Maybe I am just catching up, but YouTube is a great resource for instructional videos in the paper mill, particularly for maintenance. Look up "installing a paper machine doctor blade" and you will find many videos. Same for "rewinding an electric motor" or "rebuilding a gate valve."

You name it and there is likely multiple videos on how to do most any maintenance task.

If you choose to use this resource, I suggest a senior maintenance person vet and choose the videos. Then, present them in a class room setting with a mixture of newbies and senior hands.

Of course, another great source of such videos is your own suppliers. Most of them these days have produced their own videos.

If you are an ambitious young person, early in your career, you can learn nearly any subject, from pipe installation to the most complicated derivative bond offering structure on YouTube.

At my age, I am in awe at what you can find for free. All you need is a computer and an internet connection, which you can get at your local library.

Which brings us to a subject that I want to sneak into this maintenance month column.

In days of old (I started my career in March of 1970), we depended on our employer for training like I describe above. Why? Because training was expensive and limited in availability. For instance, when I started as an engineering co-op, the first thing my employer had me do for two weeks was look at drawings of previous machines they had designed (they were a custom fabricator). No explanation, no guidance, just review these drawings. Then the third week, I got my first assignment.

Now, this was not AutoCAD or anything computer based. That was a decade away. This work was on a drawing board with vellum, pencils and French curves (you may need to look up French curves). I had been there two years when the boss walked in with a Texas Instruments calculator that did basic math functions but had no memory.

So, no whining about your limited training resources. Today they are abundant and virtually free leaving you to expend the time and the energy to use them.

Great points about YouTube videos. I know our Safety department borrows liberally from YouTube because I have to attend Safety training routinely. Being in Product Development I don't know what Maintenance and Operations do, but there is sure a lot of potential. At home I watch a video before trying almost any new maintenance task on the house or vehicles. I used to get a Haynes Manual for each vehicle I bought, but they don't publish those any more.

I am just old enough to understand the drafting story. I took two years of drafting in high school (1988-90) and it was all by hand. I didn't start to use computers until my first year at University, and it was green text screens, no graphics or mouse. I just missed the punch card era though.

My grandfather left the University of Maine in 1924 after one year of Civil Engineering. I guess it wasn't for him-he spent his career selling chicken and eggs, and later bakery products, house to house--back when that was something that was done. Anyway, when he died, my parents gave me his drafting set and slide rule that he had kept all those years. I had to teach myself how to use the slide rule-that was very interesting. I had never learned--calculators were already common when I was in high school.

As always I thoroughly enjoy your columns. It's nice to see a lifetime's worth of wisdom being shared.

You and I started work at the same time, you in engineering and me shipping out to Da Nang, Vietnam! And, I know and have used a French curve too.

Other than my wife and kids, talking with you was a God send when I was diagnosed with cancer. Since then, I have spoken to two friends that have also been diagnosed with cancer. I asked them the same questions you asked me and elaborate about the time curve. Both of these individuals told me this really helped them get through their treatments and recovery. I made sure I credited you for the guidance too!

Jim

Regarding your newsletter this week, I have been disappointed by the
lack of interest that younger people have shown about putting their own
time into education.

Not even willing to try to spend a half day at a relevant trade event
with a an hour of their job.

Of course, if a client asks my opinion about staff, it's a subject I
consider.

The converse is that people who follow the industry news (like yours),
get a wee boost.

Dene Taylor