASQ Getting Started on Reverse Engineering from Scan to CAD | GoMeasure3D Industrial Training | Rockwell Automation America Makes - National Additive Manufacturing Innovation Institute NCDMM-National Center for Defense Manufacturing and Machining NADCA - Educational Opportunities (diecasting.org) Depending on your location, local colleges have programs for training in many of the topics. There’s also places like the Manufacturing Extension Partnership centers, and regional technical centers: Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) | NIST Home | Connecticut Center for Advanced Technology, Inc. (ccat.us) Leadership Development Results That Matter | CCL | Learn More Wherever you are, there are training and enrichment topics available for whatever your company needs to grow, enhance efficiency, and make sure that your team and facilities are ready to adopt the next generation of advanced manufacturing technology. If you want the most out of manufacturing technology upgrades, get your leadership team to whiteboard a technology roadmap. Get everyone on the same page about what fits with your foundry vision and make someone responsible for onboarding each new technology platform. Begin today! Contact: WILL SHAMBLEY will@nefoundrytech.com 26