News

As I see it - Learning by Doing

By Gordon Hill - CEO, NewMindscape Business Solutions

Learning Skills through Practice and Coaching

I once attended this great school that had a mantra of “Learn by Doing", which I thought was pretty cool back in my university days, but as life has progressed I realise more and more each day just how important this mantra is (no matter what age you are). Each one of us has gone through training that has been better than others, whether it was a driver’s training course when you turned 16 or a training course for your job.

Although you may sit through 8 hours of training it’s what you take away from it that counts, not that you were just a warm body filling a seat.

It all boils down to Passive vs. Active Learning.

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Park Engineers reflect on the impact of NMS program

NewMindscape and Park Engineers have been working together since April 2010 with the NMS Business Improvement Program being introduced to both workshop and management staff. 

Based in Welshpool, WA, Park Engineers is recognised as one of the leading structural steel fabrication companies in Australia.

Its workshop is one of the largest and most advanced in Australia – with fully integrated CNC machines delivering a quality product, on time, first time.

Malcolm Swaddle, General Manager of Park Engineers commented: “This last year with the NewMindscape Improvement program has been a major tool in changing attitudes in the workshop teams.  Initially some were very resistant to change. However, since the introduction of the improvement program the company has seen better involvement from the workforce, especially when resolving problems”. 

Both parties are looking forward to continuing their partnership and working together to find effective solutions to issues currently affecting the manufacturing industry.

Team at Orion wins NewMindscape Excellence Award

Cycle Counting of inventory holdings in a warehouse can be a Logistic Nightmare.  Funnily enough, it was the Lean Team aptly named the Logistic Nightmares who tackled the issue, and transformed a poorly performing process to 100% compliant, and actually exceeded their own expectations.

Based on a matrix of risk and value, Cycle Counting specifies which products are to be counted quarterly, biannually or annually, allowing for any discrepancies to be investigated and rectified.  Maintaining this inventory control process reduces overall commercial risk.

The team brainstormed and trialed solutions, which once proven effective, were standardised.  The process has now been sustained month on month since April 2011.  Congratulations to the Logistic Nightmares, as they are the worthy recipients of the NewMindscape Excellence Award.

National Workforce Development Fund (NWDF)

A new National Workforce Development Fund (NWDF) has been announced by the Australian Government. The fund will provide $558 million in funding over four years to support industry training and workforce development.

Manufacturing Skills Australia (MSA) is managing applications and projects for priority occupations in the manufacturing industries on behalf of the Australian Government.

The Government funding contribution will be supplemented by an enterprise contribution which varies for small, medium and large enterprises.

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