May, 2005

East Leyden High School Receives Grant

The PMA Educational Foundation has approved a grant for $3710 to help East Leyden High School replace aging lathes for its Machine Tool Training Program. The program has been in existence since the mid 1930s and helped support the war effort during World War II. The Foundation felt this was a superior program and was happy to help such a worthwhile effort to further the education of young people in the greater Chicago Area. Congratulations to Steve Glasder and the entire Machine Tool Program at East Leyden High School.
If you know of a similarly deserving school or program, please direct them to the Educational Foundation's grant application. The deadlines for grant applications are October 1 and March 1. If you have any specific questions about the grant process, contact the Educational Foundation staff at 216/901-8800.

May, 2004

  Educational Foundation Awarded Contract To Develop National Apprenticeships

The PMA Educational Foundation, WorkingSolutions has been awarded a contract from the National Institute for Metalworking Skills (NIMS), U.S. Department of Labor Grant to design two competency-based apprenticeship models for Tool & Diemakers and Press Setup & Operation. This competency-based approach will allow apprentices to progress and advance based on defined skills and abilities as opposed to the traditional time-based system (typically 8000 hours). The time-based approach has produced training outcomes which are highly variable, program requirements that differ from one location to another and the U.S. Department of Labor Journey-level Metalworking Certificate does not communicate what skills have been attained and mastered.

Taking the form of Apprenticeship “Curriculum Guides,” PMA will set forth core competencies required of diemakers and press setup technicians, identify specific prerequisites and learning objectives, and list physical resources need to implement the programs. In addition, the Guides will specify the required applied knowledge and related theory criteria, set forth and sequence structured on-the-job training activities, provide interim assessments and measurements used during training, integrate NIMS assessments and benchmark credentials to provide proof of competency after training, and present some available training, education and learning resources needed to administer the each program (e.g., curricula, on-line learning, publications, multi-media systems, correspondence courses, teaching tools, self-study materials and technical programs). For more information about these programs or how you can get involved as a technical reviewer or pilot site, contact Bruce Broman, Director, PMAEF WorkingSolutions at (216) 901-8800 or bbroman@pma.org.

March, 2004

Join the PMAEF for a fun-filled Night at the Races

Experience the Excitement!

Bettors ponder their Race card, picking the name of the horse that seems most likely to win before placing their bets. In anticipation, the audience scans the field for favorites as the track announcer calls the horses and the color of their silks as they parade by…they’re at the starting gate…they’re off! The pounding of hooves, the jockeying for position, the thrill of the chase as horses gallop and the crowd roars with excitement. They round the final turn and race into the stretch, neck and neck.  They race to the wire; it’s a photo finish…and the winner is . . .! You, the industry and PMA’s Educational Foundation.
Join the Foundation for a fun-filled Night at the Races, to be held on Wednesday, March 31, in conjunction with METALFORM Louisville. Immediately following the close of the show on Wednesday, this fund-raiser parlays a fun way to end your day AND provide support for your industry. All proceeds from the event go directly back into the industry in the form of grants to support training and education initiatives.
Support your Educational Foundation…support your industry! See you in the winner’s circle! 

April, 2003

A Step-by-Step Guide to Integrating NIMS Skills Standards Into Your Organization

A "big picture" guide for implementing National Institute for Metalforming Skills (NIMS) standards into your Precision Machining Technology program is now available from the PMA Educational Foundation (PMAEF). Created by Charlie Brinkman, this step-by-step guide is his personal recommendation as the "best way" to incorporate the NIMS standards.

Here are several reasons why implementation of skills standards is important to your organization.

Quality-related benefits:

• Provides measurable assurance of performance for your customers
• Serves as a tool for complying with ISO & QS 9000 Training Element 4.18 and ISO/QS documentation requirements, as well as any customer quality system requirements

Production-related benefits:

• Improved productivity, decreased cost, scrap, rejects, rehandling, damage and retraining
• Fewer safety and liability claims
• Reduced customer returns and complaints

Workforce-related benefits:

• Promotes consistent standards for benchmarking employee performance
• Provides a baseline for employers to diagnose employee strengths and provide opportunities to improve deficiencies

Download the PDF file (162k)

April, 2003

And the Winner is...

Or should we say, “The winners are.” After all, there were multiple winners in the PMA Educational Foundation Silent Auction held at METALFORM’03.

The winning started with the featured item in the auction, a 66-ton, single point gap frame mechanical press, donated by Sutherland Presses. Jerry Stalo from Rapid Prototype, Auburn Hills, MI, had the winning bid of $33,000. Then the wheels started turning. Mark Sutherland bought it back from Jerry at the bid price. He then turned around and sold it at that price to Mark Schwartz at G & S Metal Products Co. in Cleveland, OH, who was in the bidding right up until the end. It will be used for training prior to being shipped to G & S. It was a win-win all around! In addition to his involvement with the press, Sutherland was the winning bidder on two other items.

Nels Leutwiler, Parkview Metal Products, Chicago, IL, was also a multiple winner. He had the winning bids for two items: a SMARTPAC2 Press Automation Control donated by Wintress Controls Group of Honeywell and an In-Die Tapping Unit donated by Danly IEM.

But it wasn’t all for work. Ken Klausing, Wendt & Sons, Wabash, IN, took top bid honors for a Grand Ole Opry Package donated by Link Systems and a Scotty Cameron Design I Putter donated by PMA’s affinity partner, Yellow Transportation. Bill Sopko, Stamco Industries, Cleveland, OH, put up the winning bids for a golf package at PMA’s Annual Meeting and a PING Hoofer Golf Bag donated by Ferris State University.

In the end, the foundation came out the big winner with a total of just under $50,000 in winning bids. And don’t forget the ultimate winner -- proceeds from the Silent Auction go directly to grants to support industry workforce development training and education programs.

April, 2003

Student Day at METALFORM’03

More than 200 high school and technical school students and 25 instructors from Illinois and Wisconsin, enjoyed a unique learning experience when they participated in the annual Student Day program at METALFORM’03 on Wednesday, March 25.

As a follow-up to the program, a quiz has been placed in the Students section on this PMAEF website. Instructors can use the quiz to reinforce what the students learned at the show.

Sutherland Presses Leads Donor List for 2003 PMAEF Silent Auction

Leading the way with the donation of a 66-ton, single point gap frame mechanical press, Mark Sutherland, president of Sutherland Presses, announced his company’s support of the 2003 PMA Educational Foundation (PMAEF) Silent Auction. With a retail value of $42,000, the Mark 66-2 has a front-to-back drive, variable speed main motor and large oversized crankshaft. Bidding for the press will start at $25,000. In making the donation, Sutherland said, "Team Sutherland is pleased to participate in this year’s Silent Auction. We feel it’s an excellent way we can support the stamping industry and help provide resources for the Educational Foundation’s efforts."

This year’s auction will be held during METALFORM’03, March 23-26, 2003, at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, IL. This is the sixth annual Silent Auction to support the mission of the PMAEF, cumulatively raising more than $150,000 to date. All of those proceeds have gone directly back into the industry in the form of grants to foster training and education and career awareness initiatives throughout the country.

Other gifts for the 2003 auction have been pledged by Clips & Clamps Industries; Bachman Machine Co.; F & G Multi-Slide/Tool & Die; Ferris State University; Kamco, Inc.; Surface Metallurgical, Inc.; Parkview Metal Products; Southington Tool & Mfg. Corp.; Stamco Industries, Inc.; Stripmatic Products, Inc.; and Wintriss Controls Group of Honeywell.

A Step-by-Step Guide to Integrating NIMS Skills Standards Into Your Organization

A "big picture" guide for implementing National Institute for Metalforming Skills (NIMS) standards into your Precision Machining Technology program is now available from the PMA Educational Foundation (PMAEF). Created by Charlie Brinkman, this step-by-step guide is his personal recommendation as the "best way" to incorporate the NIMS standards.

Here are several reasons why implementation of skills standards is important to your organization.

Quality-related benefits:

• Provides measurable assurance of performance for your customers
• Serves as a tool for complying with ISO & QS 9000 Training Element 4.18 and ISO/QS documentation requirements, as well as any customer quality system requirements

Production-related benefits:

• Improved productivity, decreased cost, scrap, rejects, rehandling, damage and retraining
• Fewer safety and liability claims
• Reduced customer returns and complaints

Workforce-related benefits:

• Promotes consistent standards for benchmarking employee performance
• Provides a baseline for employers to diagnose employee strengths and provide opportunities to improve deficiencies

Download the PDF file (162k)

Students Learn About Careers in Metalforming

More than 250 high school and technical school students as well as 30 instructors from Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin participated in the annual Student Day program at METALFORM’02 in Chicago, IL, on March 7.

Participants learned about career opportunities in metalforming and welding during an orientation session delivered by members of PMA’s Training & Education Committee. This year, PMA’s Quality Committee members added a special emphasis on careers in quality. They discussed quality during the orientation and staffed a table to demonstrate equipment and tools used to check and measure quality. After the orientation, the groups visited the show floor to see “industry in action.” 

Special thanks to exhibitors who designated themselves as “Student Friendly.” Thanks also to PMA’s Training & Education Committee members for their assistance with this program: Rita Gallagher, committee chair, Banner Stamping Co., Columbus, OH; Scott McCabe, Select International Corp., Dayton, OH; and Ron Adams, Vibro/Dynamics Corp., Broadview, IL; and to Quality Committee members who participated: Liz Comstock, committee chair, The Dickey-Grabler Co., Cleveland, OH; Ron Spradley, GMP Metal Products, St. Louis, MO; Dave Bieterman, Dayton Progress Corp., Dayton, OH; Doug Yates, Select International Corp.; and Robert Padisak, Weiss Industries, Inc., Mansfield, OH.

For more information on career awareness opportunities for students, contact Dave Sansone at 216/901-8800 or dsansone@pma.org.

Fun Way to Educate Students About Metalforming…
FutureTek Magazine Features Metalforming Industry

FutureTek magazine, a hot, new publication that targets technically oriented middle school and high school students featured the metalforming industry in its May 2001 issue. This issue introduces students to numerous career opportunities in the metalforming industry, addresses technologies and innovative applications and gives them a glimpse of lucrative, high-tech jobs and how to prepare for them - often through company-paid training programs.

If you would like reprints of the featured articles for your students, contact Dave Sansone at 216/901-8800 or dsansone@pma.org. For more information on FutureTek, visit their website at www.mc2pub.com or email at mc2pub@netzero.net.