It’s understandable that automation is often associated with job loss. Replacing human labour with machines which do the job more cost effectively and with better accuracy will cause some jobs to disappear.

But not only did automation help protect manufacturing in North America from collapsing when competition unleashed by globalization threatened it, meaning those jobs would likely have disappeared long ago. But actually, there are many times where automation still requires human assistance to finish the job. 

Learning more about automation will make you a worker with relevant, essential skills as factories here turn even more to automation in the years to come. One of the machines implementing automation in factories across North America now is the coordinate measuring machine, or CMM machine.

Read on for more information about what it’s like to take in-class and e-learning sessions on CMM machines.

In-Class Sessions

The best place to find lessons on how to use CMM machines is an authorized dealer. In addition to selling, servicing and repairing CMM equipment, they also have teachers who are considered top specialists in the metrology industry.

When learning about CMM machines in class, you’ll actually get the chance to operate tools you’re likely to encounter in your professional life such as used ZEISS CMM equipment, a ROMER Arm, Equator, and a Bridge CMM. Reading and learning is important, but nothing replaces getting to feel, touch and use these machines yourself. 

There are lots of courses available to match your level of specialization, such as: PC-DMIS levels 1/2/3, PC-DMIS CAD++, PC-DMIS Portable, PC-DMIS Pro, Datapage+, Polyworks and Quindos.

You can also be grounded in the latest textbook fundamental and multiple revision charts with specialized Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing training courses. Tests and quizzes will ensure that you’ve retained the information, and you should expect the entire session to last 1-5 days.

Convenient, E-Learning Modules

Don’t just sign up for any e-learning module online — find an accredited metrology company that has been in business for a few decades. If a company has worked in selling and repairing CMM machines for over a decade, it’s a good sign that they’re reliable.

There are many e-learning modules from which to choose, teaching students about PC-DMIS Portable, PC-DMIS levels 1/2, and MODUS for Renishaw Equator. The nature of online courses mean they can be taken from anywhere — while this is ultra convenient, it means you can’t actually handle any of the CMM machines.

After you finish the course, you’ll get a certificate of completion to testify that you’ve absorbed all the skills in the module.  

The world has changed a lot in the past few decades, and more change is certain to come in the years ahead. Trying to anticipate the demands of the workforce is a good way to ensure your skills are in demand down the road. It’s hard to imagine a scenario where automation doesn’t increase, so learning how to operate the machinery involved in this process is a useful way to future-proof your career.