Guest Editorial
Jeannine Kunz Director
Tooling U-SME smeSpeaks Revolutionary Knowledge Edge F
rom high school technology classes and engineering professors to manufacturing professionals trying to solve a production problem or plant managers wanting to train their workers, reliable information is a vital necessity in this age of content overload. As manufacturing professionals increasingly turn to the Internet for fast answers to their ques- tions, Tooling U-SME has created and launched Knowledge Edge, an online subscription resource for companies and secondary and postsecondary education systems, filled with industry-validated content and information available 24/7 with the click of a mouse.
Knowledge Edge is the culmination of more than two years of technology development and content migration of SME’s rich manufacturing resources to a digital format. It was borne out of SME’s 81-year tradition of accumulating, validating and sharing vital manufacturing knowledge, and manufacturing’s demand for readily available and reliable digital content. This subscription-based service is focused on manufacturing sub- ject matter, featuring more than 1200 e-books and chapters, 700 videos and video clips, and 16,000 technical papers. It also makes available the first-ever Manufacturing Knowledge Base Wiki, which: • Has more than 10,000 entries. • Brings online SME’s longstanding, highly regarded, nine-volume Tool & Manufacturing Engineers Handbook series in a continuously updated and readily accessible environment for subscribers;
• Engages SME members in content development that is relevant to them, their jobs and industries, and ultimately manufacturing;
• Through robust workflows, content is then peer- reviewed and editorially polished to continue to meet the exacting standards for handbook publishing.
The expansive breadth and flexibility of Knowledge Edge allows any organization greater oversight and control of existing informal learning resources—resources employees seek out on their own as job and training aids. The learning process is now formalized—with desired content utilized as needed and pace of learning set according to exact learn- ing requirements and competencies. Knowledge Edge relies on SME members, longstanding industry professionals and SME’s trusted manufacturer customer base to provide a reliable source of manufacturing information online. And, with access to validated content available across a range of media, including video, training or research can be done virtually anywhere, anytime.
Knowledge Edge can support formal learning on its own and as part of a holistic approach to employee development in conjunction with e-learning, instructor-led training and other resources. It also serves as an informal learning base for those staff/times when a quick, reference is needed to refresh or train rapidly.
This powerful tool is in addition to Tooling U-SME’s industry-leading training and development solutions. It helps manufacturers and academia build a talented workforce for today and tomorrow. It also represents the latest evolution in learning and development, and includes all the benefits of self-paced learning. Knowledge Edge also helps manufactur- ing professionals avoid “information overload” by providing content specific to their questions, backed by research and real-world manufacturing practices. According to a nationwide 2012 study by Bersin & Associates entitled, “Becoming a High-Impact Learning Organization,” with an overwhelming amount of information available today, finding the right infor- mation at the right time is a real challenge—a challenge we feel Knowledge Edge is addressing.
August 2013 |
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