FMEA course begins January 22, 2013

A process failure modes and effects analysis, or FMEA,  is a structured method for identifying potential problems throughout a manufacturing process.

Using a simple manufactured part and documentation, participants in the FMEA course work through a Process FMEA using Automotive Industry Action Group guidelines. Emphasis is placed on understanding the guidelines and FMEA form, maximizing organizational value, team determination of rankings, and linkage to other quality documents.

The course runs 7:30-11:30 a.m. January 22, 2013, at Leslie E. Tassell M-TEC. The registration fee is $120. For more information, click here.

Workforce Training offers APQP course in January 2013

With APQP, the Automotive Industry Action Group provides detailed descriptions and a structured method to define and establish the steps needed to assure customer satisfaction with production parts.

Discussion and activities covering this aspect of the APQP workshop give participants a life-cycle view of what activities should be planned and implemented during each of the five phases of product quality planning. Common tools to manage the APQP effort are also included. Control Plans provide your customer a structured summary of the systems used to minimize variation of product and process characteristics. The methodology is covered in detail in the workshop. Your team will develop a control plan using a simple manufactured part and documentation.

The course runs 12:30-4:30 p.m. January 22, 2013, at Leslie E. Tassell M-TEC. The registration fee is $120. For more information, click here.

Basic Geometric Designs & Tolerencing course starts January 2013

Industry uses Geometric Designs and Tolerencing to specify contractual requirements. Unfortunately, many people within industry have a flawed or incomplete understanding of the subject.

The Basic Geometric Designs & Tolerencing course builds competence to correctly apply and interpret the rules, definitions, principles and symbols per the American National Standard, ASME Y14.5 – 2009, in only two days! This course provides a common language to improve communication, so set-up requirements and tolerance zones are clearly understood by all.

Topic include:

• the rules, definitions, and symbols of ASME Y14.5-2009.
• specified feature control frames.
• specified datum reference frames.
• the shape, size, and location of tolerance zones.
• features size requirements given specified tolerances.

The course runs 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. January 17 and 18, 2013, at Leslie. E Tassell M-TEC. The registration fee is $585. For more information, click here.

Bring donations for GRCC Food Pantry during Holiday Breakfast

The GRCC Food Pantry has given away 199 bags full of groceries this semester.

Don’t forget: Donations will be collected for the GRCC Food Pantry during the 2012 Holiday Breakfast — 7-11 a.m. December 14.

During this past year, 47 students have been approved to use the pantry, and we have given away 199 bags full of groceries just this semester! There will be a special door prize/drawing for those who donate during the Holiday Breakfast!

The Food Pantry’s biggest needs:

• canned fruit.
• peanut butter.
• jelly or jam.
• SpaghettiOs.
• soup (not tomato).
• crackers.
• pancake mix.
• Pop-Tarts.
• packaged dinners.
• pasta sides.
• meals-to-go.
• granola bars.
• fruit snacks.
• cereal.
• rice sides and beans.
• canned tuna and canned chicken.
• tomato sauce.
• canned vegetables (no corn).

Team Design Project class goes ‘steampunk’ with clock designs

Students in the DR 279 – Team Design Project class recently showed off their final projects, the culmination of a semester spent learning the ins and outs of CAD, design and construction.

Professor Wilfred Gooch wanted to see clocks this year. But to get to those timepieces, students faced many challenges and some unexpected curves. The teams of students drew up a concept, used CAD software to design it, and then had to win approval before moving to fabrication. They could use only “found objects” in their clocks, which not only had to be functional but visible at night as well.

The result of their efforts: working clocks with a steampunk flair.

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Advanced Manufacturing series starts December 18, 2012

Find out about lean manufacturing, statistical process control and manufacturing terminology in Workforce Training’s Introduction to Advanced Manufacturing series.

The classes, which start December 18, 2012, are designed for those in entry-level positions, operators, supervisors, inspectors, leads and support personnel — anyone, in fact, who wants to increase his or her knowledge of manufacturing production process tools.

The series modules, designed with feedback from area businesses, are:

• 5S – Organizing the Workplace.
• Lean Manufacturing – Finding and Eliminating Waste.
• Measuring and Gaging.
• Print Reading I.
• Print Reading II.
• Problem Solving – 8 Steps & 5 Whys.
• Statistical Process Control – SPC I.
• Statistical Process Control – SPC II.
• Basic Geometric Dimensioning & Tolerancing.

For more information, click here.

Officer Christopher Armstrong joins GRCC Campus Police

Richard W. Verburg, Board of Trustees chairman, swears in Officer Christopher Armstrong.

Officer Christopher Armstrong recently joined the Campus Police.

Officer Armstrong is a graduate from the 77th session of GRCC’s Police Academy, in 2010, and was an assistant squad leader. He replaces Levi Guppy, who joined the Muskegon City Police Department.

Teaching Online? Get Certified in January!

Registration is now open for the January sessions of both Blackboard Basics (January 18) and the Online Hybrid Certification Course. Blackboard Basics will be held on January 18 at 11:30 AM. It provides a quick overview of how Blackboard can be used in teaching, learning, and community building.

The OHCC is a six-session course that will run from January 18 – March 1. It allows you to become certified to teach online by learning to plan, construct and manage your own online or hybrid course. This is a full-fledged, academic, six-week, online/hybrid course. All six weeks and a final project must be completed for certification. You will be required to log in and attend, meet minimum standards for participation, and submit assignments. Please review the course syllabus to make sure you are able to commit to the entire course before registering. One of the greatest lessons you will get out of this experience is how it feels to be a student. Sessions may be completed online or face-to-face during meetings on Fridays from 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM. Prerequisite: Blackboard Basics. register here

For more information, contact the Center for Teaching Excellence at 616-234-2278 or at teachexcellence@grcc.edu