We keep the spindles turning while the staff is learning.

Built by a machinist for machinists

 

My name is Kenneth Smith, a retired machinist and former C.E.T.A instructor for Parker-Hannifin. I have been involved in on the job training for a long time. Over the years, in the shop, I could see that the effort to cross-train had always been subject to the people doing the training. I found that most shops had the fellow machinist do the training. But they weren't educators, they had no formal training.

 

I say: If a good machinist is one in a thousand a good machinist instructor is one in a million.

 

The Road to Micro-training in the shop.

 

Micro-training began to gain recognition in the early 2000s, but the concept itself has roots that trace back to ancient methods of sharing information. The term "micro-learning" was actually coined around 2009.

I always thought outside the box, so when I learned about micro-learning and how it was changing the landscape for many companies I wanted to adapt it to the shop floor. As an video producer I decided to act. So since 2019 I have tried to introduce the concept on the shop floor as a "teachers aid". I make all of my videos without theme music or distraction. I use a calm voice like a driving instructor to help maintain focus. I wanted to bring structure and accountability to training. 

It started out as a way to help share knowledge but I also found that this method could free up high priced talent from training while their machine sits idle. It was apparent that a significant cost savings could be achieved this way as well as build staff expertise and create a sense of belonging to a team. It is much easier to have them watch a video and share what they learned than try to explain for half an hour.
So now I'm taking my idea to the masses. I hope that someday The Universal Machinist is in more shops than compressed air.

Kenneth Smith
Owner