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Archive for July, 2011

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What is the MOS – 21E (Heavy Construction Equipment Operator) close to?
I’m in the Pennsylvania Army National Guard and am considering reclassing to a 21E. What’s the job similar to? What do you enjoy about it? What are the drawbacks around it? Im a combat Engineer in a Sapper Company currently in iraq and we hold 3 21E’s in…

What kindly of lumber is usually used to ship robust equipment?
I wanted to used these decks outside and put outdoor runner on them. These decks were made to support filling equipment that were being sent elswhere. I can’t convey but I think it is pine which I know isn’t good for outdoor use. What do you reflect? When I…

What magazine are dyed-in-the-wool to Heavy Equipments similar to Hydraulic Excavators and Wheel Loaders?
I own several at work. I will P.M. you with the names and address tomorrow when I get home at or near 4:00 eastern time. Construction industry mags that are normally sent free to (and singular to) people who are likely to buy that type of…

What nouns or brigade would a bulky equipment hand belong to contained by the US Army?
Im enlisting into the army and want to be a heavy equipment worker. im trying to do more research on the computer about where ait university will be at. today is sunday and the recruiters office is closed so i cant get an answer…

What should I choose Heavy Equipment Operating or Cosmetology?
I have been going to college for awhile in a minute and was going to do nursing. But as the times progress I realize its not my passion. I am interested surrounded by either heavy equipment operating or cosmetology, completely different field but both totally interesting. I really want to do…

What Type Font does Caterpillar (bulldozers, cloying equipment) Use?
I’m looking for a free font, and I need it to match up next to the Caterpillar font. You can see this at cat.com I usually use Acidfonts for this, but I can’t find the right one. It is almost a regular helvetica bold, but it looks closer to optima black…

What would be the best profession choice, pictographic design, chunky equipment hand, or welder?
I’m currently going to school for graphic design but from what I’ve researched, it may be a gamble away of time and money. I’ve looked into some short-term programs like heavy equipment worker and welding and thought those might make for a virtuous career. (I don’t…

Whats the answer for big trucks & strapping equipment?
I’m talking about Semi-Trucks, construction equipment, and also big pickups that farmers and construction workers use. These vehicle run on diesel and get below 10mpg. But they are needed to do big jobs and big-rigs are what transports our stuff from coast to coast. Can technology improve the mpgs or is…

What’s the best means of access to bring a errand as an electrician or pouring equipment worker?
I wanted to start a job as an Apprentice Electrician or a Heavy Equipment Operator. There are no union here in Denver that I can find for either art. I don’t have any inside connections, and I don’t have a college teaching. I…

Where are fatty equipment worker courses held surrounded by BC?
Thanks a lot for your answers. Ich glaube da gibt es keine, ich habe jedenfalls noch von keinem geh”ort. kannst dich ja mal bei google schlau machen.

Where are some stateside army basis that a 21E (heavy equipment operator) can be stationed?
My fiance is a 21E in the national guard but is about to budge active duty. I am trying to find bases that he could possibly be stationed at near that MOS. Does any one know of any links that I could use or have…

Where can i find a labor confederation around san francisco relating on sweet equipment?
Here: http://www.sfbctc.org/ and here: http://www.oe3.org/

Where can I find a suitable diesel/heavy equipment brief after my college course?
I will be finishing up my 2 year program at my college very soon. It was a beefy equipment and coach/truck service technician course. I was thinking australia, or northwest territories, I would approaching to do some traveling. Maybe a fly to site job from where I…

Where can I find a well-mannered diesel/heavy equipment errand after my college course?
I will be finishing up my 2 year program at my college very soon. It was a creamy equipment and coach/truck service technician course. I was thinking australia, or northwest territories, I would similar to to do some traveling. Maybe a fly to site job from where…

Where can I find exercise equipment built for particularly hefty populace?
I am a very heavy soul, right now I weigh a little over 400lbs. I own decided to make a evolution and start exercising. I have been looking into different exercise machines but I haven’t be able to find any that can handle my cargo. Most have a weight…

Where can I find fitting bulky equipment training surrounded by Chicagoland?
A web search be pretty confusing. Any advice is welcome as ably. Thank you! Check these links: http://www.flomma.com/index.html http://www.oshasafetytraining.net/safety… http://www.arachicagoland.org/whats.html

Where can I find information list of filling equipment dealer within the U.S.?
I am helping a friend to find data on truck dealers and large equipment dealers. Any ideas? Go to dexknows.com or any of the other sickly pages web sites.

Where can I find information roughly acquire a license to operate fatty equipment contained by Florida.?
http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/searchre… You can find the info that you need on this website. Maybe OSHA? I`m in Oklahoma and enjoy NEVER needed a liscense to do so. Might try the state also?? Good luck!!

Where can i find job surrounded by the alien orleans nouns for immense equipment operaters?
superintendent and operator Major contractors in Louisiana are Shaw,Boh Brothers ,Cajun Construction.All #’s can be found within yellow pages. Try Yahoo Hotjobs also From what I’ve hear this job is in high-ranking demand in NOLA right presently, the problem is making contact with the right…

Where can i find PDF book for beefy and sensitive industrial equipment specifications?
as industrial equipments store manager i need to hold some standards and specifications of gas plants/power plants heavy and sensitive equipments….is there any website allow me to download it for free gratefulness on advance Specifications you should get from the factory owner, standards you need to pay…

Welding is the sculpturing process of joining materials, including the likes of metals and thermoplastics through coalescence. Work pieces are melted and filter material stuffed in between to form a pool of molten material, which eventually cools down and becomes a very strong and robust joint. Welding equipment is used to carry out this arduous task. There are a lot of sources that can be used for welding such as gas flame, electric arc, electron beam, friction, ultrasound and laser.

Welding supplies and welding equipment have a big role to play in welding. The personnel overseeing the process and being involved in it directly make use of these available machines to ensure a smooth process. The welders who do the job in a variety of environments such as open air, underwater, outer space etc. make it a point to carry these with them to ensure successful completion of adjoining two metals.

There are multiple forms of welding equipment. Manual methods include the likes of shielded metal arc welding. There are semi-automatic processes including gas metal arc welding, flux cored arc welding, submerged arc welding and electro slag welding. Laser beams have also been used as welding equipment with the laser beam welding process being a highly sought after service. Robot welding is the latest process to have been embraced with its popularity reaching out to industrial settings.

One of the latest additions to have been made to welding equipment and welding supplies is the MIG Welder. It happens to be a high tech machine with lots of controls and the welding clamp attached to a wire which is further connected to the machine. The MIG Welder offers a certain degree of advantage over others because of its ability to swing the deal and weld metals without much struggle and toil.

Welding equipment and welding supplies make the job of adjoining the two metals a very easy one. The metals have to be melted first, a fiber being inserted into the picture for the molten amalgamation to join and solidify after cooling down. This process is usually carried out through various devices and they all have their own special importance.

One of those things about the products and the Welding equipment is they make the process of metal welding real effortless. The metal melting process happens quite smoothly and the welding supplies help out with fiber insertion. That too happens without a fuss and after that, the amalgamation is left to cool down before the metals finally conjoin and become a single entity.

These products are very delicate and have to be handled quite precariously. Mishandling and mismanagement makes way for chances of some sparking. That has to be averted, and it is usually advised that the machines should be switched off at once when the usage is over.

Most of the ones that can be seen in workshops and other outfits are the ones operated through electricity. However, others find their usage in their own given place.

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“Manage more, supervise less.”
- Bryce’s Law

When I got into the work force back in the mid-1970′s it seemed
everyone dressed in a suit and tie, drank black coffee, smoked
their brains out, and worked their butts off. Today, golf shirts
have replaced suits, herbal tea and bottled water have replaced
coffee, nobody is allowed to smoke, and rarely does anyone work
beyond 5:00pm. More importantly, we used to care about the work we
produced; there was a sense of craftsmanship, regardless of the job.

My Brother-in-law in Cincinnati conducted me on a tour of his company’s
machine-tool shop years ago and showed me how he could take a block of
aluminum and convert it into a high-precision machine tool. It was a
pleasure to watch him work, as it is to watch anyone who knows
what they are doing, be it a waitress, a programmer, a laborer or
a clerk.

Quality and service used to be considered paramount in this
country. If it wasn’t just right, you were expected to do it over
again until you got it right. We cared about what we produced
because it was a reflection of our personal character and
integrity. But somewhere along the line we lost our way and
craftsmanship has fallen by the wayside. Why? Probably because
we no longer care.

In today’s litigious society, employees are acutely aware that it is
difficult to be fired due to poor performance. They know they will
still get paid and receive benefits, regardless of the amount of effort
they put forth. Consequently, there is little to encourage people
to perform better. Money isn’t a motivating factor anymore. People
now expect bonuses, raises and other perks to be paid out regardless
of how well they perform during the year.

We’ve also become a nation content with doing small things. America
used to be known as a powerhouse that could tackle large projects,
such as building skyscrapers, designing innovative bridges and tunnels
spanning substantial bodies of water, engineering transcontinental
railroads and highway systems, conquering air and space travel, and
defending freedom not just once but in two world wars. If you really
wanted something done, you talked to the Americans and no one else. Now
we get excited over iPods, cell phones, and other electronic trinkets.

Many believe Craftsmanship is in decline due to the general apathy found
in today’s society. Maybe. I tend to believe it is due to an erosion
of our moral values. Let me give you an example. Having a child in college,
my interest was piqued recently by an article describing the pervasiveness of
cheating and plagiarism in our schools. It is not my intent to make a
political statement here but many of the students mentioned in the article
rationalized their cheating on the fact that one of our past Presidents
cheated and lied under oath, and got away with it. They figured if it is
okay for the Commander-in-Chief to act this way, it was an acceptable form
of behavior.

Arnold Toynbee, the famed English historian, observed, “Civilizations
die from suicide, not by murder.” If the moral fabric of our society
dies, our story is told as evidenced by other great civilizations that
long preceded us. Our perspective needs to be realigned: Our personal
and professional lives must be viewed as one. As Toynbee remarked,
“The supreme accomplishment is to blur the line between work and play.” By
doing so, we identify more closely with our work and assume a greater
pride in workmanship. We do not need to hear this from our boss, but
rather from within. As strange as it may sound, I see Craftsmanship as
being patriotic in nature; doing a good quality job is part of leading
a good and honorable life and builds on the individual’s esteem, the
company he works for, and the country he lives in.

The biggest problem though is that we have forgotten how to manage
people. The manager’s primary goal is to create the proper work
environment for employees to produce the desired work products. This
is different than a supervisory capacity that directs how each person
performs the various tasks of a job. In fact, I encourage managers to
manage more and supervise less. I cringe when I see a manager try to
“micromanage” either a Fortune 500 company or a non-profit organization.
Yes, people need to be trained in order to properly
perform their work but following this, employees should be mature
enough to supervise themselves. In the old days, management stressed
discipline, accountability, and structure; three ugly words in today’s
workplace.

Understanding Craftsmanship

Some might say craftsmanship is a simple concept that we should
intuitively know. Not true; most people today have no comprehension as
to what makes up a good craftsman; they have either forgotten or it has
simply passed them by. Craftsmanship can be found in any field of endeavor
imaginable, be it in the product sector or service industry. Craftsmanship,
therefore, is universally applicable to any line of work.

Craftsmanship is not “workmanship”, nor is it synonymous with quality,
although the three concepts are closely related. Let’s begin by
giving “Craftsmanship” a definition: “The production and delivery
of quality goods or services from highly skilled workmen.”

Quality relates to the absence of errors or defects in the finished
product or service. In other words, finished goods operate
according to their specifications (customers get precisely what
they ordered). Such products are normally durable and require minimal
maintenance. Craftsmanship produces quality products. In the absence
of craftsmen, a rigorous methodology or assembly line process is
required to produce quality goods using workers without the expertise
of craftsmen. Such processes detail “Who” is to perform “What” work,
“When”, “Where”, “Why” and “How” (5W+H), thereby assuring a quality
product or service is produced. Such is the underlying rationale of
the ISO 9000 certification as used by many companies today. The point
is, quality is not the exclusive domain of the craftsman.

Craftsmanship is also a human trait. Some might argue a computer or
industrial robot can produce quality products and are, therefore,
craftsmen. However, we must remember these devices are programmed by
human beings in accordance with the rules of the craftsman. As such,
they are an extension or tool of the craftsman.

Craftsmanship can be found in either the overall work process or
a section of it. For example, there are craftsmen who are intimate
with all facets of building furniture, such as a table, a chair or
desk, and can implement the product from start to finish. However,
as products grow in complexity, it becomes difficult to find people
suitably qualified to build them from the womb to the tomb. Consider
military weapons alone, such as the complicated ships, tanks, and
airplanes we now use, with thousands or millions of parts to
assemble. Such complexity makes it impossible for a single person
to have the expertise to build the whole product. The same is true
in the service sector where different types of expertise and
capabilities may be required. In other words, craftsmen have a
specific scope of work. The scope of work may relate to other
types of craftsmen through a chain of work dependencies, e.g.,
Craftsmen A, B and C concentrate on separate sub-assemblies which
are eventually joined into a single product.

Attributes

So, what are the attributes of a craftsman? What makes a craftsman a
craftsman? There are three basic attributes described herein:

Possesses the necessary knowledge and skills to perform the work.

The craftsman is an expert in his field of endeavor; so much so that
he could easily serve as an instructor in the subject matter. But the
craftsman is also smart enough to know that education is not a one
time thing, that his world and field evolve as new tools and techniques
are introduced. As such, the craftsman is a student of his profession
and is constantly looking to improve himself. This is exercised through
such things as continued education, routine certification, studying books
and trade publications, and industrial groups. The craftsman willingly
participates in trade groups, often at his own expense, in order to network
with his peers.

It is Important to note that the craftsman does not need to be told
he needs periodic training to sharpen his skills. Instead, he takes the
personal initiative to stay on top of his game. Further, the craftsman
has no problem with a periodic job review; in fact, he welcomes it for
it might bring out a weakness in a skill he needs to sharpen.

Attention to detail.

The craftsman understands and respects the process of building/delivering
a product or service and is acutely aware of the penalties for cutting
corners. Earlier we discussed the need for a methodology that specifies
5W+H. The craftsman is intimate with all details of his scope of work,
so much so, he could probably write the methodology himself. Further,
his intimacy of the work process means he can produce a reliable estimate
of time and costs to perform the work.

Although many of the craftsman’s tasks may be repetitive, it doesn’t
mean he easily falls into a rut. Instead, he is constantly looking
for new tools and techniques to improve the work process. As such,
he plays the role of Industrial Engineer who is normally charged
with such a task.

The craftsman’s attention to detail also means that he demonstrates
patience in his work effort. Again, wary of cutting corners, the
craftsman must possess such patience in order to produce the product
the right way.

Views professional life as an extension of his personal life.

The craftsman identifies with the end product which is where
pride in workmanship comes from. In his mind, the craftsman has
been charged with the responsibility of producing something, and
wanting to satisfy the customer, puts forth his best effort to
produce it. In other words, craftsmen take their work
personally. This is a difficult trait to teach particularly in
today’s society where the focus is more on financial compensation
than on the work product itself. It may sound naive, but the
craftsman believes he will be suitably compensated for
producing superior results.

Years ago, Dick Butkus of the Chicago Bears (NFL) confounded sports
writers who could never understand why Butkus played as hard as he
did year after year for a losing football team. True, Dick loved the
game, but beyond that, the sports writers didn’t understand one thing
about the seven time All-Pro linebacker: Butkus took his job
personally. It was important to him that his opponents know that
they had been tackled by the best player; as he said, “When they
get up from the ground I want them to say ‘it must have been Butkus
that got me’.” Dick Butkus was a craftsman.

The craftsman has a burning desire to produce a superior product/service
because he sees it as a reflection of himself. As such, the lines delineating
their personal life and professional life are blurred. This is a significant
characteristic that clearly separates a craftsman from the average worker. The
craftsman’s work is his life. He does not shirk responsibility, but rather
embraces it with confidence and embosses his name on the finished product.
Conversely, making a work related mistake of any kind pains a true craftsman.

Job titles are normally inconsequential to the craftsman who is more
interested in delivering a quality product/service enjoyed by the
customer. Instead, the craftsman takes pleasure in being touted as
the best in his craft. He appreciates recognition; when someone
makes a compliment about a product, the craftsman views it as a
personal compliment. This too runs contrary to today’s corporate
world where people desperately seek recognition through simple
job titles. Want someone with an inflated ego? Give them a title.
Want something done right? Call a craftsman.

Productivity

“Dependable”, “professional”, and “resourceful” are adjectives that
aptly describe the craftsman. He is not one who fabricates excuses but,
rather, always finds a way to get the job done. The craftsman is typically
your most productive employee. He is mindful of the concept of productivity
that we have touted for years:

Productivity = Effectiveness X Efficiency

Most people fallaciously equate productivity with efficiency, which simply
gauges how fast we can perform a given task. Effectiveness, on the other hand,
validates the necessity of the task itself. There is nothing more unproductive
than to do something efficiently that should not have been done at all. An
industrial robot, for example, can efficiently perform such tasks as welding. But
if you are welding the wrong thing, then it is counterproductive. Going back to
our description of a methodology, effectiveness defines “Who/What/When/Where/Why”,
efficiency defines “How.” The craftsman is well aware of the difference
between the two and knows how to apply both. As such, the craftsman is in tune
with his work environment and corporate culture.

So how do we make craftsmen?

Not easily. Because of the human dynamics involved with the craftsman,
you will need to be a pretty intuitive manager or industrial
psychologist to make it happen. Selecting suitable candidates is the
logical first step. Devise an aptitude test to determine the candidate’s
suitability to become a craftsman. After all, “you cannot make a silk
purse from a sow’s ear.” Aside from specific knowledge and experience
in a given field (e.g., programming, woodworking, construction, accounting,
etc.), here are some other important traits to look for:

Fertility of mind – judge his ability to learn, to adapt to changing
conditions, and to look beyond his scope of work. Evaluate his
professional curiosity.

Confidence – judge how well the candidate knows himself,
particularly how well he knows his own limitations. He
should admit his deficiencies and not fabricate excuses.

Dedication – judge his loyalty and determination to
accomplish something. What is his attendance record?
What outside clubs and organizations does he belong
to and how active is he in them?

Entrepreneurial spirit – judge his personal initiative.
Is he driven to succeed (but not to the point of reckless
abandon)? Does he have a problem with accountability?
This says a lot about assuming responsibility.

Attention to detail – judge his ability to focus on a subject.
Does he have a problem with discipline or organization? A person’s
dress, mannerisms, and speech says a lot about a person.

Reliability – judge his ability to assume responsibility and
carry a task through to completion.

Resourcefulness – judge his ability to adapt to changing
conditions and persevere to see a task through to completion.
The candidate cannot be inflexible; he must be able to find
solutions to solve problems.

Socialization skills – does he work better alone or as a team
player? His position may depend on his answer.

When you have selected suitable candidates, here are three areas to
concentrate on:

Develop their skills and knowledge by allowing such things as:
participation in trade groups, outside certification and on-going
training, subscriptions to trade journals, continued education,
etc. Some companies even go as far as to develop an in-house
school to teach the company’s way of doing things. If the in-house
school is good, it will promote confidence through consistency. Even
if people leave the company, they will recommend your company because
they know the quality of the work produced. Supporting the education
needs of our workers is not only smart, it is good business.

Teach them the need for producing quality work; they should
become intimate with all aspects of their work process (5W+H).
Further, instill discipline and patience in their work effort.

Change their attitude towards development so they become more
focused on delivering a quality end-product. This is perhaps
the most difficult element to teach. However, it can be realized
by having them become intimate with the needs of the customer
(have them visit or work with a customer for awhile – “let them
walk in the customer’s shoes”). It may also be necessary to
change their form of remuneration by going to a reward system
for work produced (as opposed to guaranteed income regardless
of what is produced). Changing the mode of financial compensation
is highly controversial in today’s business world. But, as an
example, can you imagine the change of attitude of today’s professional
athletes if they were paid based on their accomplishments (e.g., runs
or points scored, hits, rebounds, etc.) rather than having a
guaranteed income? Their motivation and attitude towards
their profession and team would change radically.

Candidates must learn to respect their institution, the process
by which they work, fellow human beings, and themselves. They must
also learn not to be afraid to TRY; that they must put their best
foot forward, win or lose. Bottom-line: they must learn that their
work has meaning and worth. If they don’t enjoy their work, they
shouldn’t be doing it.

“There are two things that I want you to make up your minds to: first,
that you are going to have a good time as long as you live – I have no
use for the sour-faced man – and next, that you are going to do
something worthwhile, that you are going to work hard and do the
things you set out to do.”
- President Theodore Roosevelt
Talk to schoolchildren in Oyster Bay, Christmas-time 1898

Certification

Teaching the elements listed above probably cannot be done in one
fell swoop. Further, companies simply don’t have the time or money to
wait for the craftsman to be produced. Instead, they must understand
the human spirit needs to be cultivated and be allowed to grow over
time. Because of this, it is strongly recommended that an in-house
certification program be devised specifying what the candidate should
know and what skills and talents he should demonstrate. This should be
divided into classes of progressive expertise; e.g., apprentice, intermediary,
and craftsman. The ancient builders in Egypt, Rome, and Greece understood
this concept and devised such classes of workmen. Other disciplines and
schools follow similar tactics (the various degrees or belts in martial
arts for example). Each degree is based on specific prerequisites to
master before moving on to the next level.

An in-house certification program has the added nuance of making
people feel special which greatly enhances their self esteem. If
they are made to feel like a vital part of the company, regardless if
their work of a large magnitude or trivial, they will strive to do
what is best for the company overall, not just themselves. Consequently,
their work adds meaning to their life.

There is one pitfall to all of this; today’s “go-go” management
style fails to see how craftsmanship adds value to the company. In
fact, there were companies back in the 1980′s that shut down such
programs simply to reduce costs. As a result, quality suffered,
repeat business was lost, products were more in need of repair,
absenteeism on the job escalated, etc. Want value? How does
a loyal customer base who has confidence in your products or
services sound? And what effect would employee harmony have,
particularly if they believed in the work they were producing? It
would be mind-boggling, all because we had faith in the human
spirit to produce superior results.

A final note: craftsmanship is not a one time thing. After it has
been instilled in people, it has to be cultivated and perpetuated. If
a manager slips even for a moment, it will go right out the window and
it will take time to bring it back to life. As for me, I like to post
motivational reminders kind of like the one recently spotted in the
Hickey Freeman manufacturing facility in New York,
“Excellence is Tolerated.”

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