PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
This Changing World and the Challenges ahead Prepared by John R Savage, Director National Fluid Power Centre UK
Every sector of UK industry where power and motion control is used, inevitably uses Hydraulics and or Pneumatics. Today these vital technologies are also becoming heavily interfaced with Electronics and Control. These Integrated Systems are with us to stay and absolutely necessary for the UK to improve productivity and overall become more competitive. Further to this, “Industry 4.0” drives forward at a pace which in turn will change the World of Power and Motion Control but place greater challenges upon our workforce including both skills and role competency. The effects upon us all by the introduction of Industry 4.0 will require immediate investment in Education and Training, from that of Apprentices through to Craftsmen, Technicians and Qualified Engineers if we are to meet these challenges. At every level, Integrated Systems Engineering must be our strategic direction
Ten years ago Fluid Power was the term given to the application of Hydraulics and Pneumatics and Engineers like myself, came from a predominantly mechanical background with extensive knowledge, skills and experience relating to the application of Hydraulics and Pneumatics. Today Fluid Power still remains the muscle for “Power and Motion Control” but Electronics and its many elements of Control now require a total review of traditional knowledge and skills both present and future if we are to ensure the “Great” remains in Great Britain.
This market change is being led by large International Companies like Bosch Rexroth, Parker Hannifin, Hydac Technology and Eaton together with such Control and Automation Companies as Siemens, ABB, ifm, Rockwell Automation and many more, who dominate the sector.
In turn they are influenced by their customers’ needs for a joined up approach. Intelligent Systems can be an expensive investment for companies and in return expect, unrivalled performance, higher levels of productivity, reliability, product quality and improved safety throughout. All sounds very good BUT without a highly skilled workforce all will be lost
By working in partnership with UK Industry and its Advisory and Strategic Committee (consisting of over 50 National and International Companies, Trade Associations and Professional Institutions), the National Fluid Power Centre is working to meet the needs of UK Industry to improve the performance of our workforce.
48 LUBE MAGAZINE NO.144 APRIL 2018
By providing highly trained employees with the right knowledge, skills and role competency, the NFPC prides itself in providing effective training courses and competence based qualifications that make a real measurable difference back in the work place. The NFPC tailors many of its courses specifically to meet the needs of UK Industry (Bespoke Training).
The NFPCs strategic direction is to take a UK lead in “INTEGRATED SYSTEMS TRAINING” using a framework involving a range of short courses to build the foundation of knowledge and skills enabling individuals to bridge the immerging skills gap. To help both individuals and employers to identify existing knowledge levels the NFPC has launched a series if ‘Self-Assessment Questionnaires’ accessible from the NFPC website. With possibly the best practical facilities in Europe and all of its Systems Training Engineers from UK industry with a vast knowledge and experience involved in the maintenance and management of Integrate Systems: you guaranteed to receive from the NFPC, the most cost effective training solutions and a route to Professional Development.
From Advanced Apprentices, Craftsmen, Technicians, and Engineers we build on their existing Fluid Power foundation of knowledge, skills and experience, with: • New electrical/electronic terminology • Ability to read and understand circuit diagrams and recognise the various electronic components
• Knowledge of PLCs and the role they play within the Integrated System
• Knowledge of sensor technology and their role • Online monitoring and the increased levels of information technology requirement
• How to carry out effective fault diagnosis at a systems level
If we are to successfully develop our UK workforce fit to meet the ever-changing advances in Technology necessitated by Industry 4.0, we must “INVEST IN TRAINING NOW” and rapidly reduce the current skills gap that will continue to grow. This is a ‘race with no end’ but unfortunately many are being left behind at the starting post. GET IN THE RACE.
LINK
www.nfpc.co.uk
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