Repairing for the Future in '05 Happy New Year We are celebrating the start of both our 23rd year of existence and our third year of independent operation in elevating maintenance excellence. Below are some of the 2004 highlights. Thank you again for your continued support. We look forward to helping you to not just survive, but thrive in 2005. Averting the Maintenance Crisis Feedback Opportunity For every ten skilled technicians retiring today, only three or four are entering the field. If you would like to share evidence or views on the maintenance crisis, here is your chance. We are in discussions with a National Public Radio reporter about future Maintenance Crisis news stories. She would like to learn as much as possible from industry resources, so please email joel@MPACTLearning.com any statistics, anecdotal evidence, opinions, contributing factors, problem resolution, etc. about the maintenance crisis. Joel is also working hard with industry and other media outlets to get the word out. Schedule of upcoming classes listed on our web site January 18 – 20: Start the Year on the right foot with a Systematic Troubleshooting Class. This has become our most popular course, and deservedly so, as it turns “parts changers” into skilled troubleshooters. January 28: NASCAR Racing - A Model for Equipment Reliability and Teamwork Learn from Bob Williamson how equipment performance and reliability can be improved by focusing on results and changing the culture along the way. Learn the secrets of teamwork focused on common goals. Learn how to translate the successful methods of top NASCAR Race teams to your workplace. February 1: Value Added Maintenance Workshop - At this workshop, MPACT will present Catawba College the MPACT Extreme Maintenance Makeover Award to honor their operation’s transformation from reactive to proactive maintenance. They heat eleven of their buildings with geo-thermal technology, and have implemented several new approaches to control expenses and improve operational support. Join us as they explain to the VAM audience the factors that prompted this award. We have other good topics planned as well. February 23: Pay-for-Skills Workshop – a practical day for your HR, Maintenance, and Operations management personnel as a team to develop your own program, customized for your plant. The MPACT Advantage It is simple to train a technician to replace a part on a machine. But if you get a new machine, the technician has to be trained all over again. Technicians educated in the principles of mechanics and electronics, however, have the knowledge to look beyond changing a part. When a new piece of equipment is brought in — something they've never seen before — they are able to troubleshoot and diagnose problems, make necessary repairs, and apply the principles of good maintenance for future operations. Our courses go beyond specific parts and equipment — we educate students in underlying concepts which they apply again and again, even as the technology in their working environments changes. Our hands-on, concentrated learning courses provide technicians with a quick burst of competence. 2004 - Quite a Year In Memoriam: We honor the 2004 passing of maintenance guru John Moubray, the developer of the Reliability Centered Maintenance process. Chuck Mosteller, MPACT Mechanical Instructor provided numerous Hydraulics, Electro-Mechanical Fluid Power, Practical Mechanics, and other hands-on classes. Randy Jones, MPACT Electrical Instructor now in the his 18th year with MPACT, continued to elevate skill levels and knowledge of Electricity, DC Drives, PLC Programming, and other important electrical classes. Pete Little, MPACT President, developed and facilitated a new Pay-for-Skills Workshop, designed to help companies reward employees for their competency, not just their longevity. Pete also taught MPACT’s most popular program, Systematic Troubleshooting, to convert parts changers to true diagnosticians. Joel Leonard spoke at the US Department of Energy 2004 Energy Conference in Rochester, NY, and received acclaim from the UN, NASA, and other US government agencies. MPACT arranged for 600+ maintenance professionals from NC, VA, SC, FL, OK, and elsewhere to sign a US flag, and shipped it to Kuwait to honor the 175th US Army Maintenance Company for their services. In combating the Maintenance Crisis, we are enlisting the support of governmental leaders. In 2004, we had visits from US Congressman Howard Coble, staff from US Senator Dole's office, US Senator Edwards office, US Congressman Brad Miller's office, Greensboro Mayor Pro Tem Yvonne Johnson, Greensboro City Manager Edward Kitchen, Reidsville Mayor Jay Donecker, Thomasville Mayor Joe Bennett, Thomasville City Manager Roger Bryant, Piedmont Triad Partnership Executive Director Don Kirkman, Rockingham County Economic Development President Lisa Perry, and Greensboro Chamber of Commerce President David Jameson - among others. Joel and Pete spoke at the NFMT Conference in Baltimore to a standing room only crowd estimated at 350. MPACT moved into new facility with more space and amenities for students. Take a virtual tour at www.MPACTLearning.com. Joel led a chorus of the Maintenance Crisis Song to kick off the AFE 50th Anniversary Commemoration in Miami. Joel provided a one hour call-in discussion of the maintenance crisis to the NPR audience May 18th. The Maintenance Crisis Song continues to grow in popularity, with three genres currently recorded and over 23,000 downloads. A new Song, "Find Me a Maintenance Woman", will be released soon MPACT provided ten free Value Added Maintenance Workshops [VAM]. Guest VAM speakers spoke on Benchmarks for Maintenance, the Pros and Cons of Exporting US Manufacturing Plants, a Tribute to Women in Maintenance, and on NASCAR as a model for TPM. The presidents of AFE and IFMA spoke on the Challenges for Maintenance in 21st Century. MPACT developed and awarded two Extreme Maintenance Makeover Awards. The inspiration and winner of the first award was B. K. Upchurch of Goerlich’s Exhaust. The award was also presented to the 175th Maintenance Company for significant achievements of maintenance performance in the most hostile of conditions. Joel Leonard is now a contributing author to Plant Services Magazine, providing coverage on the Maintenance Crisis. For article posted online, search for Joel Leonard at www.PlantServices.com MPACT helped place numerous maintenance professionals, and partnered with the NC Community College system to complement their efforts to reduce the NC skills shortage. Approved Sponsor of Continuing Professional Competency credits for Professional Engineers and Registered Land Surveyors licensed by the State of North Carolina, and Provider of Related Instruction that meets the Approved Apprenticeship Program requirements of the North Carolina Department of Labor. MPACT Learning Center, LLC  MPACT Learning Center, LLC