Articles - CAT® SIMULATORS

30 05, 2023

Toombs County High School Students on Course for Heavy Equipment Operations

The future looks bright for Toombs County High School students enrolled in the school’s three-course Heavy Equipment Operations (HEO) Pathway program. The high school is one of 12 high schools currently comprising the state of Georgia’s Career, Technical, and Agricultural Education (CTAE) program, which offers a pathway for students to enter the construction industry with training and knowledge of heavy equipment operation.

Learning in this program differs from most classes the students take during the school year. In the HEO program, students spend time on the school’s two state-of-the-art Cat® Simulators systems learning how to operate the Hydraulic Excavator and Dozer safely and correctly. They must complete three courses to receive a pathway completion certificate: Industry Fundamentals & Occupational Safety, Intro to Heavy Equipment: Excavator and Heavy Equipment 1: Bulldozer.

“We completed our first capstone test this past December,” explained Tom Brodnax, HEO instructor. “It was the single greatest thing I’ve been involved with in education in 22 years. Seeing the students go from the Cat Simulators onto the real iron looked just like they’ve been training on the real iron the whole time.”

Aside from driving trucks and tractors and occasionally operating an excavator to help a neighbor dig a pond, Brodnax does not have a background in using heavy equipment, but he was interested in it. When the opportunity came to be the program’s HEO instructor, the former physical education, nutrition, special education, and economics teacher jumped at it. And he loves it!

Passion for Cat Simulators and SimScholars™ Curriculum

Brodnax attributes most of his passion for the position to the simulators and the training curriculum, SimScholars™. Brodnax has instructed more than 30 students on both simulator systems along with using the companion SimScholars™ curriculum, which he uses every week because it is a 1:1 match to all the simulator exercises.

“Before we start a lesson, I explain what they’re supposed to be doing. Then, if I feel like they’re not doing it, I’ll come back to them and tell them to look at the section and write down 10 points on dozing over a high wall. SimScholars explains why they should or should not operate the machine a particular way which is part of why I like using it,” explained Brodnax, who has watched students coach each other on the simulators using the knowledge they gained from SimScholars curriculum.

“I’ve heard some students actually say, ‘Hey, you need to lift up right here because you’re not supposed to have it that steep,’ or ‘You’re digging down too deep, now your tracks are going to slip,’” said Brodnax. “They’re really learning.”

Typically, Brodnax’s has 10 to 12 students in each class, so students rotate from studying SimScholars to learning then practicing on the two simulators. “When students are done with SimScholars, I know they’re well versed enough to know what to do when they get on the simulators and not have to ask, ‘Now what do I do?’” said Brodnax. “I love SimScholars. I think it’s a great curriculum.”

Students Prove Their Skills

After the students completed the excavator trenching exercise, they practiced trenching with an actual mini excavator on land the school had access to for the course. “For some, it’s the first time they’ve ever been on anything – a tractor or anything. And they find it easier than the simulator,’” explained Brodnax, who thinks that is perfect. “That’s what you want. First, you want them to train hard; then, it’s easier when they operate the real machine.”

One student, in particular, stands out in the instructor’s mind. “He looked like he’d been operating a real machine all the time. Then, he got on the real machine and tore it up – in a good way!”

“When the students were tested for their capstones, the group testing them was so impressed, they said they’d hire every one of my students, right now, as an operator. The students showed they have good enough skills to be operators,” said Brodnax.

Everyone’s a Winner!

Brodnax shared that during a recent equipment challenge, his students won four prizes – first place, second place (two tied), and third place. “There were eight kids in the competition, and my kids took home four prizes!” said Brodnax.

Not only are the students winning, but the local construction companies are also. With the demand for skilled heavy equipment operators at an all-time high, the program’s students will help fill those jobs and keep the pipeline filled. Brodnax is confident that his students will be ready. “I believe in simulators and am super pleased. I have to say kudos to Cat Simulators and SimScholars for what the students are learning on the simulators.”

Editor’s Note: If your High School or Career Technical Center is interested in establishing a heavy equipment operations career pathway for students, contact our team.

25 05, 2023

Maintenance Tips for Maximum Uptime Series: Motor Grader

To avoid unplanned maintenance and keep your Motor Grader in production longer, operators must be properly trained. Operators should complete a pre-operation walkaround inspection before every shift. Beyond the walkaround inspection and regularly scheduling maintenance checks, follow these operation tips to help maintain your Motor Grader for maximum uptime.

Make sure the moldboard (blade) is off the ground before moving. Watch for any overhead lines when the moldboard is turned up at a 90-degree angle.
Be aware of the moldboard angle position before beginning an articulated turn. If the moldboard angle is too sharp, and positioned too close to the rear wheels, articulation can cause the tip end of the moldboard to interfere with the tire and possibly cut it beyond repair. This can happen very easily and be very expensive to replace a tire, plus the inevitable downtime to have the machine out of production.
To prevent damage to the differential, do not engage the differential lock control at high speeds.

Do not turn the machine with the differential lock engaged.
Do not engage the differential lock control while one wheel is spinning. Decrease engine rpm until the wheel stops spinning. Anticipate using the differential lock before wheel slippage occurs.
Correctly stow or carry implements on the Grader during different applications and when traveling between jobs. Having the blade and ripper in the correct positions during different operations or traversing uneven ground will avoid unintended ground contact or penetration, resulting in less damage to the machine and increased operator safety.
The use of the ripper on the rear of the machine can cause the rear to be lifted up slightly if the ground is hard to penetrate, or if too much down pressure is applied. This will cause instant wheel spin and potentially cut the tires and shorten their life. The operator should always keep one hand on the ripper control for quick adjustments up or down to prevent wheel spin.

Be careful when backing up for additional passes over previously ripped areas to avoid straddling uprooted material. This action could cut the tires or cause damage to the underside.
Never make sharp turns with the ripper or scarifier teeth in the ground. Making sharp turns damages the tools and could bend or break the teeth.
Dusty worksites are the norm in some areas of the world. Keep windows clean and clear. Keep in mind that dust can affect the radiator, filters, cooling systems, fans and other parts.

Spend time as part of the operator training plan, teaching operators how to conduct a pre-operation walkaround and how to identify potential maintenance issues. Operators should know how to identify faulty parts and understand warning alarms so when in the field, they can do their part to keep Motor Graders working. One option for operator training is Cat® Simulators. The virtual walkaround teaches operators how to perform the same inspection they would perform on a real-world worksite. Simulated machine applications are developed with Cat expert operators and teach the learner correct procedures step-by-step. Practicing preventative maintenance keeps the machine productive and keeps the operator safe from injury.

11 05, 2023

Maintenance Tips for Maximum Uptime Series: Backhoe Loader

Avoid unplanned maintenance on your Backhoe Loader by practicing correct operating procedures. Backhoe Loaders will stay in production longer with proper use, including conducting a pre-operation machine inspection before every shift. Regularly scheduled maintenance checks, along with these tips, will achieve maximum uptime from your Backhoe Loader.

Know the bucket’s load capacity and never exceed the limits. Overloading the machine can cause pins to bend or crack. See the Operations and Maintenance Manual for load limits.
Do not use force, hit or compact material. Damage will occur to the bucket, stick and boom, and reduce machine life.
Keep tires inflated to the proper pressure to reduce tire wear and improve stability. Over or under-inflation can reduce tire life.
Do not shift gears too quickly as it can cause damage to the transmission.

Do not lift an unbalanced load. This can lead to tipping which could cause the frame or boom to bend, crack or break. Plus, cause harm to the operator.
Do not operate at excessive speeds. This can cause damage to the engine, transmission and hydraulic systems. It can also cause damage to the tires because of heat build-up that will lead to premature wear and eventual failure.
Avoid working on rough terrain for extended periods of time. The impact of rocks, potholes and other obstacles can lead to damage to the backhoe loader’s frame, axles and wheels.
Avoid wheel slip, which will lead to premature wear, by using the hoist and curl technique.
Do not articulate the backhoe loader while loading a truck as it can lead to excessive stress on the boom, bucket and hydraulic system. It can also cause the load to become unstable, resulting in material shifting or falling off the bucket, causing harm to the operator or damage to the machine.
Do not drop the bucket or boom suddenly as it can cause an increase in pressure on the cylinder and cause damage.

Cat® Simulators can train operators how to perform a machine inspection and applications in the safety of a virtual environment using authentic Cat controls. Operators who learn correct techniques before moving to the iron can help organizations save costs throughout the life of the machine.

30 01, 2023

Maintenance Tips for Maximum Uptime Series: Excavator

Avoid extra maintenance and keep Excavators in production longer by training operators on proper use, including conducting a pre-operation walkaround inspection before every shift. Beyond the walkaround inspection and regularly scheduled maintenance checks, follow these tips to get maximum uptime from your Excavator.

Properly use the travel function to prevent premature track wear and damage to the undercarriage.
Know the location of underground services and cables and the meaning of signs, flags and markings before digging.
Be aware of overhead lines when lifting the bucket and avoid any contact with lines.
Do not swing the Excavator with the bucket teeth in the ground. Damage will occur to the bucket, stick and boom, and reduce machine life.
Do not use the force of the bucket, stick or boom to assist in turning the machine. Damage will occur to the swing motor and swing brake.
Replace loose, worn or missing teeth before commencing operations. Missing bucket teeth can stop production and shut down crushing plants.
To avoid machine damage, the load must never exceed the lifting capacity of the machine. Check the lifting charts and Operation and Maintenance Manual before beginning a lift.
Do not use the swing force of the Excavator to hit or compact material. Damage will occur to the bucket, stick and boom, and reduce machine life.
Do not slam the bucket into the side of stockpiled material when backfilling. This may cause premature machine and cylinder damage.
Avoid operating on slopes in the same direction as it can accelerate wear on one side of the machine.

Cat® Simulators is an option to train operators correctly and consistently. Teach operators how to perform a machine inspection and machine applications found on real-world worksites. Save costs by learning in a virtual environment and teaching operators how to be maintenance minded. Keep Excavators up and running by practicing preventative maintenance.

19 01, 2023

Catholic Charities Community Services Provides Career Pathways to Improve Lives and Communities

“Helping our community’s most vulnerable with solutions that permanently improve lives” is Catholic Charities Community Services’ mission statement. And that’s precisely what Catholic Charities does and more. Through its Center for Educational Opportunity and Career Pathways, the organization provides adult education courses for those individuals wishing to pursue education and employment in the Albuquerque, N.M., area.

31-year-old Avery Cate from Bernalillo, N.M., was one of those individuals. Cate enrolled in the Center’s heavy equipment operator (HEO) program to learn how to operate excavators.

“I was surprised that I caught on pretty fast and how comfortable I felt on the Cat® Simulator,” said Cate, who appreciated how easily he transitioned to the actual machine, which he attributed to the simulator’s authentic Cat controls. “The simulator gave me a lot of knowledge. So, when I was actually on the real machine, it was easier than I thought it would be.”

“I was surprised that I caught on pretty fast and how comfortable I felt on the Cat® Simulator,” said Cate, who appreciated how easily he transitioned to the actual machine, which he attributed to the simulator’s authentic Cat controls.

Cate’s experience is precisely what Catholic Charities’ Program Coordinator for the Center for Educational Opportunity, Taylor Stanton had in mind when he developed the Center’s HEO program.

“We’re one of the few chapters in the country focused on adult education and career pathway services. We offer mostly high school equivalency, citizenship and ESL support services,” said Stanton. “There’s been an initiative at the state level to develop integrated education and training programs to skill up students to create a robust workforce to support local labor demands.”

“My role was to develop a heavy equipment operator program with an academic component which would allow individuals who completed the program to have college-level reading, writing and math skills while receiving highly technical hands-on heavy equipment training.

Stanton explained that in response to the state’s initiative and the need for skilled labor locally, Catholic Charities purchased a Cat Simulators system for their future HEO program. “My role was to develop a heavy equipment operator program with an academic component which would allow individuals who completed the program to have college-level reading, writing and math skills while receiving highly technical hands-on heavy equipment training. We designed it not only to satisfy state requirements but also to allow students to seek post-secondary education programs that can further support their career exploration and pathways.”

Fast-Track Program

The program is considered a fast-track program. Every week for 16 weeks, students complete 16 hours of training, which includes a mix of hands-on simulator training for six hours, classroom coursework and virtual group check-in meetings to review the module completed that week. The Center’s simulators systems include authentic, convertible Cat controls that convert into three machine models: the Excavator, Dozer and Wheel Loader.

Stanton explained that National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER)-accredited trainer and journeyman Joseph Montoya and his training company, Safety Zone Credentialing, have proven to be an integral part of the program’s success. With more than 38 years of construction experience and 15 years of teaching, Montoya is not new to the construction industry or teaching students the skilled trades. He was, however, new to using Cat Simulators to train students on how to operate heavy equipment. But now Montoya would not teach students any other way.

“With the simulator, I can do a pretest when students come into the program to see where their knowledge is and where they are at,” said Montoya, who appreciates the reports Cat Simulators’ SimU Campus™ generates. He explained that before students take each module’s performance task tests, they practice in the simulator system’s practice area. Then, after passing the practice tests, he gives the students the exam for each module. Montoya noted, however, that for students to receive NCCER certification, they must complete their final performance verification assessments on an actual machine.

Cost Savings to the Program

Among the many benefits of using Cat Simulators are the cost savings the program has realized. “The simulator saves us a lot of money since we don’t have to rent machines until the final assessments.” Montoya added, “I would not be able to run the program this way if it were not for the simulator.”

Montoya explained that once the students pass the exams and complete their seat time in the simulator, they are ready to operate and be assessed on a real machine. “Students need to spend 40 hours on real equipment which we rent. Then, we bring in an NCCER-certified instructor who goes through what will be required of them on the performance verifications.”

“We have about a 95% success rate,” said Montoya. “We’ve had great success with the simulators. We work with the New Mexico Corrections System and just finished one cohort [course] at the women’s prison, where we had 10 students. We had a 90% success rate there. The students are almost as efficient on the real machines as they are on the simulators.”

After 40 hours on the actual machine, students must complete their performance tests and written assessments to receive their NCCER certification. “We have about a 95% success rate,” said Montoya. “We’ve had great success with the simulators. We work with the New Mexico Corrections System and just finished one cohort [course] at the women’s prison, where we had 10 students. We had a 90% success rate there. The students are almost as efficient on the real machines as they are on the simulators.”

Valuable Partnerships

In keeping with its mission statement, Catholic Charities has partnered with local community organizations, including Crossroads for Women, an organization that supports women reentering society and women in recovery, and Fathers Building Futures which helps men as they return to society. “What we found to be our best asset are the partnerships we have with local community organizations and partners who offer wraparound services to students,” explained Stanton.

“Both of these organizations, as well as other partners, have been able to offer other social services that students might need and case management services.” Stanton noted, “It’s been a great way of keeping students engaged. If a student needs to leave the program, we can continue to tend to their learning and education and possibly bring them back into the program in the next round as long as they keep in contact with their case manager and us.”

Students who complete the HEO program and receive their NCCER certification can then enroll in post-secondary programs such as construction site safety or management. “We want to give students lucrative training that can satisfy their economic and career advancement needs,” said Stanton. “We also want to encourage a culture of thinking beyond just this step of being a machine operator.”

He concluded, “We try to give students many possibilities and encourage them to think of their future in different ways. We especially encourage a future of lifelong learning. That’s always our big priority, and the agency’s mantra – learning is lifelong. It’s never too late to pursue education.”

8 12, 2022

How Simulators Help Meet Demand for Heavy Equipment Operators

The U.S. Bureau of Labor projects more than 50,800 new heavy equipment operator positions will be added to the U.S. workforce every year until 2031. In response, high schools, technical schools, community colleges, and construction companies are creating heavy equipment operator (HEO) programs to fill the pipeline quickly and efficiently. Many are using simulator systems to meet the demand amid the current labor shortage.

Simulation training engages learners and teaches them how to perform tasks, techniques, or processes. The ability to train multiple people in the same way and expose them to real-world situations in the safety of the virtual environment makes simulation training an efficient and effective option. Simulation training is also on-demand training, which eliminates waiting on the weather or waiting on an available production machine.

Tennessee College of Applied Technology (TCAT) Knoxville in Knoxville, Tennessee, recently responded to local construction industry leaders’ requests for properly trained heavy equipment operators. Its HEO program features three Cat Simulator systems: articulated truck, hydraulic excavator, and dozer along with SimScholars curriculum plans that support each machine.

“We’re answering a call directly from the industry,” said Sally Porter, TCAT Knoxville Strategic Impact Coordinator. “They don’t have enough people. They want us to produce faster and train quicker. And then ultimately, they would like to see our program replicated across the state of Tennessee in all TCATs”

Jose Miranda, TCAT Knoxville’s special industry instructor, said his students learn best with a mix of instructor-led learning using the machine-specific curriculum followed by hands-on simulator training.

“The curriculum gives the students the reasons why they need to maneuver the machine a certain way even before they get on the simulator,” said Miranda. “It also gives them the information they will need when they are on the job site like safety, hazard awareness, and machine operation. The curriculum goes deeper into things like type of soils, bucket load formulas, and more. It’s more well-rounded instead of just two hands on the simulator. I think to be a good operator, you have to have both.”

How an equipment fleet uses training simulators

Hoopaugh Grading Co., Charlotte, North Carolina, integrated simulators into its training program to meet the company’s quick growth and need to train numerous new employees as well as seasoned employees effectively and safely. The company’s 20,000-square-foot HGC Academy facility accommodates more than 100 students simultaneously in three large training rooms while rotating students on its three state-of-the-art, customizable Cat Simulator systems.

Katie Page, HGC director of team development, said that HGC takes a holistic approach to training.

“In addition to our in-class curriculum, our certified trainers work with our teammates on the simulators and then follow them out to the field,” said Page. “It’s more than just sitting in the classroom and learning. Our teammates have the opportunity to learn in different settings and environments.”

HGC recently added more than 200 new employees in 18 months.

“We’ve brought in some new teammates who have no experience in the industry,” Page said. “And part of the reason we could do that is the simulators, along with our experienced field trainers in the Academy.”

Salma Limon, a former food factory worker, was among those 200 new employees. Limon received in-class instruction and hands-on simulator training that proved invaluable to her.

“Learning how to position the blade on the simulator helped me know how to control the real dozer blade, which is very similar to the simulator,” Limon said.

The simulator also helped calm Limon’s nerves when she operated a real dozer for the first time.

“At first, when I got in the dozer, I had sweaty hands and was shaking a bit,” she said. “I was afraid of the tilting, but the simulator helped with that too.”

Training equipment operators at colleges, tech schools

When Western Piedmont Community College (WPCC) in Morganton, North Carolina, recognized the need for heavy equipment operator training, the college added an HEO program to its curricula designed to prepare students for entry-level jobs in the construction industry.

Michael Daniels, Dean of Applied Technologies, said that local contractors, subcontractors, and builders looked to WPCC for help.

“They couldn’t find anybody who could run a backhoe, excavator, or dozer,” he said. “That’s when we decided the heavy equipment operator program would be a perfect addition to our suite of programs.” WPCC students receive hands-on training on the college’s four different simulator: hydraulic excavator, dozer, small wheel loader, and advanced dozer.

Terry Adams, WPCC coordinator HEO/instructor, tells his students that the simulator’s purpose is to familiarize them with the controls and for them to experience operating heavy equipment virtually.

“At first, getting on the simulator is a little intimidating for the students,” he said. “I have to coax them into sitting in the seat and explain they’re not going to get hurt or hurt anything. They’re not going to tear anything up or crash it. Then they get more comfortable and start learning. Spending time on the simulators and completing the exercises really teaches the students and prepares them to operate heavy equipment.”

Collins Career Technical Center (CCTC) in Chesapeake, Ohio, launched an HEO program after completing a needs assessment with local employers and Local Operating Engineers in Ohio, Kentucky, and West Virginia.

“We determined there was a great need for operator training to address the future demands of close to 22,000 heavy equipment operators over the next two years,” said Michael Staton, associate director. The team believed an in-depth heavy equipment training program, complete with four simulator systems, would be crucial for the Tri-State’s future workforce, according to Staton.

CCTC students learn how to operate small wheel loaders, motor graders, excavators, and dozers on the college’s simulator systems. Mark Norris, heavy equipment instructor, said that he appreciates the safety factor the simulators bring to the students, instructors, and equipment.

“The simulators teach them how to start and stop a machine,” said Norris. “I’d rather try to stop somebody sitting in a simulator than I would sitting on a real machine. It gives you the sense you’re sitting in a real machine without the risk of running over somebody or something.”

Staton and Chris Leese, post-secondary administrator/director of technology, recognized the exceptional value the simulators’ real-world feel would bring to the students’ learning experience.

“We wanted the real-world feel,” Staton said. “We wanted the articulation. We wanted the movement in the seat. We wanted the vibrations. We wanted the simulators to just feel as much like sitting in the seat and behind the stick as they possibly could.”

Said Leese: “The students all said the muscle memory they developed is hard to replace. They said it felt like a normal progression to them, and they didn’t feel as intimidated getting on a real machine because they had been on the simulators.”

At Ledcor, a diversified construction company based in Reno, Nevada, “Think Safety, Work Safely” is more than the safety slogan. It’s part of the company’s culture and its No. 1 priority.

“We use the [simulator] Incident Response training to train operators how to respond to engine fires, loss of brakes, loss of steering and slick roads,” said Jerry Rynearson, training manager. “All the situations you would like to duplicate in the field but can’t safely duplicate. A lot of companies just talk to their operators and tell them what to do in those situations. But you can’t see the operator’s reaction unless you’re using a simulator.

“Simulators have made it easier to train for these situations because you’re in a controlled environment where you’re not pressured,” he said. “There’s no pressure for the student, no pressure for the trainer/instructor. “You have the ability to stop everything right where you’re at and talk about it. In the real world, you can’t just stop and talk about what just went wrong or the effects of what was done incorrectly. Simulators have brought a new level of stop and talk.”

Shelly New, lead simulator trainer, continually sees the benefits of simulator training for both employees and trainers.

“Simulator training gets employees familiar with the truck’s controls and how to run them,” New said. “Simulators also help us trainers see how people will react to the different scenarios. You can’t really say, ‘Okay, you’re on fire. What do you do?’

“But what we can do is simulate a fire, steering loss, brake loss and slick weather conditions, basically anything that can go wrong,” New said. “If the employee makes a mistake, we can go back through it with them, discuss it and explain what they need to do in the future for each of those scenarios.”

Recently more than 100 students from 10 local high schools had the opportunity to experience WPCC’s two simulators at the WPCC’s Construction Rodeo Trades Competition in Morganton, North Carolina.

“A few years ago, we realized one of the many challenges to attracting students to the construction industry is that students don’t get excited about working in the trades, so we decided to make it very much like a sports event where the different schools come together and have fun competition,” said Daniels, who organized the rodeo.

The simulators were one of 10 stations that students could visit and try their hand at during the day-long rodeo.

About the Author – Kim Roberts
Kim Roberts is a marketing communications specialist at Simformotion LLC who enjoys meeting and talking with heavy equipment operator students, instructors, and customers about the role simulators play in their heavy equipment training experience or programs. She specializes in writing customer success articles that capture the customer’s appreciation for simulator training.

Original Article: Construction Equipment – https://www.constructionequipment.com/earthmoving/article/21438670/how-simulators-help-meet-demand-for-heavy-equipment-operators

22 11, 2022

Cat® Simulators Systems and SimScholars™ Curriculum Play Key Roles in Georgia’s New Heavy Equipment Operator Training Program’s Success

Cat^® Simulators systems along with SimScholars™ heavy equipment operator (HEO) curriculum are playing key roles in the state of Georgia’s newly launched HEO simulator training program.

The new HEO program is one of Georgia’s 17 Career Clusters/Pathways which provide a structure for organizing and delivering quality Career, Technical and Agricultural Education (CTAE) programs in Georgia’s public high schools. The HEO program provides a pathway for students in 12 high schools and career technical centers throughout the state of Georgia to learn and enter the construction industry.

C.W. Matthews Contracting Co., Inc. recently piloted the program with its employees and deemed the program as very effective in placing individuals on the “fast track” to becoming heavy equipment operators in the horizontal construction industry. Jeremy Whitaker, C.W. Matthews Director of Training & Recruitment, attributes much of the program’s success to the Cat Simulators systems and SimScholars™ curriculum.

“Cat Simulators are the main focus of the program because the simulators are so authentic to the real equipment,” said Whitaker who explained how the SimScholars curriculum provides instructors with a course overview, exercise objectives, learning outcomes, lesson plans, step-by-step procedures, checklists/schedules, student management tools, quizzes and pre/post-tests. “The simulators, along with the SimScholars curriculum, really puts our students on the fast track to becoming operators.”

The program consists of three classes, Industry Fundamentals & Occupational Safety (the beginning course for all construction pathways in Georgia), Intro to Heavy Equipment: Excavator and Heavy Equipment 1: Bulldozer. Instructors split the class into two groups starting in the Intro to Heavy Equipment class.

Group 1 students complete in-class learning using the SimScholars curriculum. They learn in-depth reasons on why they need to operate machines a certain way. Meanwhile, students in Group 2 experience hands-on excavator training on the Cat Simulators systems and complete exercises like the Machine Walkaround, Bench & Truck Loading, Trench Box & Pipe and Trenching, just to name a few. Once both groups finish their objectives, they switch places. The in-class students train on the simulators and the simulator students complete the in-class learning.

During the second and third classes in the HEO pathway, industry partners provide “vision trips” to the students which benefit both the industry partners and students. The partners have the opportunity to build relationships with the students; the students get to experience the real equipment and see skilled operators run the machines.

Whitaker explained during the vision trips students see that the controls on the simulators are the same as the controls on the real iron. “Having the same controls on the simulator as the real equipment is very important. It makes the learning curve less steep when they move to the real equipment.”

“Cat® Simulators are the main focus of the program because the simulators are so authentic to the real equipment,” said Whitaker who explained how the SimScholars curriculum provides instructors with a course overview, exercise objectives, learning outcomes, lesson plans, step-by-step procedures, checklists/ schedules, student management tools, quizzes and pre/post-tests.

At the end of the second and third classes in the pathway, industry partners host students at real jobsites where students perform their “Capstone Projects.” The students’ capstone projects require them to perform the same series of tasks on the real equipment as they did on the simulators. During the capstones, seasoned operators observe the students and make sure they adhere to strict safety guidelines.

“Students are familiar and comfortable with the real machines because of the time they’ve spent learning and practicing on the simulators.” Whitaker continued, “Transitioning from the simulator to the real equipment is like putting on a comfortable pair of boots that you’ve broken in. You’re already familiar and comfortable with them. The students are able to make an impact in the field on the real equipment on day one.”

Whitaker explained that students who successfully complete the entire program along with their capstone project and who receive a favorable evaluation and recommendation from their CTAE instructor will have a variety of career opportunities in the horizontal construction industry from contractors across the state.

“We are thankful for all the support this new pathway has received,” commented Whitaker.

“Transitioning from the simulator to the real equipment is like putting on a comfortable pair of boots that you’ve broken in. You’re already familiar and comfortable with them. The students are able to make an impact in the field on the real equipment on day one.”

10 11, 2022

Tennessee College of Applied Technology Knoxville Helps Meet Industry Needs With Heavy Equipment Operator Program

Tennessee College of Applied Technology Knoxville’s (TCAT) Special Industry Instructor Jose Miranda credits his background in mechanics along with his previous role as an automotive instructor for giving him insight on how students enrolled in TCAT Knoxville’s heavy equipment operator course learn best. Miranda believes he has found the perfect learning mixture.

“I find the best way for my students to learn is with a mix of instructor-led learning with the SimScholars™ curriculum then hands-on training on Cat® Simulators,” explained Miranda who appreciates the details SimScholars™ curriculum provides his students. “The curriculum gives the students the reasons why they need to maneuver the machine a certain way even before they get on the simulator. It also gives them information they will need when they are on the job site like safety, hazard awareness and machine operation.”

Miranda added that he believes students who only use simulators for training do not necessarily receive the in-depth learning the curriculum provides. “The curriculum goes deeper into things like type of soils, bucket load formulas and more. It’s more well-rounded instead of just two hands on the simulator. I think to be a good operator, you have to have both. You can’t just have the hands-on training,” said Miranda.

TCAT Knoxville’s heavy equipment operator students have the opportunity to learn how to operate three pieces of heavy equipment on the college’s three Cat Simulators systems – the Articulated Truck, Hydraulic Excavator and Dozer.

“I find the best way for my students to learn is with a mix of instructor-led learning with the SimScholars™ curriculum then hands-on training on Cat® Simulators,” explained Miranda who appreciates the details SimScholars™ curriculum provides his students. “The curriculum gives the students the reasons why they need to maneuver the machine a certain way even before they get on the simulator.

Partnerships Provide Real Machine Experience

“We have partnerships with Blount Excavating and the Caterpillar dealership, Stowers Cat®, here in Knoxville, Tennessee,” explained Miranda. “Stowers let the students go to their yard and get some in-the-seat stick time. But first, the students have to do Excavator and Articulated Truck walkarounds at Stowers’ yard.”

After spending time on the simulators familiarizing themselves with the authentic Cat controls and learning the basics of maneuvering the machines, the students return to Stowers’ yard, explained Miranda. “During the third week of the course, we go back to Stowers’ yard. The students get into the equipment and do air digging, like ‘raking the green.’ They also move and swing the machine around the track a little bit.”

Authentic Cat Controls

“We have partnerships with Blount Excavating and the Caterpillar dealership, Stowers Cat®, here in Knoxville, Tennessee,” explained Miranda. “Stowers let the students go to their yard and get some in-the-seat stick time. But first, the students have to do Excavator and Articulated Truck walkarounds at Stowers’ yard.”

After spending time on the simulators familiarizing themselves with the authentic Cat controls and learning the basics of maneuvering the machines, the students return to Stowers’ yard, explained Miranda. “During the third week of the course, we go back to Stowers’ yard. The students get into the equipment and do air digging, like ‘raking the green.’ They also move and swing the machine around the track a little bit.”

VR Edition

As the course progresses, Miranda introduces VR learning to the students as part of the course’s advanced section. He lets the students decide whether or not they want to use VR.

“It’s really good training. The students really like the VR and saw a difference when they went to the field,” said Miranda. “When we went back to Stowers’ yard, the students did really, really well. They were actually raking the green. One of the students who had never raked the green before, and barely had any experience operating equipment, was keeping the bucket straight as he went back within just a minute or two of getting into the machine. The VR works.”

Meeting Industry Training Needs

TCAT Knoxville Strategic Impact Coordinator Sally Porter explained that Stowers Cat and local construction industry leaders reached out to TCAT Knoxville for help in developing a heavy equipment operator training program last year. In November, a team traveled to Peoria, Illinois, to meet with the Simformotion team and learn more about Cat Simulators systems. Porter started the process to apply for grant funding after the visit.

“Before we knew it, the grant was approved, and we received the funding to pay for the program,” said Porter. “We recently received Workforce Investment Board funding. Sometimes they work directly with companies, or they work with individuals who are out of work. The funding will pay for the entire course for individuals.”

“We’re answering a call directly from the industry. There’s a need. They don’t have enough people.” Porter continued, “We have industry support. They want us to produce faster and train quicker. And then ultimately, they would like to see our program replicated across the state of Tennessee, in all TCATs. That’s their goal. There’s such a need for workers. And it’s also helping with their liability insurance. If we can show that their employees have safety training, that helps their worker’s compensation numbers.”

“We’re answering a call directly from the industry. There’s a need. They don’t have enough people.” Porter continued, “We have industry support. They want us to produce faster and train quicker. And then ultimately, they would like to see our program replicated across the state of Tennessee, in all TCATs. That’s their goal. There’s such a need for workers.

Simulator Training Benefits

Miranda explained there are many benefits to training students on simulators. “Local employers told me they will save maintenance costs on their machines by not using them to train with because sometimes inexperienced operators can be hard on equipment,” said Miranda. “They also do not want their machines tied up with training when it could be making money on the job site. And finally, they don’t have to invest time to train a person.”

“I think the ability to train on a simulator is the closest thing you can have to actually operating equipment. There’s nothing else like it out there.” Miranda explained, “I think the students are going to have a better start in a construction company. They know how to move the equipment from one place to another and how to do small tasks. They may not be able to grade a perfect grade with a bulldozer, but they are able to level some dirt and operate safely.”

“They know what the controls are, what the limits of the machine are and what can cause damage to the equipment because all of that is in the SimScholars™ curriculum. And they get the muscle memory, the repetitive motion of movement, from the simulators.” He added, “The employers can say they need this dirt moved from here to there and the new employee will be able to do it. Training on the simulators does work.”

13 10, 2022

Heavy equipment machinery simulators allow for high school students to get hands-on experience

Watch the video to learn more about the new heavy equipment simulators that were recently purchased for the Warren County Area Technology Center.

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. (WBKO) – A $392,000 grant recently secured the purchase of four heavy equipment simulators for the Warren County Area Technology Center.

The students took turns testing out the new equipment today.

Warren County high school senior, Casey Murray says, “It’s the only kind of experience you can get except out in the workplace of course. It’s like being on a real excavator. You get to dig and stuff like that. Obviously you get to have a real feeling of what it feels like.”

The course teacher, Michael Holtgraver, who has a primarily military heavy machinery background, says the simulator will provide students a real-world experience without them having to operate on an actual piece of equipment.

Holtgraver says, “The ability to use the simulators in the classroom versus just me standing up here in front of the class and teaching them monotonous information over and over and over again, it gives them the ability to actually put their hands on and that should engage more students to come out and at least try the course and take that experience and provide that back to the community through employment.”

The teacher mentioned that the use of the simulators helps to eliminate a cognitive learning gap that lies between power point and textbook learning for a hands-on job.

These simulators are the first of their kind in South Central Kentucky.

Original Article by: Lindsey Jenkins | WBKO 13 News | https://www.wbko.com/2022/09/23/four-new-heavy-equipment-machinery-simulators-allow-high-school-students-get-real-hands-on-experience/

29 09, 2022

Georgia’s New Heavy Equipment Operator Simulator Training Program

The new Heavy Equipment Operator (HEO) Simulator Training Program has created a brand-new construction pathway for Georgia high schools. Each Career Technical & Agricultural Education (CTAE) pathway consists of the following three classes:

Industry Fundamentals & Occupational Safety (NCCER Industry Credential)
Intro to Heavy Equipment: Excavator (Cat® Simulators, SimScholars™ Curriculum & Industry Partner Credentials)
Heavy Equipment 1: Bulldozer (Cat Simulators, SimScholars™ & Industry Partner Credentials)

C.W. Matthews Contracting Co., Inc. piloted the program with its current employees. The program has been deemed very effective in placing individuals on the “Fast Track” to becoming heavy equipment operators in the horizontal construction industry. Students who successfully complete this program and receive a favorable evaluation and recommendation from their CTAE instructor will have a variety of career opportunities in the horizontal construction industry from a variety of contractors across the state.

At the beginning of the second and third classes in the pathway, students will be taken on “Vision Trips” provided by the school’s industry partner. The students get to sit in the real equipment and see it in action by a skilled operator. Here, they will also get to see that the controls on the simulator are the same as the controls on the real iron. This gives the industry partner the opportunity to begin building relationships with the program and students.

During the simulator training, the class consists of two main parts. The first part, Curriculum Training, uses Simformotion SimScholars™ curriculum which has been custom-made for schools and written for Cat Simulators. This gives students the “WHY” in what they are doing. The second part of the class is the simulator training itself. Students work through modules like Machine Walkaround, Bench & Truck Loading, Trench Box & Pipe, Trenching, and many other exercises that show the students the hands-on “HOW” in operating heavy equipment. Both parts of the class happen daily.

“We are excited that the new Heavy Equipment Operations Pathway provides an outstanding opportunity for students to investigate and pursue a career with horizontal construction companies in Georgia.”

–Roger Ivey, CTAE Program Delivery Manager
Georgia Department of Education

At the end of the second and third classes in the pathway, the industry partner hosts students at a real jobsite where the students perform “The Capstone Project.” The Capstone Project requires the students to perform the same series of tasks on the real equipment as they did on the simulators. The Capstone Project is performed under the close supervision of seasoned operators adhering to strict safety guidelines. Students who successfully complete the entire pathway and The Capstone Project will walk away with seven or more industry recognized credentials that will help them secure a career in the horizontal construction industry..

“We are thankful for all the support this new pathway has received” explained Jeremy Whitaker, C.W. Matthews Director of Training & Recruitment.

HIGH SCHOOLS OFFERING THE PROGRAM

Cobb Innovation & Technology Academy
East Forsyth High School
Empower College & Career Center
Jones County College & Career Academy
Jordan Vocational High School
Toombs County High School