The history of manufacturing is an interesting one. Although it’s often looked at through the lens of the four industrial revolutions, there is a lot more to it than that.  Even though each revolution is very different from the previous,  there are also commonalities. One of those commonalities includes a machine tool, called a lathe, which was actually around waaaay before any of the industrial revolutions.

Archaeological digs have found evidence that dates as far back as the 13^th century BCE showing use of lathes among Greek, Assyrian, and Egyptian woodworkers. These lathes required two people for operation. One person turned a piece of wood with the assistance of a rope. In tandem, another person would shape the features into the workpiece with a sharp tool.

Of course, with time comes change.

Variations of the Lathe

Ancient Romans (as well as others in Northern Italy, China, and what is now known as Turkey) made the initial developments to the first lathe. Changes made at this time include the addition of a turning bow and soon after, the addition of a foot pedal. The foot pedal was a very significant change. When pumped, it rotated the work piece for the operator. This removed the need for a second operator, ultimately making the process much more efficient.

Then, steam engines and water wheels were introduced in the early 19^th century (and during, the first industrial revolution). When attached to lathes, the steam engines and water wheels rotated the workpiece at a rate higher than ever before.

An even bigger change happened in the late 19^th and early 20^th centuries, (if you’re keeping track, that’s the second industrial revolution). By powered lathes with electric motors and forged tooling, the lathe could now cut metal, rather than just wood.

Can you see the pattern? Each revolution brought a change to the lathe. Not only did the industrial revolutions change manufacturing but they changed the equipment, tools, and processes, as well. With digitization and automation in the third and fourth revolutions, the lathe machine tool became what it is today – the CNC lathe.

The CNC (computer numerically controlled) lathe is just as it sounds, controlled by a computer. The pre-programmed computer software automatically controls the movement of the tool, machinery, and/or material without a lot of operator intervention. Interested in learning more about CNC machinery? Read up on them here!

Kim Mooney, Technical Manager & Coach

FAQs for FlexTrades

FlexTrades provides labor solutions to American manufacturers. That’s what we do in a nutshell and we take the “solution” part of that equation seriously. As a result, all of us here end up asking a lot of questions to make sure we find the right way to solve the real problem. Additionally, the community asks a fair amount of questions too. In this blog, FlexTrades answers the most common questions.

What is the difference between MIG (GMAW) and Flux Core (FCAW) Welding?

Great question! MIG and Flux Core welding are pretty similar in nature. They each use power supplies, are semi-automatic welding processes, allow for high production rates, and use continuous wire feeds. The two main differences between MIG and Flux Core welding are:

• The types of electrodes being used
• The process for shielding the electrode from the air and other contaminants

Electrode Types

In MIG welding, the electrodes are solid through-and-through. The opposite holds true in Flux Core welding where the centers of the electrodes are hollow.

Shielding Gases

In MIG welding, the electrode receives the shielding from supplied gases in tank or bottle form. In Flux Core welding, the electrode receives the shielding from flux located in the center of the electrode. The shielding gases are similar (often Carbon, Argon, Helium, and/or Oxygen) but they are supplied in different forms. MIG supplies it in the form of gas while Flux Core supplies it in the form of flux (kind of like Pixy Stix).

Interested in More?

Head to our website to read more FlexTrades FAQs.

 

 

Do you remember learning about the Industrial Revolution as a kid? The history books make it seem like there is just one major industrial revolution, starting in the 18^th century, and that it changed everything about manufacturing in America and Europe. Furthermore, it changed economies and societies forever. Which isn’t false. However, major changes have been happening ever since, and are still happening. In fact, we’ve had four industrial revolutions – Industry 1.0 through Industry 4.0. We’re here to share them with you.

Industry 1.0

Industry 1.0 started in 1784, roughly, and is the one you read about in history books. The Mechanical Revolution. During this time, it was discovered that by heating up water you get steam. And steam can power things – like the steam engine. The invention of the steam engine goes back further than Industry 1.0 but it was nearly perfected during this time. With this new-found steam power, economies could move away from farming societies and into urbanization. Steam power meant powered tools, steamships, and railroads. With railroads came the opportunity to travel. With powered tools came factories. Put the two together and you’ll find workers clamoring to travel to the nearest (or not so nearest) factory for work.

Industry 2.0

This is the phase of manufacturing which started around 1870 and really pushed things along. Even though we had steam power, we didn’t have speed. Without speed, we couldn’t do as much. It was this notion for speed that changed the course of manufacturing forever.  In addition to this notion, more inventions came our way including gasoline engines, aircraft, radios, electric lighting, and telephones. This revolution ultimately brought us the idea of a very common fixture in manufacturing to this day – the assembly line. Industry 2.0 is the Mass Production Revolution. With the introduction of automobiles, the continued use of rail, increased forms of communication, and life changing inventions like electric lighting, change came more quickly. Thus, farming became a way of the old. In fact, some say that that another critical invention was made during Industry 2.0 – “the modern world”.

Industry 3.0

If you haven’t caught on yet, it’s inventions, inventions, inventions that drive the industrial train. Industry 3.0 was full of them. However, the inventions came in the form of digital technology. This is the Digital Revolution and started in 1969. What does this mean? With the invention of semiconductors, computers, and the Internet, things that used to be analog could now be digital. If you’re curious what that means, check out this comparison article on Analog vs. Digital Electronics. Digitizing technologies increases production and global supply chains and changes the way things are made, people work, and the world operates.

Industry 4.0

This is the industry you’re living in and it isn’t “over” yet. Therfore, we’ll keep this summary short and sweet. Our current industrial revolution centers around Artificial Intelligence (AI). What does that mean? It includes things like autonomous vehicles, materials science, 3D printing, a more robust Internet, robotics and automation, biotechnology, analytics, etc. You’ve seen it already with self-driving cars, autonomous vehicles for material handling, drones, your virtual assistant who talks through your phone, and robotics within manufacturing. Interested in hearing more? You can find a detailed description of Industry 4.0 (what it is, what the benefits are, and what will happen next) here!

Industry 5.0

We’re already beginning to enter it now. The only question is, how will it be defined in the future? A focus on enhancing human-machine collaboration to ensure all stakeholders (business, employees, society, and the planet) benefit from technological advancement is on the rise in manufacturing today. We can’t wait to see the improvements that focus delivers tomorrow.

If you follow our blog, you’ll know that we produce this Lunchbox Hack article on a monthly basis with the aim to share tips, tricks and recipes for eating well and feeling good, no matter what career you’ve chosen. Going back to our very first lunchbox hack, you’ll notice they are centered around lunch (well…of course!) but in this month’s article, I want to focus on breakfast. It’s something that is often forgotten, purposely ignored, and/or not possible thanks to time. But that doesn’t make it any less important. We’ll be talking about breakfast foods that you can make ahead of time, throw in your lunchbox (see what I did there? It’s still a Lunchbox Hack even if it’s not lunch), and eat upon arrival at the jobsite or within the first hour or two!

Tip

When we’re talking lunchbox breakfast, the most important thing is to ensure the breakfast item is ready-to-eat and ready to go. What’s my tip then? Make things ahead of time! Spending a couple of hours on your day off or before/after work to make a batch of ready-to-eat breakfasts is a small price to pay for a week or two of sustenance.

Trick

Bake, Bake, Bake! Turn your breakfast (no matter what the ingredients) into a muffin, cookie, or bread.

Like eggs in the morning? Bake them (and any other ingredient you like) as a muffin! Then, freeze or refrigerate. You can eat these cold, warmed up, or at room temperature and they are definitely easy to transport.

If eggs aren’t your thing, but pancakes or waffles are, you can make those in the shape of a muffin, too. Here’s a recipe for banana pancake muffins that are definitely ready to eat.

Muffin, cookie, or bread-based breakfast foods are not only easy to eat and easily transported, they are very interchangeable too. There are nearly unlimited options out there for you if you experiment with the ingredients you use.

Recipe

Other to-go breakfast foods that you can make ahead of time include:

• No Cook Overnight Oats (you can definitely experiment with ingredients in these!)
• Baked Oatmeal Cups (and yes, these technically fall into the muffin category!)
• Hard Boiled Eggs (boil these OR make them in the oven)
• Healthy Breakfast Cookies (cookies for breakfast? Isn’t that everyone’s dream?)

 

Keep in mind – we are always open to new ideas. If you have a recipe, tip, or trick of your own you’d like to share, we’d love to spread the word for you. Please send any and all of your own hacks to writingteam@pmgservices.com and keep an eye out for future hacks, too. Happy eating!

Kim Mooney, Technical Manager & Coach

Who Is PMG?

We get the question “Who Is PMG?” frequently and depending upon who you ask (or when) there is a short answer and a long answer. Before we get into that, you should know the idea of PMG started first and foremost as a solution. Our Principal recognized early on that there were not only skills and production gaps in manufacturing but also gaps in the solutions for these issues. Thus, came PMG!

Now, onto who we are.

The Short Answer

PMG is a manufacturing solutions company who mobilizes its nationwide team of highly-skilled, traveling technicians to rapidly boost output at manufacturers with skill-based production gaps.

The Long Answer

PMG is a manufacturing solutions company who brings 30 years of service to the manufacturing industry. By mobilizing our nationwide team of highly skilled traveling technicians to manufacturing facilities across the US, we help manufacturers and the overall supply chain deliver products to consumers and companies across the nation!

Yes, you read that right! 30 years of service and experience and that’s what makes us really good at what we do. However, we don’t stop there. Although 30 years makes us really good at what we do, we know we can always do a little more.

Here at PMG, our mission and goals are best summarized as:   

• Growth – We value personal growth and development for our employees, as well as achieving consistent growth by partnering with our clients to help them achieve their production goals.
• Results – We strive to not only achieve desired results, but to exceed them.
• Initiative – We value initiative from our team members in contributing to team outcomes and helping us see things from different perspectives.
• Teamwork – We value efforts to build strong team relationships, because we accomplish more when we work together.
• Solutions Focused – When we encounter roadblocks on the path to our goals, we don’t let them stop us but instead focus on solving how to get around them.

If you’re interested in using our solution, joining our solution, or simply learning more, you can find more details on our website or contact us here.

Kim Mooney, Technical Manager & Coach

 

 

It’s no secret that we’re big fans of technical education and the skilled trades here at PMG. If you follow us on social media you’ve definitely heard about the skills gap too. But did you know that tech schools and community colleges around America produce more highly skilled workers than just welders and machinists?

Occupations like paralegals, cosmetologists, morticians, and nurses are also considered technical trades. Another occupation requiring technical education that people overlook, but incredibly in demand nationwide, is Medical Laboratory Technicians (MLTs). If you haven’t heard yet, PMG is now hiring Medical Lab Techs!

What is a Medical Lab Tech and what do they do?

MLTs require an associate’s degree. They collect samples and perform tests to analyze body fluids, tissue, and other substances for medical purposes. Their duties include operating a wide range of sophisticated lab equipment such as microscopes and cell counters. Essentially, if doctors and nurses are the James Bonds of the medical world, medical lab workers are Q. They’re the ones using the most advanced equipment and procedures to do the behind-the-scenes things that find problems and create solutions.

Why are Medical Lab Techs so hard to hire?

The Bureau of Labor Statistics states that demand for medical lab techs is expected to grow to 7% by the end of this decade. That’s faster than the average rate for all occupations (when measuring as a group total) and roughly twice the rate for most when comparing job to job. In layman’s terms, this means that the need for lab techs is currently very high and experts project it to continue to grow. There are three main factors which cause this.

Decrease in Programs

The shortage in personnel for medical labs has been a growing problem across America for decades. Despite that fact, there has also been a steady nationwide decrease in MLT training programs during that same time.

For example, in the year 2000, there were 248 MLT programs in the US. By 2017, there were 244. Looking at a wider timespan, there has been a total decrease in the number of accredited training programs of nearly 25 percent between 1990 and 2018.

Why would institutions cut programs for such in-demand occupations? For the same reason we’ve seen other technical education programs deemphasized in the skills gap era; they’re expensive to offer and relatively underpromoted at the middle and high school levels.

Aging Workforce

Another factor contributing to shortages is the fact that workers are retiring faster than they can be replaced. This is not unique to the healthcare industry, but it means hospitals and clinics are feeling the skills gap just as acutely as their counterparts in manufacturing, construction, and agriculture. According to a 2016-2017 American Society for Clinical Pathology survey on laboratory vacancies, the average expected retirement rate for all departments was 19% within five years and an alarming 41% of respondents expected their lab director to retire in the same time frame. The increase in testing demands brought about by the COVID19 pandemic has greatly exacerbated this numbers-crunch in the last 18 months too.

New Requirements

Over the last couple decades, there have been many new developments in diagnostic technology. These have led to great improvements in many things including preventive screening. These advancements promote faster detection and results. That’s great for patients, but it also means that certain workers need to possess new knowledge and skillsets that weren’t necessary in the past.

For example, tests utilizing more specialized areas of testing are very common today. However, this is something that individuals who trained 20 or 30 years ago didn’t learn much, if anything, about. When institutions are unable to find employees capable of handling these kinds of new procedures, the employees currently on staff often end up working longer hours and/or having an expanded range of duties. These expanded duties and cross-training might make staff feel more valued, but they can also dilute in-depth core knowledge, limit specialization, and lead to burnout. All these factors just add increased strain to an already stretched lab staff. In essence, the added pressure to rise to the occasion can be a burden for employees, who are already spread thin and could negatively affect the lab’s efficiency.

Why would an MLT work for PMG?

For the same reasons our other skilled technicians work for us! PMG’s Traveling Medical Laboratory Technicians get to:

• Go where the work is, allowing them to see America
• Help the communities and healthcare facilities most in need of their assistance
• Grow their skills and experience more quickly than is possible in a more static work environment
• Earn top dollar for their work

If you’re a Medical Laboratory Technician and you’d like to grow your career by going where you’re needed most, please send your resume to Recruiter@pmgservices.com and we’ll be happy to talk to you.

If you’re in charge of staffing for a hospital, clinic, or lab and your people are feeling stretched thin, connect with our Client Solutions Team here.

Josh Erickson, ReTool Public Relations & Engagement Specialist

 

FAQs for PMG

PMG is all about answers; finding them, providing them, creating them. It’s kind of what we do. But where do we get them and how do we know what’s being asked? The honest answer is we do a lot of research here. However, we try to keep our finger on the pulse of what matters in manufacturing, and to those working within the industry, so we track a lot of other experts too. This brings us to our latest FAQ for PMG.

Who do you follow on social media?

That’s a great question that we’re happy to answer! When it comes to work platforms, we tend to add individuals from different categories to our social networks. This intentional network-building results in a plethora of professional advantages and it’s a habit that can be developed in just one month. If you want to learn more about how you can build this habit too, read more about our 30-Day LinkedIn Challenge. Then you can start building your professional network by following some of the folks PMG follows too. Without further ado, hear are some of the voices those of us here listen to!

Associations and Groups

We all have our individual thoughts and opinions. Hearing from “collective” viewpoints we respect can help us express such things with professionalism and clarity. A wide variety of angles and perspectives is the goal when building out this part of your network.

National Association of Manufacturers (NAM)

 A trade group representing more than 14,000 American manufacturers, NAM works on a national level to strengthen and advance the industry across all sectors for companies of all sizes. They are a great resource for information on their initiatives and general industry news of interest to their membership.

National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) – Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP)

NIST/MEP is a public/private partnership between the industry and government. They have MEP Centers in all 50 states and Puerto Rico dedicated to serving small-to-medium-sized manufacturers by helping them access and implement resources needed to succeed. Their Manufacturing Innovation Blog is also a must follow.

American Welding Society

The AWS is best known for weld standards and welder certification, but their mission is much more than that. Dedicated to “advancing the science, technology, and application of welding and allied joining and cutting processes” since 1919, this non-profit is all about supporting the growth and success of individual welders and the industry at large. Their weekly Weld Wednesday podcast is a great place to start exploring their available resources.

Technical Journals and Periodicals

These are the type of follows we turn to for the nuts & bolts information. It doesn’t matter how generally informed you are, using improper or inaccurate information or terminology will ruin your reputation quickly. Thus, exposure to the right technical experts and knowledge in your industry is critical.

The Fabricator

One in a family of publications owned by the Fabricators & Manufacturers Association, The Fabricator is an excellent resource for information and insight on all things associated with the metal processing, forming, and fabricating industries. We especially love their regular features on individual companies and technicians from across the industry!

CNC Cookbook

Started by Bob Warfield (the man you can thank for lots of things, including the tabs in digital spreadsheets like Excel), CNCCookbook is a software company created to “help everyone become a better CNC’er”. Their website is equally convenient and intuitive for prospective customers and the purely curious alike. But their blog page is 100% free content and a stand-alone resource by itself for anyone (regardless of skill level) interested in the field.

Modern Materials Handling

Regardless of what kind of company you work for, odds are good that you have to physically handle materials, products, equipment, parts or components. In that light, Modern Materials Handling is a great follow for anyone and everyone. It provides a comprehensive coverage of all things material handling since 1946. Today, we all but guarantee their blog page probably covers a topic or two of interest for you too!

Industry Advocates

Passion, mission, and message all mean something when advocating for things that matter. For many of us, that passion often focuses around supporting the industry that supports (and employs) us. But how does the amateur advocate make sure their mission and message are aligned? A great way to start is by following other individuals, whom already share your passion, that may be a little further along in their own advocacy.

Mike Rowe

An actor who began hosting the Discovery Channel show Dirty Jobs in 2003. Mike used his experiences featuring the blue-collar men and women of America as a springboard into a second career advocating for the importance of the work those folks do. Today, he is one of the preeminent voices promoting technical education and skilled trades careers to young people across the country. Unlike many celebrity types, he puts his money where his mouth is too. To date, his MikeRoweWorks Foundation has awarded more than $5 million in skilled trade program tuition to over 1,000 scholarship recipients since 2008.

Titan Gilroy

Former boxer and convict to current TV star and machine shop owner, Titan has lived a lot of life. That by itself doesn’t make him a great social media follow, but the fact that he shares every step of his journey, and the lessons learned, for FREE, sure does. There are a lot of platforms available to follow him, and his Titans of CNC Academy, but we suggest you start with his LinkedIn page. It’s a great way to keep tabs on all his other efforts.

The Weld Scientist

Nate Bowman, better known by his Instagram username @weldscientist, is paving a new path for the trades. He’s mainly doing it by relying on the visual nature of his chosen social media platform (and his trade) to show there isn’t just one “right” path into a career in the trades. Whether answering very technical questions or just showing the inherent daily beauty of his craft, the Weld Scientist is always a great follow.

“Outside” Voices

When building your network, especially the most informative parts, don’t feel obligated to only look within your own industry either. There is valuable insight and information everywhere and some of it is important specifically because it’s not being done in your sector or at your company yet. Outside influence, or “new blood”, is essential to advancing manufacturing into and through Industry 4.0 and beyond. When looking for voices from beyond your labor pool, put a heavy emphasis on the “universal” applicability of their content.

Patrick Lencioni

Patrick Lencioni is an author of 11 books that have sold more than six million copies, founder of The Table Group, and a pioneer of the organizational health movement. He’s best known for writing The 5 Dysfunctions of a Team, but he’s a great follow for just about anything regarding the business of work or the art of building teams. We recommend reading any of his books, but start by finding him on LinkedIn first!

Deloitte

Deloitte is a provider of advisory and consultancy services to some of the largest corporations and governmental agencies in the world. They’re also great at disseminating much of their research for public consumption. Since much of such data can be dense and data heavy, we especially love how readable and accessible they make those reports for the average Joe too. Check out this Vacation Reading Guide they recently released while on your next road trip to see just what we mean!

Warren Buffett

Buffett is one of America’s richest people and one of the country’s biggest philanthropists. Since the man obviously knows about money, and that’s the primary professional motivator for most of us anyway, he’s definitely worth following on social media. But the spirit of giving, evident in his charitable endeavors, trickles into his online content too. Give his Twitter page a follow to see what we mean and you’re bound to walk away more informed, and entertained, than you were before.

Additional Resources

We hope this FAQ inspired you to double down on the energy you invest into your own professional network. If so, watch our webinar on networking for free to learn more tips and tricks to getting started right.

You can always get other answers from us too. Just send your questions to our Writing Team and keep an eye out for future FAQ’s. We can’t wait to share our next answer with you!

Josh Erickson, ReTool Public Relations & Engagement Specialist

As PMG continues to grow, we’ve added additional talent to help us continue to do what we do best. Meet Abby and Bree, two of our new Production Development Coordinators.

 

Abby

What do you like most about your job?

I love getting to speak to new people each day. It’s even better when I call a potential candidate who is looking for work, and hearing them get excited that we have a position for them and their skillset.

What do you like most about working for PMG?

I love that I am gaining experience in recruitment with my HR major. I also really enjoy the people I am working with. Even though I am working fully remote; everyone is great about giving feedback, and answering my questions in a timely manner.

What advice would you give to a new employee at PMG?

Take notes, ask a lot of questions, and don’t stress! It may seem like a lot at first but you will soon get into a rhythm, where your work day just flies by!

You’re happiest when…?

I have a bowl of popcorn and a good movie on or sitting around a campfire with friends.

What animal best describes you at work?

I would have to say a squirrel! Fast and non-stop doing tasks and duties.

 

Bree

 

What do you like most about your job?

Talking with qualified candidates who are eager to work

What do you like most about working for PMG?

The supportive atmosphere! Everyone is very welcoming.

What advice would you give to a new employee at PMG?

Ask questions!!!! Even if you think its dumb, or it may have been answered before.

What are some hobbies you like to do in your free time?

Coach cheerleading, spend time with my family, go to outdoor concerts with friends and be out on the lake as much as possible! – Also, BIG Bachelor/Bachelorette fan!

Where is the best place you’ve traveled and why?

New York City – Such a bright, alive and fast-paced city!