Solution to Greatest Challenge Facing E-Commerce Facilities: Acute Shortage of Automation Technicians
The accelerated use of automation technologies within the material handling industry underlines the need for a much larger pool of highly skilled supply chain automation technicians.
In response to that need, Amatrol, the nation's leading manufacturer of industrial technician training equipment, and the Manufacturing Skill Standards Council (MSSC) ®, the nation's leading certification body for front-line technicians in advanced manufacturing and logistics, have collaborated on a highly innovative solution. They will unveil that solution at the Material Handling Equipment Distributors Association (MHEDA) booth #8466 at MODEX, the Material Handling Industry Expo, at Atlanta's Georgia World Congress Center, March 9-12.
Drawing upon 100 skills from MSSC's industry-defined, nationally validated Logistics Standards, Amatrol has built an ingenious hands-on training and testing device, called "Skill Boss-Logistics." It will enable both students and incumbent workers to gain the skills needed to meet the definition of a supply chain automation technician established by the National Science Foundation-funded National Center for Supply Chain Automation: a technician who installs, operates, supports, upgrades or maintains the automated material handling equipment and systems which support the supply chain.
Over a dozen of the world's leading distribution and package delivery corporations have advised Amatrol on the design of "Skill Boss-Logistics." Compact and transportable, this device fits easily into a company training facility or community college tech center. Colorful and more fun than a robot, it will excite many more students to pursue well-paid careers in supply chain automation. Cost-effective and miniaturized, it can be used by small as well as large companies, and by many more schools that are unable to afford large tech centers.
Vital statistics about Skill Boss-Logistics: Skill Boss Logistics is a bench-size automated sortation system measuring a compact 34-in x 96-in. The system includes a variety of supply chain automation components, including multiple types of conveyors, electro-pneumatic sorters, vacuum, 2D barcode reader, PLC control, Ethernet network, AC and DC drives, and warehouse control software. The system also includes an innovative computerized fault insertion system to provide testing of troubleshooting skills based on realistic sortation system problems.
Another major attraction of "Skill Boss-Logistics" is that its use leads to three prestigious and nationally portable MSSC industry credentials. MSSC is offering three full certifications under the heading, Certified Technician in Supply Chain Automation (CTSCA):
- Certification in Maintaining Equipment/Systems: CTSCA – EM
- Certification in Installing, Modifying, Troubleshooting, and Repairing Equipment/Systems: CTSCA – ER
- Certification in Installing, Modifying, Troubleshooting, and Repairing Basic Controllers and Networks: CTSCA – NR
Individuals who earn all three will receive a full "Automation Master" recognition award and insignia from MSSC.
A major retail supply chain facilities engineering team recently concluded, "Our team was very impressed by both Amatrol and the MSSC certification, and are excited about how we can bring them into our training path moving forward. Amatrol clearly displays their expertise in this space with outstanding and highly effective hands-on tools."
