Rockford Register Star
Monday, April 10, 2000-1B
Written By Phil Borchmann
Industrial computer lab gets $500,000 boost©
Entry-level machinist candidates who have basic skills and technology savvy are scarce in the tight labor market. But a group of educators believe they can create a cutting-edge program that will help solve the problem.
Representatives from Northern Illinois University, Rock Valley College and TECHWORKS Training Center will announce today that they have won a $500,000 National Science Foundation grant to develop a virtual laboratory to train machine toolers.
The project will use computers and software with hands-on practice to train machine tool workers. Educators say the computers can prepare job candidates much faster than by using traditional classroom practices.
"The most powerful thing about this would be the integration of highly skilled instructors with computer-based support," said Phil Pilcher of Goodwill Abilities Center, a nonprofit job training agency that participates with TECHWORKS. "Some vocational training has lagged a little bit on the technology end of things."
The new program will be housed at TECHWORKS, formerly the Army Reserve Center, on 15th Avenue. TECHWORKS is a job training center developed by a coalition of private industry, public education and nonprofit groups.
NIU facility member Xueshu Song will oversee development of the virtual laboratory for training machine tool technicians. He said it will be ready in about three years.
RVC students and facility will test the software and training, said Chuck Billman, RVC director of vocational programs.
"Software developed with this grant will move high-tech training materials out of the computer lab and onto the shop floor," he said.
The program will consist of three units: basic machining operations, troubleshooting for mechanical and fluid technicians, and machine tool electrical assembly. The units will include audio and video, animation and graphics.
"This is designed to find the most effective, accessible and least expensive way of educating the nation's technician force," said Song, who has received National Science Foundation grants for similar projects.
Using computer software to train technicians is more efficient and cost-effective than using a highly paid employee's time. During the learning process, mistakes are made on a computer, not on an expensive machine or material.
To review lessons, a student can click to the exact spot in the course without having to run through entire tapes.
Part of the challenge in attracting machine tool candidates is making the learning process and the career field more interesting. Technology can help address those issues.
By searching the Internet, students can learn that machining jobs pay well and are plentiful. Locally, the average wage for experienced machine operators is $18 an hour.
Machining is not a dirty, dead-end career and offers more of a challenge than "standing at a machine all day making it run," said Pat Nessmith, director of machining at TECHWORKS.
After students are trained at TECHWORKS, they get more on-the-job training at their new workplace, but at least they won't start at ground level.
"It's great if we can get people in at entry level with skills that will speed up our training process," said Jim Larson, manager for training and development at Ingersoll Milling, a Rockford machine tool maker.
Brett Kellett of Roscoe, a computer design apprentice at Ingersoll, won't need training at TECHWORKS, but he wishes he had the opportunity when he was in high school.
"It's much more efficient as far as production goes," said Kellett, 19. "It makes a person much more self-sufficient.
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