Chicago, IL, December 12, 2008 — Twenty-six power transmission/motion control sales specialists gathered at Henry Ford Community College in Detroit, MI, to further their product knowledge at PTDA’s Product Application Workshop. After three days of training led by instructors who have taught and worked in industrial distribution, the course attendees emerged with a deepened understanding of the components used in typical industrial applications and processes.
“I was able to get a view from the user perspective rather than as a customer service representative,” said Carlos Navarrete, a customer service representative for Jamaica Bearings Co., Inc.
From November 18-20, 2008, workshop attendees were separated into three groups based on experience level and attended concurrent workshop sessions each day. Each session discussed product specifics, including:
- Industry terminology
- Application and use of PT/MC products
- Relationship of the PT/MC products in an application
- Measurement of PT/MC products
- Installation and mounting of PT/MC components
- Tools used to install, measure and/or mount a product.
Designed to equip sales and support staff with the technical knowledge they need to provide technical support to customers, Product Application Workshop taught attendees the essentials of power transmission/motion control products through three day-long sessions: Mechanical I, Mechanical II and Electrical. During the sessions, attendees developed their ability to assist customers in designing processes that increase productivity and uptime, gained an understanding of how components are utilized in typical industrial applications and practiced assessing and solving customers' open-ended problems through an applications process.
Taught by current and former Henry Ford Community College instructors Miles Jarvis and Don Unsworth, the mechanical session attendees worked in small groups with:
- Bearings
- Belt drives
- Chain drives
- Clutches and brakes
- Conveyors and components
- Couplings and u-joints
- Gears.
Eric Nowak, warehouse manager, MPT Drives, Inc., said, “I loved the group break-up. It allowed me to share experiences with individuals at the same knowledge level I’m at, as well as learn from their experiences. I learned about as much in the workshop in three days as I have on the job in six months.”
In Mechanical I, attendees identified various tools and bearing heaters used to mount and dismount bearings and to install a bearing to a shaft and remove it. Problem-solving skills were put to the test as participants learned to select correct replacement bearings from a cross-reference chart and to identify various bearing failures and their causes, which will enable them to give better service to their customers.
Mechanical II taught attendees to identify the power transmission components used in various conveyor systems. During the gears section, they learned how to identify the type of gear orientation and the specific style of gear used in an application, measure backlash of a spur gear and select the proper gear or gear drive for specific applications.
The instructors for the electrical session, Dan Lindholm and Adolfo Zevallos-Rodriquez, used live demonstrations and labs to aid their instruction of electrical products, including:
- Motors
- Motor controls and sensors
- Adjustable-speed drives.
Electrical session lab activities featured dc motors and dc generators, ac induction motors, across the line starters, forward and reversing starters, ac variable frequency drive and automation work cells.
The Product Application Workshop included worksheets and activities for the attendees to work on during the labs. Small classes allowed students to spend more time with the instructors, to experience the hands-on applications and demonstrations, and to share their experiences and network with fellow classmates.
“All of the work we did in the labs, especially the motors part, will help me better serve my customers. The instructors had a lot of knowledge and the flow of the material was very educational,” said Navarett. “The material covered was what we deal with every day.”
The education didn’t stop at the classroom. A dinner on the first night brought together all the attendees to discuss what they’d learned -- and many continued to meet after class for dinner and networking.
Open only to PTDA members, the November event was the second offering of the Product Application Workshop. The workshop is geared toward four positions: current employees who have the potential of moving into sales, counter sales staff, inside sales staff or outside sales staff/account managers looking for a refresher course.
Plans are underway to hold another course. Learn more about the program.