Members at the Auburn facility now have a place
in the plant to receive hands-on training on the various machines
used in their jobs. This unique opportunity housed in the 17-10
building is the new IAM/Boeing Quality Through Training Program
(QTTP) Skills Center. It is another in a long line of successful
Skills Centers that are giving our members a voice in the training
they need to do their everyday job.What makes this Center unique is the variety of complex machines that are available for hands-on training. The Skills Center was born from the vision and foresight of members serving on Advisory Skills Teams, who recognized the need to offer hands-on training in the workplace to sharpen existing jobs skills.
Yet the Center does much more than sharpen existing skills. If you haven't worked on a particular machine or need to refresh your skills, the Center is the place to turn. The Skills Center is also available to help employees who are new to an area and want additional training or need time to become more proficient with unfamiliar machines.
Careful planning ensured that all four Manufacturing Business Units (MBU's) from the Auburn plant are represented in the Skills Center so all MBU's will get the necessary training. MBU's represented include:
· Developmental Manufacturing-Machine Shop Equipment Services;
· Emergent Tooling Center;
· Developmental & Manufacturing Products;
· Cutting Tool Service Center.
By locating the Center in the 17-10 building, members have convenient access to the training and can obtain the assistance without alerting other co-workers or their supervisor. What makes the Center even more inviting is the fact that the Subject Matter Experts, who assist on the machines, are 751 members from the shop floor.
The Center offers both on and off-hour training. The variety of machines in the Center enhances the skills training available. Machines at the Center include:
* Wilton Drill Press
* Standard Lathe
* CNC Track Milling Machine
* Universal Cutter Grinder
* Revolution Conventional Mill
* 3 types of grinders - 1 pedestal and 2 disk grinders (1 for aluminum and 1 for hard steel)
* Optical comparator
* Granite & Steel Table
* Precision Measurement Equipment including micrometers, calipers, etc.
Training on the more complex machines, such as a 5-axis milling machine, will occur on the shop floor as machines are available between work packages. The Center will continue to develop and evolve as additional needs surface.