Necessity is a funny thing. We have all been guilty of saying that we “need” something, when really, we are talking about “want.” Over the last few months, on a global perspective, people in the business and manufacturing world have had to define the word necessity in order to navigate the ever-changing situation that is COVID-19. We have learned to determine what is critical, essential, and even detrimental in regard to our health, staff, company policies, and the bottom line.
One of the first things that people tend to put on the backburner — in business, during a crisis — is education. Far too often, we see that because you need to protect the cash flow, spending money on workforce development takes a back seat. However, studies show that it is during times like this it is imperative to grow your employee’s skillset for the long-term health of the company. In the book, Entrepreneurship and Family Business Vitality: Surviving and Flourishing in the Long Term, the authors discuss how reducing too much personnel and/or cutting education can be a great risk for growth post-crisis, and that it is through a strong workforce that enables quick response for changing environments.
“Investing in human capital and retaining skilled employees allow companies to implement changes imposed by recession thanks to qualified and motivated collaborators. Moreover, with this approach, firms are prepared for the economic recovery even when it may be more difficult to find and recruit people with skills needed for the company,” according to the book.
Economic uncertainty definitely affects educational investments, but combine that with current circumstances of coronavirus — where employees are working from home — and it seems impossible to get the type of gear education you need. That is where AGMA comes in.
With modern technology, expert instructors and versatile curriculum, the members of your workforce can get affordable education from the comfort of their computer. Engineers still have access to instructors with decades of experience to ask questions in a live format. Operators are still able to learn the basics of gearing and design with the ability to study slides and pictures of gears and machinery. AGMA has made it possible to get quality education without compromising the safety of your staff.
In addition to moving some of the face-to-face courses to a virtual format, AGMA has invited experts in all fields of economics, global trade agreements, politics, and industrial staffing to present to members via webinar. Each month, there are at least two webinars available to the gear and bearings industries that will allow stakeholders to get the latest information affecting their businesses. Now is the perfect time to arm yourself with knowledge and facts to best strategize the future of manufacturing.
It is the job of every trade association to help define what necessity means and to provide resources to members to ensure longevity in many forms. AGMA continues to provide quality education during this time, because they know that when COVID-19 settles and businesses are back open and flourishing, your workforce will have the skillset they need to step up to meet demand.
Make sure to see all of the online webinars and classes at www.agma.org/education/online. If you have any questions about AGMA education, contact education@agma.org.
Upcoming Webinars
The Evolving U.S.-China Trade Relationship: The Phase One Trade Deal, the Phase Two Negotiations, and How U.S. Trade Policy on China Impacts You
June 3, 2020 | 1-2 p.m. EDT | Free
Despite the signing of a “phase one” trade agreement with China, the United States continues to levy Section 301 tariffs on hundreds of billions of dollars of imports from China, while China continues its own retaliatory tariffs. This webinar will discuss the prospects for the resolution of the U.S.-China trade dispute in 2020, the likely scope and timing of a “phase two” deal, and what you need to do to prepare your own business to thrive despite the shifting landscape of U.S.-China trade relations.
2020 Political Outlook
June 17, 2020 | 11 a.m.-noon EDT | $149 / nonmembers; $99 / members
Presenter: A.B. Stoddard, RealClearPolitics
Nonpartisan A.B. Stoddard will cover the latest on the campaign trail. Frequently meeting with sources and politicians, Stoddard has her finger on the pulse of Washington, D.C., as she offers detailed and smart political and electoral analyses. Stoddard will cover the latest on the campaign trail, the most up-to-date happenings between Congress and the White House, ongoing budget battles, and the electoral prospects for the two parties.
All About Section 232 Tariffs on Steel, Aluminum, Auto Parts, and Other Products: What You Need to Know to Manage Risks and Seize New Opportunities
July 1, 2020, 1-2 p.m. EDT | Free
The United States continues to levy tariffs on imports of steel and aluminum, as well as derivative products under the historically little-used Section 232 mechanism. Additional tariffs on autos, auto parts, and other imports remain a possibility in the near term. This webinar will arm you with what you need to know to minimize your tariff risk, successfully apply for tariff exclusions, and seize new investment and trade opportunities opened by the tariffs.
National Security Reviews of Foreign Investments in the United States: What U.S. Companies and Overseas Investors in the Bearing, Gear, and Related Industries Need to Know
August 5, 2020 | 1-2 p.m. EDT | Free
Under legislation passed by Congress in 2018 and implemented in February 2020, the U.S. government’s Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States is increasingly scrutinizing a wide range of investments by foreign people — most notably from China — in U.S. businesses, infrastructure, and real estate. Companies and investors in the bearing and gear industries are among those likely to be most affected by the new CFIUS rules and may see their planned investments blocked or penalties levied where the requisite CFIUS review is not performed. This webinar will pull back the curtain on the new CFIUS process and tell you what you need to know to identify CFIUS issues and successfully complete planned investments.
Online Education is a Necessity
AGMA offers video training and an online workforce training series for members and non-members. These courses are a convenient way to keep your employees learning from the computer. Visit www.agma.org/education/online/video-training/detailed-gear-design-beyond-simple-service-factors to see the course descriptions. Upcoming live courses:
Operator Grinding Course
Live Virtual Online Training | June 23-24, 2020 | 9 a.m.-5 p.m. EDT
Course description: Explore processes, machine setup, pitfalls, failures and expectations related to finish ground gearing.Learn definitions of gearing component features, process steps from blanking, through heat treatment to finished part ready to ship.Study aspects of quality assurance, inspection documentation, and corrective actions for measured non-conformances. Understand pre-heat treat, heat treatment, and post heat treatment operations, including the how’s and why’s to produce finished gears that conform and perform to end user expectations.
Basics of Gearing
Live Virtual Online Training | July 14-15, 2020 | 9 a.m.-5 p.m. EDT
Course description: This course provides a solid and fundamental understanding of gear geometry, types and arrangements, and design principles. Starting with the basic definitions of gears, conjugate motion, and the Laws of Gearing, those attending will be given the tools needed to understand the inter-relation and coordinated motion operating within gear pairs and multi-gear trains. Basic gear system design process and gear measurement and inspection techniques will also be explained. In addition, the fundamentals of understanding the step-wise process of working through the iterative design process required to generate a gear pair will be reviewed, and attendees will also briefly discuss the steps and issues involved in design refinement and some manufacturing considerations. Also, an explanation of basic gear measurement techniques, how measurement equipment and test machines implement these techniques, and how to interpret the results from these basic measurements will be covered.
Ongoing Recorded Virtual Training
- Detailed Gear Design – Beyond Simple Factors
- Gear Failure Analysis
- Gearbox CSI: Gears Only
- Online Workforce Training: Parallel Gear Inspection
- Online Workforce Training: Hobbing
- Online Workforce Training: Fundamentals of Gearing
Calendar of Events
June 2 — Nomenclature Committee Meeting — WebEx
June 3 — Aerospace Committee Meeting — WebEx
June 3 — U.S./China Trade Relationship Webinar — www.agma.org/education/online (free)
June 4 — Bevel Gearing Committee Meeting — WebEx
June 5 — Metallurgy and Materials Committee Meeting — WebEx
June 10 — Lubrication Committee Meeting — WebEx
June 16 — Fine Pitch Gearing Committee Meeting — WebEx
June 17 — 2020 Political Outlook Webinar with A.B. Stoddard — www.agma.org/education/online
June 23 — Gear Accuracy Committee Meeting — WebEx
July 1 — Section 232 Tariffs Webinar — www.agma.org/education/online (free)
July 9 — Bevel Gearing Committee Meeting — WebEx
July 30 — Metallurgy and Materials Committee Meeting — WebEx
August 5 — National Security Reviews of Foreign Investments Webinar — www.agma.org/education/online (free)
August 18–19 — AGMA Board of Directors Meeting — Alexandria, Virginia
August 20–21 — TDEC Meeting — Alexandria, Virginia
