Investment for Today, Investment for the Future!

By Bradley “BJ” Wagner, CFPAI/AJPP, Director Training/Development, IFPS

Growing up as a child, we are taught to set goals and to plan for the future. Questions were often asked: “What do you want to be when you grow up?”, “Who are your role models?”, “What college are you going to?”, “Are you going to participate in an internship?”, “What are your career aspirations?”, “What do you want to do for a living?” For some, those answers may have been clear, and straight forward. For others, some answers may have been unclear or have changed. For many however, those answers have changed numerous times along the way, and are perhaps still changing. Life is not always a set path. Sometimes change is inevitable, but if we are willing to learn and grow over time, it can be a successful path and journey.

As a parent, we invest in the future of our children. We want them to have a better education, have a better job, have a better direction, and perhaps learn from the things that we learned or experienced along the way. In a way, investing in our children is an investment for the future. A proper plan and course of action set early, leads to a reward in the end. For those of us who had clear answers to the questions asked as a child, perhaps that journey was a little easier. While always a challenge, having people to support and encourage us along the way, made the direction a little straighter and the path and hills to climb a little easier.

The IFPS mission is to globally pursue and promote the application of Fluid Power technology through certification, standardization, and education essential to professional growth. While certification may be the goal, education and learning are part of the journey along the way. Education and learning are the investment that can lead to the certification and a bright future in the fluid power industry. I have had the incredible opportunity to facilitate certification review trainings throughout the year to nearly all levels of certifications. I see investment in learning as a key to success in the certification journey. It is not always about the cost of the certification or the cost of the training. While that does affect the bottom dollar, it is an investment for today and an investment for the future. Just like our children, supporting the goals and aspirations early, can lead to a successful tomorrow. Investing in the learning, can lead to an educated workforce that can tackle the challenges of tomorrow. For some that is investment in their children and their employees, both which lead to a successful today, a successful tomorrow, and successful long time future.

One such company I have had the pleasure of working with this past year, has taken a unique approach to their certification journey and preparation. They have demonstrated that the investment is in the education and learning, and that certification and return on investment will follow. They have demonstrated that learning leads to knowledge, knowledge can lead to certification, and certification can support the tomorrow and long term future. Not all people preparing for the certifications have a significant background in hydraulics or pneumatics, and the successful passing of the certification can be a daunting and challenging task. Their approach has proven to be successful, yielding high results, and focusing on the education and learning as part of that certification journey. Their approach may be a model for others to follow, to aid in their own certification journey.

Ballinger Industries, LLC is a small family owned and operated CNC Machining & Assembly company located in Michigan who recognized the importance of certification and what it has to offer, leading to a more knowledgeable workforce, and ultimately a safer working environment. All of their machining equipment is operated by hydraulics, leading to a need for hydraulic knowledge for the maintenance and operation of their machines and equipment. Their approach to certification has been unique in that it was not just an investment in a week long certification review training, but more of an investment in training and learning as a whole. For anyone who has tackled an IFPS certification, preparing on their own, knows that is not always a walk in the park. It can take a lot of time and focus to learn the material and prepare for the certification exam, and perhaps then participate in a certification review training as a last step in their preparation. Ballinger Industries’ approach was to utilize a partial-day, bi-weekly, online training, consisting of 32 hours of 2–4-hour sessions scheduled twice per week, to gradually learn the basics and theory, fitting it around their daily work schedule, and then utilize an in-person certification review training as a true review, allowing for customized training specific to their needs. While this approach is a larger investment in training dollars, it allows for fully learning the material and being prepared for the certification exams. LaMar Ballinger, owner and operator of Ballinger Industries, LLC stated that “It is an investment in the future…” and that while certification is important, “it is the knowledge and understanding that is important to us” for his staff and employees. He shared that “not everyone learns at the same pace or same method” and that the investment is in education, and certification will follow. His discussion and sharing of his company vision was clear and re-emphasized with his questions and comments; he asked where I grew up and where I live now. My response, like many, was that I live close to family and home. This led to his profound statement proclaiming, “I want to invest in the future. My goal is to have a place after graduation of high school or college for people to stay, or to come home to. Youth is the future of our companies and our communities.”

In a way, this aligns with the quote from the popular 1989 movie Field of Dreams “If you build it, they will come”. Building a business with educated staff members today will lead to growth, a place to come home to, and a future for tomorrow. Investing for the future today (children, employees, and workforce), will lead to a safer and more knowledgeable tomorrow. Investing in learning and training will lead to certification, which can lead to a safer, more knowledgeable, and successful future.

An investment for today, is an investment for the future. Training and certification can be a part of that journey and investment. Perhaps Ballinger Industries’ approach to training and certification can be an approach that will work for you as well. IFPS is proud to be part of that journey!