Plastics Training: July 2010 Archives

When discussing employee training, it is critical to focus on how it will affect the employees. For example, if operators are not involved in the training initiative during the first couple months, let them know when they will be trained, and who will be taking the training first.

Explain a few of he specifics such as, how many hours a week or month they will train, the types of information they will learn, how the training will benefit the company as well as how it will benefit the employee.

With any initiative, employees will look to management for honesty and their commitment to maintaining the program. Keep the program transparent and track the progress visibly so everyone can see the program actually being used.

Many companies start a new program and then let it fall by the side when it looses visibility. Always update the employees on the progress of any company initiative.

Don't be afraid to make this process fun. Banners, luncheons, gifts, and announcements are great ways to inform your employees.

-Andy

In general, once a material is contaminated with a hard material such as sand, it will become highly abrasive to the grinder, screw, barrel, hot runner, and mold. To regrind that much material in such a state will most likely cause significant damage, requiring repairs and possible replacement of many components. Likewise, such an abrasive material would damage the screw and most likely require a new check ring after re-processing.

If the reground material is sold or any products are sold molded with this material without the customer's approval such an act would be unethical and most likely illegal.

Since many of the costs associated with regrinding this material depend on the material, grinder, region, as well as repair costs, it is impossible to estimate with any degree of accuracy.

This is one of the reasons it is critical to teach your employees the importance of proper handling of materials, parts, and regrind to ensure that contamination does not occur.

-Andy