CIS was recently featured in a case study with industry partner CM Labs Simulations. CIS started using CM Labs’ simulators in 2014 to help determine the impact of simulators on training. What the company discovered was that Vortex Simulators from CM Labs are not just for novices, and they are highly effective for training or re-skilling operators. “Although simulators are an investment, they are much less expensive in the long run for assessing aptitude and training for the right skills than utilizing only in-the-field methods,” said Debbie Dickinson, CEO of CIS.
“When you consider the expenses associated with hands-on equipment training in the yard, equipment rental, fuel, the hourly rate of a certified instructor, maintenance, and so on – the cost of training can be astronomical,” she said. In contrast, CIS has found that generally one hour on the simulator was equivalent to up to four hours on a crane, making this an efficient and cost-effective training tool.
Read the full case study below, or visit the CM Labs website.
Situation
When Crane Industry Services, LLC (CIS) began exploring ways to enhance training it set out to quantify the benefits and impact of simulation-based instruction. The findings concluded that simulators were not only more cost-effective than field training, but also offered measurable advantages in terms of accelerated learning and operator performance
Solution
With a better understanding of the advantages of simulation-based training, CIS began incorporating CM Labs Vortex simulators into its curriculum. Leveraging this superior technology allowed CIS to continue to provide the most thorough and cutting-edge training solutions to which its customers had become accustomed.
Why CM Labs
Senior CIS management had been introduced to CM Labs years earlier and had watched the company’s simulation training solutions evolve. Powered by Smart Training Technology™, CM Labs Vortex simulators provide unmatched detail and realism to deliver the ultimate machine experience.
Benefits
Through its partnership with CM Labs, CIS is providing more thorough and efficient operator training that is faster, safer and more cost-effective.
Profile
As its name suggests, Crane Industry Services, LLC provides a wide variety of solutions to utilities, contractors, manufacturers, government and military, owner operators, and others throughout the crane, and heavy equipment industries. The company also offers training, qualifications, inspections, consulting and strategic planning for work and projects that depend on skilled trades. Much of the success of CIS is attributed to – and will continue to rely on – its ability to provide customized, thorough, and effective training for equipment operation and safety. Instruction to operators at all levels (novice, experienced, and everything in between) is conducted through the company’s Georgia-based facility or on customer sites. From the classroom to the simulator to the field, students receive some of the most complete and thorough training available anywhere. Serving dozens of students each month, operator instruction remains key to the company’s growth strategy.
Faster More Cost-Effective Training
Heavy equipment simulators offer numerous advantages on all fronts. They expose students to realistic real-world situations (such as operating heavy equipment in tight urban settings) in a safe, virtual environment, while providing training organizations with a platform for teaching complex or costly scenarios that cannot be easily replicated in the field.
“A swinging load can be extremely dangerous for any crane operator,” noted Inspector and Trainer, Greg Brown. “Simulators allow us to safely prepare students for such situations in a controlled environment. What’s more, we can challenge them with a wide variety of tasks, distractions, and difficult conditions such as high winds, rain, and so on without creating danger in or around the job site. But these simulators aren’t just for beginners. Their flexibility allows us to teach customized and advanced operations to even the most experienced operators. We can even practice complex, two-crane lifts with realistic configurations and set up.”
“Simulators bring the classroom to life and provide a comfort level for students and trainers alike,” explained the company’s CEO, Debbie Dickinson. “They provide the inexperienced with a sense of ‘OK, I’ve seen this before’ familiarity when sitting behind the controls of the actual equipment. And when you consider the expenses associated with hands-on equipment training in the yard, equipment rental, fuel, the hourly rate of a certified instructor, maintenance, and so on – the cost of training can be astronomical. We recognized that simulation-based training offered advantages; but before making the investment, we wanted to quantify what, if anything, a student would learn on a simulator, faster, better, easier than sitting in the seat of a crane.”
In 2014, CIS collaborated with CM Labs to help determine the impact of simulators on training. And the results were nothing short of eye-opening.
“We learned that, depending on the operator’s skill level, one hour on the simulator was equivalent to up to four hours on a crane,” Dickinson reported. “This accelerated training time and improved effectiveness immeasurably. The key rests in the ability to repeat an exercise as much as needed. Repetition builds confidence and muscle memory to instinctively determine and control load movements. And CM Labs’ Vortex simulators are the most effective at helping operators develop skills that transfer to real equipment, making them an efficient and objective method for training and qualifying operators.”
The Most Thorough & Engaging Training
Following the assessment, CIS began incorporating CM Labs’ Vortex simulators into its training curriculum. The company employs simulators to not only teach new operators but to allow experienced operators to upskill, prepare for re-certification, and practice complex lifts.
“You can only hold one’s interest with PowerPoint for so long,” explained Crane and Rigging Inspector and Trainer, Noel Welchel. “Because they mirror the actual crane, the pedals, controls, joystick, and levers, all feel like actual hydraulic controls, Vortex simulators are as close to the real thing as you can get. We make them available to students during class, at breaks, and after class. Rarely do our simulators sit empty, it seems like someone is always at the controls.”
And user feedback further validates their effectiveness. “Regardless of their experience level, students are generally excited and impressed by the realism of our Vortex simulators. Even veteran operators agree that it’s a good experience and most wish they had access to this technology when first learning. We recently had a new major utility company state that our program was the best equipment training they’ve ever had.”
What’s more, simulation-based training is easily adapted to the unique and specific needs of the operator or employer. And with the highest fidelity graphics, and true to life operator experience – CM Labs’ Vortex simulators are unmatched in the industry. As the only simulator incorporating Smart Training Technology™, CM Labs’ Vortex simulators replicate real machine behavior from the backlash of the crane’s boom to cable slapping. The result is the most transferable skills anywhere outside of actual equipment. Training is further enriched through the simulator’s Instructor Operator Station (IOS) which allows instructors to manage the training right from their seat. With a real-time 3D view of the virtual work site from any vantage point, trainers can initiate exercises, monitor operations, and challenge students with a variety of job site scenarios. They even have to ability to change weather conditions.
“I was a big believer from the beginning because I could see the realism of the simulations, the true response of the equipment and controls, along with the value and benefit,” said Dickinson. “We have integrated simulation training into operator qualification and certification programs. CIS subject matter experts quickly recognized that simulations add great value when part of a well-planned, disciplined, integrated training system. Vortex simulators have the added benefit of enabling advanced crew training exercises for team learning. This might include a scenario with multiple crane operators for tandem lifts, signal person and crane operator communications, or excavator and articulated dump truck scenarios where operators of both pieces of equipment must work together.”
A Promising Future
CIS is living up to its reputation for providing some of the industry’s most skilled and safety-conscious operators. “We have been training operators for decades and have it down as a science – so why reinvent the wheel?” said Dickinson. “Between CIS and CM Labs we have the unique blend of technology and hands-on industry experience to keep pace with today’s tech savvy students and provide the best training solutions around.”
CIS Provides Experts to Help with Development of SCOAR Mentoring Guide
/in Company News, Newsletter Archive, Skilled Labor Supply /by AdminDebbie Dickinson, CEO of CIS, continues her work with Southeastern Construction Owners & Associates Roundtable (SCOAR) as Chair of the Workforce Development Committee. Its newest project is the development of a Craft Professionals Mentoring Guide, which Ray Rice, Business Development Manager for CIS, is working on with a Mentoring Sub-Committee.
The skilled labor shortage is a well-known challenge faced by the construction industry. Dodge & Data Analytics reports that 37% of contractors turn down opportunities for work due to a shortage of skilled workers.
“The process of recruiting, engaging, and training is complex,” said Dickinson. TradeUp, a collaborative partnership program providing workforce development services, reports: “To get just one person from a high school or jobs program to a journey level skilled tradesperson takes four years and an average of eight organizations.”
SCOAR’s mentoring sub-committee seeks to create a best practice guide for employers to help them establish formal mentoring programs. A draft of the guide will be released by the Mentoring Sub-Committee at the Fall SCOAR meeting in October.
“We hope this guide will help to simplify the process of nurturing an individual on their career path by providing construction industry leaders with effective mentoring strategies in the midst of today’s workforce challenges,” said Dickinson.
Other members of the Mentoring Sub-Committee include Darryl Thornton, Business Development Manager for GRAYCOR Southern, Inc., Robert Canino, V.P. National Sales & Business Development Manager for BRACE Industrial Group, Lamar Blanton, National Industrial Account Manager for Trades Masters, and Dan Belcher, Director of Strategic Partnerships for NCCER.
CIS Expands Training Center at New Location
/in Company News /by AdminCIS recently expanded to a new training center. The center offers flexible classroom sizes and more space for workshops that use heavy equipment simulators to enhance operator skills.
“There are several tailwinds propelling an increased demand for training as we enter 2021,” said Debbie Dickinson, CEO of CIS. Training is a renewed priority for companies getting back on track following pandemic-forced budget cuts. The industry continues to face challenges in recruiting top talent for skilled labor. Demand for a qualified workforce is increasing as record high numbers of the workforce retires.
CIS works with customers to help build successful recruitment strategies through Trade Up, and training from entry to highly skilled. The new CIS location is ideal for the hybrid blend of classroom, technology based and hands on, practical training and certification testing.
“We have restructured our facilities to better meet the needs of our customers. We are able to provide training and certification while following ongoing social distancing requirements,” said Dickinson.
According to an article from NCCER, “3 Key Reasons to Continue Construction Training Even Amid the Pandemic,” training increases productivity and, “successful companies have historically managed to maintain training through difficult times.” This is a good reminder for employers to be strategic with their workforce development policies.
CIS Now Offers NCCCO Practical Exams
/in Company News /by AdminCIS is now authorized to deliver practical exams for NCCCO mobile crane certifications, including Telescopic Boom (Swing and Fixed Cabs) and Lattice Boom Truck Cranes. This is in addition to being an authorized provider of NCCCO re-certification and written exam testing.
“As CIS has expanded its services to offer employers multiple crane certification options, we have also expanded staff and equipment to accommodate demand,” said Debbie Dickinson, CEO of CIS. Bernie Koerner is the newest instructor to join the CIS team. He can deliver NCCCO mobile crane prep training, as well as rigger and signal person training. Koerner has extensive crane maintenance, operator instruction, and hazard assessment experience in the oil and gas industry.
In addition, CIS now has a Grove rough-terrain crane available on site and access to additional equipment as needed. “We can also customize training for employers using their equipment at their locations,” said Dickinson.
Simulators Offer Employers an Efficient Way to Screen and Train Employees
/in Company News, Newsletter Archive, Resources /by AdminCIS was recently featured in a case study with industry partner CM Labs Simulations. CIS started using CM Labs’ simulators in 2014 to help determine the impact of simulators on training. What the company discovered was that Vortex Simulators from CM Labs are not just for novices, and they are highly effective for training or re-skilling operators. “Although simulators are an investment, they are much less expensive in the long run for assessing aptitude and training for the right skills than utilizing only in-the-field methods,” said Debbie Dickinson, CEO of CIS.
“When you consider the expenses associated with hands-on equipment training in the yard, equipment rental, fuel, the hourly rate of a certified instructor, maintenance, and so on – the cost of training can be astronomical,” she said. In contrast, CIS has found that generally one hour on the simulator was equivalent to up to four hours on a crane, making this an efficient and cost-effective training tool.
Read the full case study below, or visit the CM Labs website.
Situation
When Crane Industry Services, LLC (CIS) began exploring ways to enhance training it set out to quantify the benefits and impact of simulation-based instruction. The findings concluded that simulators were not only more cost-effective than field training, but also offered measurable advantages in terms of accelerated learning and operator performance
Solution
With a better understanding of the advantages of simulation-based training, CIS began incorporating CM Labs Vortex simulators into its curriculum. Leveraging this superior technology allowed CIS to continue to provide the most thorough and cutting-edge training solutions to which its customers had become accustomed.
Why CM Labs
Senior CIS management had been introduced to CM Labs years earlier and had watched the company’s simulation training solutions evolve. Powered by Smart Training Technology™, CM Labs Vortex simulators provide unmatched detail and realism to deliver the ultimate machine experience.
Benefits
Through its partnership with CM Labs, CIS is providing more thorough and efficient operator training that is faster, safer and more cost-effective.
Profile
As its name suggests, Crane Industry Services, LLC provides a wide variety of solutions to utilities, contractors, manufacturers, government and military, owner operators, and others throughout the crane, and heavy equipment industries. The company also offers training, qualifications, inspections, consulting and strategic planning for work and projects that depend on skilled trades. Much of the success of CIS is attributed to – and will continue to rely on – its ability to provide customized, thorough, and effective training for equipment operation and safety. Instruction to operators at all levels (novice, experienced, and everything in between) is conducted through the company’s Georgia-based facility or on customer sites. From the classroom to the simulator to the field, students receive some of the most complete and thorough training available anywhere. Serving dozens of students each month, operator instruction remains key to the company’s growth strategy.
Faster More Cost-Effective Training
Heavy equipment simulators offer numerous advantages on all fronts. They expose students to realistic real-world situations (such as operating heavy equipment in tight urban settings) in a safe, virtual environment, while providing training organizations with a platform for teaching complex or costly scenarios that cannot be easily replicated in the field.
“A swinging load can be extremely dangerous for any crane operator,” noted Inspector and Trainer, Greg Brown. “Simulators allow us to safely prepare students for such situations in a controlled environment. What’s more, we can challenge them with a wide variety of tasks, distractions, and difficult conditions such as high winds, rain, and so on without creating danger in or around the job site. But these simulators aren’t just for beginners. Their flexibility allows us to teach customized and advanced operations to even the most experienced operators. We can even practice complex, two-crane lifts with realistic configurations and set up.”
“Simulators bring the classroom to life and provide a comfort level for students and trainers alike,” explained the company’s CEO, Debbie Dickinson. “They provide the inexperienced with a sense of ‘OK, I’ve seen this before’ familiarity when sitting behind the controls of the actual equipment. And when you consider the expenses associated with hands-on equipment training in the yard, equipment rental, fuel, the hourly rate of a certified instructor, maintenance, and so on – the cost of training can be astronomical. We recognized that simulation-based training offered advantages; but before making the investment, we wanted to quantify what, if anything, a student would learn on a simulator, faster, better, easier than sitting in the seat of a crane.”
In 2014, CIS collaborated with CM Labs to help determine the impact of simulators on training. And the results were nothing short of eye-opening.
“We learned that, depending on the operator’s skill level, one hour on the simulator was equivalent to up to four hours on a crane,” Dickinson reported. “This accelerated training time and improved effectiveness immeasurably. The key rests in the ability to repeat an exercise as much as needed. Repetition builds confidence and muscle memory to instinctively determine and control load movements. And CM Labs’ Vortex simulators are the most effective at helping operators develop skills that transfer to real equipment, making them an efficient and objective method for training and qualifying operators.”
The Most Thorough & Engaging Training
Following the assessment, CIS began incorporating CM Labs’ Vortex simulators into its training curriculum. The company employs simulators to not only teach new operators but to allow experienced operators to upskill, prepare for re-certification, and practice complex lifts.
“You can only hold one’s interest with PowerPoint for so long,” explained Crane and Rigging Inspector and Trainer, Noel Welchel. “Because they mirror the actual crane, the pedals, controls, joystick, and levers, all feel like actual hydraulic controls, Vortex simulators are as close to the real thing as you can get. We make them available to students during class, at breaks, and after class. Rarely do our simulators sit empty, it seems like someone is always at the controls.”
And user feedback further validates their effectiveness. “Regardless of their experience level, students are generally excited and impressed by the realism of our Vortex simulators. Even veteran operators agree that it’s a good experience and most wish they had access to this technology when first learning. We recently had a new major utility company state that our program was the best equipment training they’ve ever had.”
What’s more, simulation-based training is easily adapted to the unique and specific needs of the operator or employer. And with the highest fidelity graphics, and true to life operator experience – CM Labs’ Vortex simulators are unmatched in the industry. As the only simulator incorporating Smart Training Technology™, CM Labs’ Vortex simulators replicate real machine behavior from the backlash of the crane’s boom to cable slapping. The result is the most transferable skills anywhere outside of actual equipment. Training is further enriched through the simulator’s Instructor Operator Station (IOS) which allows instructors to manage the training right from their seat. With a real-time 3D view of the virtual work site from any vantage point, trainers can initiate exercises, monitor operations, and challenge students with a variety of job site scenarios. They even have to ability to change weather conditions.
“I was a big believer from the beginning because I could see the realism of the simulations, the true response of the equipment and controls, along with the value and benefit,” said Dickinson. “We have integrated simulation training into operator qualification and certification programs. CIS subject matter experts quickly recognized that simulations add great value when part of a well-planned, disciplined, integrated training system. Vortex simulators have the added benefit of enabling advanced crew training exercises for team learning. This might include a scenario with multiple crane operators for tandem lifts, signal person and crane operator communications, or excavator and articulated dump truck scenarios where operators of both pieces of equipment must work together.”
A Promising Future
CIS is living up to its reputation for providing some of the industry’s most skilled and safety-conscious operators. “We have been training operators for decades and have it down as a science – so why reinvent the wheel?” said Dickinson. “Between CIS and CM Labs we have the unique blend of technology and hands-on industry experience to keep pace with today’s tech savvy students and provide the best training solutions around.”
Crane Industry Services offers Virtual Training Courses
/in Company News /by AdminCarrollton, Ga. (September 21, 2020) Crane Industry Services, LLC (CIS) is now offering custom virtual training courses in order to accommodate COVID-19 safety regulations. Converting OSHA and ANSI accredited courses from classroom instruction to a virtual environment ensures that training can continue. Virtual training courses include OSHA 10, Leading Safety Works™, Site Safety for Construction Supervisors and Utility Supervisors, Use Load Charts Like A Pro, and Crane Site Safety.
“The impact of Covid-19 on training schedules throughout the heavy construction industry is unlike anything we have ever seen. Naturally, the demand for virtual training has skyrocketed. Offering virtual training classes allows us to do more for our customers,” said Ray Rice, Business Development Manager for CIS.
Free 45-minute introductions to Crane Site Safety and Leading Safety Works are available for customers to explore whether these courses are a good fit for their training organization.
For individuals exploring careers in construction, CIS offers a free Employability in Skilled Trades presentation. “In recognition of Careers in Construction Month in October, we encourage career and tech educators to share this information with students,” said Debbie Dickinson, CEO of CIS.
Call (770) 783-9292 or email ray@craneindustryservices.com to register in advance.
About Crane Industry Services
Crane Industry Services LLC, (CIS) based in the Atlanta, Ga. area, was established in 2008. CIS provides hands-on, classroom and simulation-based training for the crane and rigging industry, ANSI-accredited NCCER and NCCCO certifications, equipment inspections, expert witness services, and consulting to the lifting industry. The company serves skilled trades in construction, energy, manufacturing, utilities, maritime, government and military markets. Crane Industry Services is a certified Woman Owned Small Business and an NCCER accredited training sponsor. www.centeredonsafety.com or (770)-783-9292.
Crane Industry Services and CM Labs Open Simulation Training and Demo Room
/in Company News, Skilled Labor Supply /by AdminCrane Industry Services, LLC (CIS) in partnership with CM Labs Simulations, expands simulation training for cranes, earthmoving equipment, and maritime and port equipment.
CIS designed a new simulation training and demo room located at the CIS Centered on Safety Training Center in the Atlanta area. The showroom features a variety of portable and full-scale models with operator seats and controls.
“Simulation training using CM Labs’ Vortex simulators allows CIS the flexibility to scale training to the needs of the employer or operator. Vortex simulators are effective at helping operators develop skills that transfer to real equipment, making them an efficient and objective method for training and qualifying operators,” said Debbie Dickinson, CEO of CIS.
“We have been using Vortex simulators since 2016. As CM Labs’ products have evolved, CIS has increasingly integrated simulation training into operator qualification and certification programs,” said Dickinson. “CIS subject matter experts quickly recognized that simulations add great value when part of a well-planned, disciplined, integrated training system,” she said.
“We’re delighted to work with CIS experts to make simulation-based training available to a wider audience,” said Drew Carruthers, CM Labs’ Director of Product Strategy. “We know from experience that Vortex simulators result in operators that are better prepared for today’s work sites.”
The simulation training and demo room will open in July with a variety of Vortex simulators, including the Vortex Advantage full immersion 5-display system, and the Vortex Edge Plus, an affordable desktop simulator that is ideal for introductory training. “These simulators have the added benefit of enabling crew training exercises for team learning, such as multiple crane operators for tandem lifts, signal person and crane operator communications, or excavator and articulated dump truck scenarios where operators of both pieces of equipment must work together,” said Dickinson.
Simulators provide the most cost-effective way to train groups of new operators or to keep skills sharp. Employers interested in exploring how simulators can be used for in-house employee evaluation, qualification, and training can schedule a demo with CIS and CM Labs. In addition, Vortex simulators are available for purchase from CIS.