Notable Words
Shrinking The Skills Gap: Why Manufacturing Day Matters
Over the next decade, it is estimated that nearly 3.5 million U.S. manufacturing jobs will be needed, and 2 million of those jobs are expected to go unfilled …
25 Years Strong in Promoting Certification and Industry Training
I was very saddened by the death of my good friend Ray Hanley, who passed away May 30 of this year. I got my first certification in 1987 and was introduced to …
CCEFP Forms A Stronger Partnership with Industry
It’s hard to believe that the Center for Compact and Efficient Fluid Power (CCEFP) is in its tenth year. It’s been a decade of rapid growth, and CCEFP is …
“Those Who Can, Do. Those Who Can Do More, Volunteer.”
When I was asked to write the Notable Words column for this issue of the Journal, I sat awhile trying to determine on which subject I should write. That lead …
NFPA Career Connections – Making A Difference in Tomorrow’s Workforce
Price Engineering. Thirty high school students. A tour. Fluid power classroom kits. Sharing. An internship. What does all this equal? The new NFPA Student …
An Emerging Workforce Crisis for U.S. Manufacturers
A sound recruitment strategy can help small- and mid-sized manufacturers stay competitive in the hunt for talent Manufacturing companies across the country are …
Fluid Power Mobile Technology – Past Achievements and Future Opportunities
Since this is the off-highway issue, it seems like a good time to reflect on the advances made in the mobile industry over the last 46 years and two …
IFPS Membership – What Do You Make of It?
I am sometimes questioned about the IFPS logo on my shirt. Once I was asked if it was a symbol for some type of “secret society.” This gave me a chuckle …
IFPS Certification is a Bright Idea
Have you ever wondered what happens when you flip on a light switch? Fluid power might not be the first thing that comes to mind, but electricity suppliers and …
Wake-Up Call
If you are reading this article, you probably already know what fluid power is, how most of us ended up in this field, and how hard it is to find your …
Increasing Awareness, Strengthening Our Industry
I would like to thank each and every member of the IFPS for making the Society what it is today. There is a bond of professional fellowship among us that I …
Fluid Power Profitability – The Power of a Business Accelerator Model
There is untapped profitability to uncover for the design and engineering teams sizing up hydraulic and pneumatic sealing and bearing systems for specialized …
What is Your Competitive Advantage?
The fluid power marketplace is competitive; no one disputes this statement. In order to thrive in today’s market, you need to ask yourself some important …
The Fluid Power Educational Foundation – Evolving with the Needs of the Industry
The Fluid Power Educational Foundation (FPEF) has charted a new course focusing on two major missions over the calendar year 2014. Our primary mission is to …
Next-Generation Hydraulics: Efficient Machines, Precise Control
In today’s hydraulic marketplace, manufacturers and end users need efficient equipment they can rely on to get the job done. Regardless of the end …
MOOCs and the Future of Fluid Power Education
Fluid power is an important enabling technology for mechanical, agricultural, and aerospace engineering. These disciplines graduate over 20,000 engineers a …
Training the Fluid Power Professionals of the Future
Ask a group of sixth graders what they would like to be when they grow up. You will receive glamorous answers, such as professional athletes and actors. You …
Safety in Fluid Power Systems
As an employee at Womack for 26 years, I have had several jobs. I spent almost 10 years as an outside salesman in West Texas, working around oil field …
Perfect Reliability
Is it possible, in the 21st century, to build a hydraulic system that doesn’t break down? Mechanical devices will eventually wear out, of course, so by …
“What a Long, Strange, Trip it’s been.”
In the words of one of my favorite bands, “What a Long, Strange, Trip it’s been.” Having been elected to serve as the 2014 president of the International …
What is Mechatronics?
The latest buzzword used within colleges and among many industry leaders is “mechatronics.” If one consults Wikipedia, the definition provided there is: …
Fluid Power Systems Conference
Reliable and Efficient Hydraulics and Pneumatics for Today and Tomorrow This November, the three leading fluid power organizations—The International Fluid …
To Be or Not to Be…Certified
Certification adds a third dimension to your portfolio; education and experience are the other two. In baseball, we look for a player with the complete …
For the Kid in All of Us
The term “outreach” isn’t typically associated with our professional lives. When I think of outreach, I think of church or a volunteer organization. …
A Call To Action
As president of the International Fluid Power Society this year, I have had the pleasure of attending a large number of trade shows and national meetings, …
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