NIMS: Certifying a skilled workforce for the global economy

NIMS, Lightweight Innovations for Tomorrow (LIFT) – one of the new national manufacturing innovation institutes — and Ivy Tech Community College (Ivy Tech) are partnering to enhance and expand training to fill the largest number of open manufacturing jobs in states along the auto corridor. The program is part of a comprehensive effort to prepare a new industrial technology maintenance workforce, which drives the performance and improvement of high-tech manufacturing, and has grown in demand by 118% from 2011 to 2015 in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and Tennessee.

View the Standards About Industrial Technology Maintenance Jobs View the Press Release More About the Partnership View the Instructor Work Group

The region may need to fill an estimated 133,000 jobs over the next decade. These jobs entail the maintenance, troubleshooting and improvement of complex machines and automation systems that create efficient and productive manufacturing. To support the rapid deployment of new light weighting technologies being developed at LIFT, workers will have to understand and be confident in using the latest advanced technologies, help integrate them into companies’ processes and maintain their performance over time. The initiative will focus on building high-quality training programs by:

Rolling out the first-ever industry standards for educating and training the industrial technology maintenance workforce;
Training instructors from community colleges across the entire region; and
Equipping a competent workforce with the knowledge, skills and credentials they need to enter into and advance in the field.

In partnership with Ivy Tech, NIMS worked with over 125 industry, education and workforce development experts to develop the industry standards for the training programs and the credentials that will prepare industrial technology mechanics and technicians. In March 2016, Ivy Tech will launch a new instructor training facility to prepare instructors to deliver the training, and NIMS will bring to market credentials that certify individuals’ skills by Fall of 2016. Interested instructors can sign up here.

The duty areas that will be covered include:

NIMS ITM Certifications are available in each of the following duty areas:

Click the links below to view more information on each duty area and to see the training products available.

Duty Area 1: Maintenance Operations

NIMS ITM Certifications: Duty Area 1 Maintenance Operations

This duty area covers: adhering to safety, health, and environmental rules and regulations; operating and monitoring a machine; interpreting machine operation and maintenance documentation and technical drawings; performing machine maintenance procedures, preventative maintenance, and predictive maintenance; selecting and safely using of proper hand tool for a task; moving, handling, and storing materials and equipment; and selecting systems troubleshooting methods.

Maintenance Operations (M50111)

This course covers machine operation, machine monitoring and documentation, troubleshooting techniques, and total productive maintenance (TPM). Examples of topics within this course include: the function of a Basic Human Machine Interface (HMI); how to issue, interpret, and resolve a maintenance work order; the types of fluid power test instruments and their applications; and methods of eliminating breakdown losses.

Mechanical Component Maintenance (M50112)

This course covers: bolt and machine screw installation, basic component, precision component, and non-threaded component assembly; clamping and locking devices; power assembly; and component contamination and handling. Examples of topics include categories of torque-controlled tools, using a C-clamp to hold parts during assembly, the types of key fasteners, inspecting components for contamination, and using a wash station to clean a part.

Mechanical Print Reading (M50113)

This course covers mechanical print reading, assembly drawings, and basic part and precision dimensioning. Examples of topics include methods used to visualize the views of an object based on third-angle projection, interpreting a drawing scale, the functions of a threaded fastener, and how to place a datum feature symbol on a drawing.

Rigging Techniques (E50114)

This course covers rigging concepts, lifting devices, and wire rope and chain slings. Examples of topics include determining the center of gravity for a symmetrical load, operating an endless chain hoist, factors that affect the rated load of a hitch, assembling and lifting a load using a two-leg wire rope bridle sling and shackles, and assembling and lifting a load using a chain sling.

Rigging Techniques 2 (E50115)

This course covers synthetic slings, equipment movement, and industrial cranes. Examples of topics include assembling and lifting a load using a synthetic sling, operating various types of jacks, using roller bars and dollies to move a load, and operating an industrial crane.

Industrial Safety (M50101)

This course covers safety organization, personal protective equipment, HAZCOM, confined spaces, electrical safety, fire safety, accident response, workplace ergonomics, and maintenance organization. Examples of topics include creating a culture of safety in the workplace, using head, eye, and ear protection personal protective equipment, explaining the importance of chemical container labeling, providing characteristics of a permit-required confined space, the function of an electrical lockout/tagout system, using a fire extinguisher, preventing bloodborne pathogen exposure, interpreting common safety markings, and visual management tools used in the workplace.

To prepare individuals for the performance-based portion of the certifications, in addition to the NIMS recommended eLearning, Amatrol offers OJT manuals, Instructor's Guides, and hardware trainer/simulators. Amatrol's hardware trainers utilize industrial components to recreate industrial applications to teach the hands-on skills required to complete the NIMS certifications.

*32 eLearning Modules

Hardware Systems Available to Support Hands-On Training:

Mechanical Fabrication (950-MPF1)
Rigging 1 (950-RGB1)
Rigging 2 (95-RGB2)

Duty Area 2: Basic Mechanical Systems

NIMS ITM Certifications: Duty Area 2 Basic Mechanical Systems

This duty area covers: adhering to mechanical power transmission safety rules; using dimensional measuring tools; installing and aligning shaft couplings, belt drives, chain drives, gear drives, and pillow block bearings; identifying lubrication points, selecting lubricant, and applying lubricant to a machine; and troubleshooting power transmissions.

Dimensional Measurement (M50121)

This course covers measurement systems, calipers, micrometers, indicators, and gauging. Examples of topics include: the function and construction of a machinist’s rule, how to use a dial caliper and an outside micrometer, and using a digital indicator to measure a dimension.

Mechanical Drives 1 (M50122)

This course covers: mechanical power transmission; machine installation; performance measurement; basic shaft alignment; and basic v-belt, chain, gear, and multiple shaft gear drives. Examples of topics include six rules of safe dress for working with power transmission equipment, using fasteners to attach a motor mount to a bedplate, methods of loading a mechanical drive system, methods of mounting a shaft bearing, installing and aligning a v-belt drive, operating a single-strand roller chain drive, the function of a right-angle gear drive system, and aligning a sleeve coupling.

Mechanical Drives 2 (M50123)

This course covers: heavy duty v-belt drives; lubrication systems; chain, v-belt, and synchronous belt drive troubleshooting; indicator shaft alignment; and coupling troubleshooting. Examples of topics include operating a multiple belt v-belt drive, how oils are specified, how chains are specified, methods of identifying belt size and type, installing and aligning an HTD belt drive system, types of coupling flexibility, and preventive maintenance steps for couplings.

Laser Shaft Alignment (M50124)

This course covers: rough alignment; laser shaft alignment installation, operation, and analysis; and soft foot correction. Examples of topics include safety rules for a laser alignment system, how to perform a rough alignment on a power transmission system, how to align two shafts using a laser alignment system, and how to determine shaft alignment tolerances in a power transmission system.

Industrial Safety (M50101)

*20 eLearning Modules

Hardware Systems Available to Support Hands-On Training:

Basic Measurement (990-MES1 or 950-MES1)
Mechanical Drives 1 (950-ME1 or 990-ME1)
Mechanical Drives 2 (95-ME2 or 99-ME2)
Laser Alignment (95-ME2A)

Duty Area 3: Basic Hydraulic Systems

NIMS ITM Certifications: Duty Area 3 Basic Hydraulic Systems

This duty area covers: adhering to fluid power systems safety rules; interpreting basic fluid power schematics; starting up and shutting down a hydraulic system and adjusting system pressure; adjusting hydraulic actuator speed using a flow control valve; servicing hydraulic fluid and a hydraulic filter; installing hydraulic conductors and installing and testing components in a basic hydraulic circuit; and troubleshooting a basic hydraulic circuit.

Hydraulic Systems 1 (50131)

This course covers hydraulic pumps, circuits, pressure and flow concepts and control, and sequence control. Examples of topics include: how to read a pressure gauge; the operation of a hydraulic power unit; the function of a 3-position, 4-way directional control valve; calculating the force output of a hydraulic cylinder in retraction; the advantages of a pilot-operated relief valve; the effect of actuator load changes on flow control valve operation; and the operation of a direct-acting sequence valve.

Hydraulic Systems 2 (M50132)

This course covers hydraulic directional control valve applications, hydraulic cylinder applications, hydraulic relief valve applications, hydraulic pilot-operated check valves, and hydraulic accumulators. Examples of topics include the operation of a hydraulic 4/2 cam-operated valve, how to calculate the extend speed of a cylinder in regeneration, the operation of a remote-controlled relief valve circuit, the function of a prefill valve, and how to pre-charge a gas-loaded accumulator.

Hydraulics Troubleshooting 1 (M50133)

This course covers troubleshooting hydraulic pumps, actuators, valves on a component level and overall hydraulic systems. Examples of topics include methods of testing a hydraulic component, causes of pseudo-cavitation, how to adjust a cylinder cushion, inspecting and troubleshooting a check valve, symptoms of relief valve failure, and the construction of a troubleshooting flowchart.

Hydraulics Maintenance 1 (M50134)

This course covers the maintenance of hydraulic filters and fluids and the replacement of fittings, seals, hydraulic hoses, steel tubing, and other hydraulic components. Examples of topics include the ISO 4406 contamination code, the proper fluid to use in a hydraulic system based on manufacturer’s documentation, the operation of a straight thread O-ring fitting, installing a hydraulic hose using brackets and clips, the function of thread sealant in a hydraulic system, and how to replace a subplate-mounted valve in a hydraulic system.

Industrial Safety (M50101)

*20 eLearning Modules

Hardware Systems Available to Support Hands-On Training:

Basic Hydraulics (85-BH)
Intermediate Hydraulics (85-IH)
Hydraulic Troubleshooting (950-HTB1 or 950-HT1)
Hydraulic Maintenance (950-HM1)

Duty Area 4: Basic Pneumatic Systems

NIMS ITM Certifications: Duty Area 4 Basic Pneumatic Systems

This duty area covers: adhering to fluid power systems safety rules; adjusting pneumatic system branch operating pressure using a regulator and pneumatic actuator speed using a flow control valve; servicing a pneumatic filter and pneumatic lubricator; installing pneumatic conductors; starting up and shutting down a reciprocating air compressor and adjusting operating pressure; and installing and testing components in pneumatic circuits.

Pneumatics 1 (50141)

This course covers pneumatic power, circuits, pressure and flow concepts, speed control circuits, and air compressors. Examples of topics include: basic rules for drawing pneumatic schematics; the functions of pressure regulator valves, flow control valves, and flowmeters; how directional control valves are classified; calculating the force output of a cylinder in retraction; and how to start and shut down a small reciprocating piston air compressor.

Pneumatics 2 (M50142)

This course covers directional control valve applications and air-piloted valves, pneumatic component maintenance and pneumatic conditioning, vacuum systems, and air compressors. Examples of topics include the operation of a pneumatic cam-operated DCV, types of pneumatic DCV construction, the function of a coalescing filter, the operation of a refrigeration type air dryer, methods used to produce vacuums, and how to start and shut down a small reciprocating piston air compressor.

Pneumatics Troubleshooting 1 (M50143)

This course covers troubleshooting a variety of pneumatic applications like air preparation, pneumatic actuators and valves, vacuum systems, and overall pneumatic systems. Examples of topics include methods of testing a pneumatic component, interpreting a pneumatic troubleshooting chart, describing the function of a rotary actuator, how to troubleshoot a vacuum generator, and the function and construction of a troubleshooting flowchart.

Pneumatics Maintenance 1 (M50144)

This course covers fluid circuit components, pipe thread components, and pneumatic fittings and tubing. Examples of topics include methods of connecting rubber hose to a fitting, how pipe threads are designated, how to install a bulkhead fitting, and types of pneumatic tubing.