production world
Diploma offers a wide range of skills for industry
THE Diploma in Manufacturing and Product
Design (MPD) is due to be introduced for 14-
19 year olds in schools and colleges across
England from September 2009. It will give
companies the opportunity through working
with schools and colleges to pass on the
specialised knowledge and skills required in
their businesses to potential employees.
Manufacturers are being invited to form
consortia partnerships with schools, colleges
and other employers to offer practical advice
and expert guidance in the teaching of the
diploma. An initial 28 consortia from across
England have been approved to deliver the
diploma from September.
‘Having a qualification available in schools
and colleges that has been designed by
industry provides us with an excellent opportunity,’ says
Derek Jones, who is leading the diploma development
project team. ‘To reap its benefits, it’s vital that businesses are
actively involved in its delivery. Employers have long spoken
of the problems they face attracting young people into the
CAD/CAM/CAE group Planit
Software has consolidated its
manufacturing solutions with the
creation of a new divisional brand,
Manufacturing Control Solutions
(MCS). Headed by commercial
manager Phillip Gill, the new division
helps manufacturing companies to
maximise the effectiveness and
efficiencies of their production
resources, reduce waiting times and
increase profits through improved
machine tool communications,
monitoring and run time driven
maintenance.
Core MCS products include a twotier
DNC solution and advanced
Machine Tool Monitoring system.
DNC within Manufacturing Control
Solutions uses modern Ethernet-based
communication and data
management tools to deliver up-tothe-minute
information on the part
production process, along with faster
and more reliable CNC file
management and storage. High speed
file transfer streamlines program
loading, with automatic upload,
download and drip-feeding of CNC
programs to the appropriate machine
tool controller. Program, load and save
commands are carried out directly at
the machine controller keyboard
without the need for additional
machine specific terminals. In
addition, automatic file history
storage, tracking and logging ensure
full traceability and compliance to
FDA, DIN and ISO standards.
DNC Pro builds on these
capabilities by supplying a more
sophisticated level of data
management and control of NC code
and associated manufacturing
documentation. It is a clientserver.NET
application fulfilling the
requirements of FDA certification to
medical equipment standard DIN EN
ISO 13485:2003 for file management.
In addition to storing NC files and
maintaining a detailed log of all NC
file transactions, DNC Pro is based on
a SQL database which provides
complete file traceability and full
sector, and about the difficulties of
finding skilled recruits who can add
something to their business. The
Diploma in MPD offers the chance for
employers to take action, by engaging
directly with young people while they
are still in learning. It is a massive
opportunity, and one the industry
cannot afford to let pass by.’
Depending on the resources they
have available, employers may be
involved in delivery of the diploma in a
number of ways. They could offer work
experience placements, give factory
tours and lectures to students, advise on
Derek project Jones topics and practical tasks, and
assist with teachers’ and lecturers’
continuing professional development programmes.
Companies of all sizes are being sought, and from all
manufacturing sectors. The input of employers is seen as
vital in helping to give students a practical understanding of
how industry really works. www.manufacturingdiploma.co.uk
New Planit division boosts production efficiency
audit compliance support. The system
also incorporates integrated data
management via ‘drag and drop’
functionality, as well as full file
revision control and automatic
versioning.
MCS’s Machine Tool Monitoring
(MTM) system is a Windows-based
real time machine data capture
application that enables users to
monitor information on machine tool
activity for retention and analysis.
Data on productivity can be reviewed
on a machine-by-machine basis or by
shift-by-shift comparison, along with
reasons for stoppages and nonproductive
time.
www.planit.com
Leader
goes
global
Leader CNC Technologies
is set to install three new
machines worth £1.6m to
overseas customers. Two
large Toshiba BP130.R22
horizontal borers are
destined for France whilst
the third machine, a
Kitamura HX300iF
horizontal machining
centre, is to be delivered
to an aerospace
manufacturer in the
Russian Federation, two
having already been
installed by Leader CNC
last year. The Toshibas are
part of a turnkey package
with prove-out of the
customer’s parts being
completed at the factory
prior to commissioning on
site. Leader is the main
dealer for Toshiba
Machine within central
Europe, and its engineers
will work with locally
appointed agents to
ensure satisfactory
installation and prove-out,
with ongoing support
from Nuneaton on
engineering and warranty.
The Kitamura is for a
manufacturer of regional
jet parts. According to
Leader CNC the two
installed machines have
proved so reliable and
accurate that only one
visit has been made since
installation - and that was
prompted by an operator
set-up error.
www.leadercnc.co.uk
12 MWP may 2009
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