Bridging the Skills Gap: IMTS Virtual Field Trip

Remember those exciting school days when these magical words were on the agenda: “field trip”? Okuma played host to a field trip of the virtual kind in a video segment filmed at IMTS 2014. Because the younger generation is so in tune with using technologies like apps and smartphones, we decided to show them Okuma’s new App Store so they can see how these tools can be applied in manufacturing jobs that are definitely cool and high-tech! Brian Sides, Okuma’s Director of Technology, demonstrated examples of machine tool apps in action, and here are a few excerpts from his video interview with host Jeremy Bout.

Jeremy: Apps are kind of everywhere right now…

Brian: That’s the thing! What we wanted to do is bring that concept into the manufacturing world. There’s an app for everything, and there are apps for everything in manufacturing as well. The App Store is designed to bring all that into one place.

J: How does an app help people make money?

B: Many ways! For example, some of our customers are small shops. They can’t always be standing at their machines. If that machines alarms out and stops running, they’re not making money. We have an app (Machine Alert) that sends an alarm to their phone if the machine stops, so they can quickly fix the problem, hit the green button and get running again.

J: All shops must be different. How can they customize this to meet their particular needs?

B: That Machine Alert app I was just talking about? We have three different versions of that on the App Store right now. Pick your favorite! Plus, the app developers are able come in and tweak an app for you, to create exactly what you need.

“Technology Applied” at IMTS

The virtual field trip is titled “Technology: Applied” and is designed to show students why math and science matter, and how courses like trigonometry, chemistry and physics can be applied every day in productive and rewarding careers. Developed by educators and manufacturing industry experts, “Technology: Applied” connects academic courses to important products students see and use every day. This connection gives students a better understanding of how manufacturing works, and shows them why they might pursue a career making products the world depends on. The video series is designed for students in grades 5-12, college and tech school. The Okuma App Store is featured in this virtual tour of some of “the most groundbreaking and fascinating areas” of IMTS.

The full series of videos is available for educators on the Technology Applied website. The program is organized by Partners in THINC member Sandvik Coromant in partnership with a variety of sponsors including Okuma America.