Newly hired Haas Factory Outlet Service Engineers attending classes at Vincennes University as part of the HFO/VU partnership to train the next generation of certified service engineers.
Several Haas Factory Outlets (HFO) have partnered with Vincennes University (VU) to put together a 14-week training program for service engineers that includes Factory Certification from Haas Automation. The program has been developed to better train service engineers who have little to no prior maintenance experience. The VU program will also reduce the length of time it takes to become a certified Haas Service Engineer from as much as 12 months to just 14 weeks.
"Like many of the manufacturers we serve, we recognize that there is a big skills gap out there," said Nick Schuchardt, President of Haas Factory Outlet - A Division of Trident Machine Tools, LLC. "So we decided to face this issue head on, by partnering with a reputable university to put together a training program that takes an inexperienced new hire and graduates them with full certification from the Haas factory in just over 3 months."
Vincennes University's ICAT/HTEC facility (located in Vincennes, IN) is equipped with 19 Haas CNC machine tools, the first of which were installed over 7 years ago. VU also operates campuses in Jasper and Lebanon, IN. Four current employees of the locally based Haas Factory Outlet are all graduates of VU, and include Coby Smith, Ben Gordon, Kyle Edgell and Greg Pratt.
The curriculum for the program was built from the foundation of VU's time tested Industrial Maintenance Now program, which includes an introduction to maintenance, safety, measuring, math, repair and troubleshooting of industrial equipment. It continues with exploration of electrical components using AC and DC electricity, motor control systems and electronic sensors. Fluid power and mechanical systems are also part of the program of which practical application of all of these systems will account for 66% of training time. Additional subjects taught include, variable frequency drives, Haas Vector Drives, machine alignment, ballbar testing and laser measuring.
"The program VU has put together will enable us to focus on finding quality people, rather than just people with specific experience," added Tim Taylor, Vice President of Haas Factory Outlet - A Division of Midwest Machinery Resources, LLC. "As a result we will be in a better position to build our own team of qualified technicians with a career that offers upward mobility."
David Kerr, Vice President of Haas Factory Outlet - A Division of Midwest Manufacturing Resources worked with Doug Bowman and Jerry Ruble at the Vincennes University to enhance the Industrial Maintenance Now curriculum to the needs of Haas Factory Outlets, which service and support Haas machines in the field. Haas Automation staff also participated in the writing of the curriculum, as well as having staff from California travel to Indiana to provide a portion of the instruction, so graduates are factory certified.
"We feel confident that the program we have put together with VU will produce service techs with better trouble shooting skills," added Kerr. "This is due to the in-depth maintenance training VU offers."
The first class of service engineers includes seven students from four different states. Each has already accepted positions at one of the many Haas Factory Outlets owned and operated by Morris Group, Inc., based in Connecticut.
For more information contact:
Northeast
CT, MA, ME, NH, RI, VT
Nick Schuchardt
HFO - A Div. of Trident
651 Day Hill Rd.
Windsor, CT 06095
860-687-2466
www.hfotrident.com
WV
Dave Tucker
HFO Midwest -
A Div. of Midwest Mfg. Resources Inc.
95 Commercial Way
Springboro, OH 45066
800-833-0246
dtucker@hfomidwest.com
Midwest
S. IN
Dave Tucker
HFO Midwest -
A Div. of Midwest Mfg. Resources Inc.
316 N. Mt. Zion Rd
Lebanon, IN 46052
800-833-0246
dtucker@hfomidwest.com
N.E. IN
Dave Tucker
HFO Midwest -
A Div. of Midwest Mfg. Resources Inc.
2101 E. Coliseum Blvd.
ECTS Building, Room ET 137
Fort Wayne, IN 46809
800-833-0246
dtucker@hfomidwest.com
N. OH
Dave Tucker
HFO Midwest -
A Div. of Midwest Mfg. Resources Inc.
1993 Case Pkwy. N.
Twinsburg, OH 44087
800-833-0246
dtucker@hfomidwest.com
S. OH, KY
Dave Tucker
HFO Midwest -
A Div. of Midwest Mfg. Resources Inc.
95 Commercial Way
Springboro, OH 45066
800-833-0246
dtucker@hfomidwest.com
Vincennes University
www.vinu.edu