Richard Christianson

Experience VR Wood Machining & Finishing in Las Vegas

/0 Comments/in , /by

Attendees of the AWFS Fair can give virtual reality training
tools a whirl at the Woodwork Career Alliance’s booth.

 

Nellysford, VA – Woodworkers attending the AWFS Fair in Las Vegas will have the opportunity to size wood parts dust-free and finish parts without over spray at the Woodwork Career Alliance of North America’s (WCA) booth 10268.

Through special arrangement with Mimbus Inc. of Chicago, the WCA will offer continuous interactive demonstrations of two unique virtual reality training systems: Wood-Ed Table and Simspray.

The Wood-Ed Table is a four-in-one system that can be used to teach students and novices how to operate basic woodworking machinery in a safe, dust-free environment. Visitors to WCA’s booth will have an opportunity to put on a pair of 3D interactive glasses and try out one of the Wood-Ed Table’s four woodworking machinery simulation modules: bandsaw, ripsaw, jointer or shaper.

Simspray is a virtual reality apparatus that replicates a spray booth allowing trainees to learn the fundamentals of applying a wood coating using a hand-held spray gun. Simspray not only eliminates the cost of finishing materials, it removes VOC emissions from spray operator training programs. Attendees will be able to test their spray skills virtually finishing wood parts at WCA’s booth.

“Virtual reality is a tremendous tool for instructing students and new employees on the safe operation of equipment used in our industry,” said Scott Nelson, president of the WCA. “Young adults and kids are being raised on interactive video games that have a strong VR component. I think training simulators like the ones that will be demonstrated in Las Vegas can help attract more youths into our industry. I encourage educators and woodworking company managers to stop by our booth to see the potential of these systems first-hand.”

###

About the Woodwork Career Alliance
The Woodwork Career Alliance of North America was founded in 2007 as a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation and is governed by a volunteer board of directors. The WCA’s mission is to develop and administer a unified set of Skill Standards for the wood products industry. Since 2011, WCA has developed observable and measurable performance standards and assessments for more than 240 woodworking machine operations. In addition, WCA has issued more than 2,500 credentials, a portable, personal permanent record documenting each holder’s record of woodworking skill achievements. More than 100 high schools and post-secondary schools throughout North America are WCA EDUcation™ members. To learn more about the WCA and how to get involved with its programs, including sponsorship opportunities, visit WoodworkCareer.org.

Richard Christianson

WCA 4.0 to Debut at AWFS Fair

/0 Comments/in , /by

Credentialing skilled, cell-based machine operators is the focus of the Woodwork Career Alliance’s new pilot program.

NELLYSFORD, VA – The Woodwork Career Alliance of North America will introduce WCA 4.0, a pilot program focused on training and accrediting machine operators who work in cell-based manufacturing environments, at the AWFS Fair, July 17-20 in Las Vegas.

The launch of WCA 4.0 comes in response to the woodworking industry’s critical need to recruit, train and retain highly skilled machine operators, especially those who can be cross-trained to efficiently set up and run multiple machines on the factory floor. The new program builds on the WCA’s well-established Woodworking Skill Standards and Credentialing system.

“By focusing more on today’s high-tech, cell-based manufacturing, we have the opportunity to expand our credentialing program to better serve the industry,” said Scott Nelson, president of the WCA. “Work cells are determined by each company according to its process flow and product mix. For example, a common cell-based manufacturing approach for processing panels to make cabinets is sawing, routing, boring, dowel insertion, assembly, specialty processing and finishing. WCA 4.0 helps promote cross-training on all of the machines within a cell, including the opportunity to evaluate an individual’s ability to do routine maintenance on various multiple machines.

“The success of WCA 4.0 requires that competencies be developed relating to cells both by machine as well as process,” Nelson added. “Many of the machine competencies are already included in the WCA Skills Standards. More pressing is the need to document the knowledge-based component required to successfully complete activities within the cell. For example, what are the various materials used in a particular cell? What knowledge must the candidate have about specific processes and their impact on the final product? How can employers measure this knowledge effectively to document a candidate’s skill achievements and/or need for improvement?”

The WCA invites owners and managers of wood manufacturing companies to engage in face-to-face discussions about how WCA 4.0 can help them develop a skilled and stable workforce. Stop by booth #10268 to learn more.

###

About the Woodwork Career Alliance
The Woodwork Career Alliance of North America was founded in 2007 as a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation and is governed by a volunteer board of directors. The WCA’s mission is to develop and administer a unified set of Skill Standards for the wood products industry. Since 2011, WCA has developed observable and measurable performance standards and assessments for more than 240 woodworking machine operations. In addition, WCA has issued more than 2,500 credentials, a portable, personal permanent record documenting each holder’s record of woodworking skill achievements. More than 100 high schools and post-secondary schools throughout North America are WCA EDUcation™ members. To learn more about the WCA and how to get involved with its programs, including sponsorship opportunities, visit WoodworkCareer.org.