Multivac - An Industry in Need - April 2023 - 5

opportunity. It is rare for companies to offer a
training of this nature on their equipment. The
staff was knowledgeable and great to work
with. "
For John Kennemur, plant manager at Evans
Meats Inc., Birmingham, Ala., the return on
investment was immediate and continues
daily. Before taking the class, Kennemur would
just work to get the machine going enough
to move product out the door, by looking
at electrical schematics, etc., and trying to
figure out problems while the machine was
down. Flying a technician into Alabama to
troubleshoot and repair a machine after
Kennemur had already exhausted options
while the machine is down was costly
for Evans Meats. Even after working with
Thermoformers for 15 years, taking the fiveday
Advanced course was like light bulbs going
off in his head as the instructors taught about
the machine.
" This week alone, I've been able to fix two
significant problems because of what I learned,
problems that would have had the machine
down, " Kennemur said. " The advanced course
gave me really a deep dive where I feel like I
can figure out anything inside the machine. "
Kennemur emphasized the importance
packaging appearance has on the success of
Evans Meats' products and stressed the value
MULTIVAC's partnership adds to getting the
most out of their machines. He also touched
on the slow evaporation of the skilled labor
pool in the food processing industry. The
butchers at Evans Meats have begun to age
out and the company has yet to find many new
faces willing to learn the skills to become a
quality butcher. During his training, instructors
mentioned MULTIVAC's expansion into slicing
and portioning equipment. Kennemur looks
forward to partnering with MULTIVAC on a
slicer in the future and has no worries about
" IT IS RARE FOR COMPANIES
TO OFFER A TRAINING OF
THIS NATURE ON THEIR
EQUIPMENT. THE STAFF WAS
KNOWLEDGEABLE AND
GREAT TO WORK WITH. "
DEREK GEIGER, HARD CHEESE PRODUCTION SUPERVISOR
AT SCHUMAN CHEESE, FAIRFIELD, NJ.
training for technicians due to the tight
partnership with MULTIVAC and their training
department.
" So now we actually have them coming into
our plant to check out our products and
introduce us to their slicer, " he said.
Web-based and On demand
For partners that cannot send employees to
the standard course offerings in Kansas City,
MULTIVAC offers fully customized on demand
training at any location. Course length is
dependent on how long training experts need
to transfer knowledge onto staff, including
accommodations for shift start times and
split-shift operations. Courses focus on the
students' understanding of machine processes
through demonstrations and how the processes
relate to technical drawings. Students will learn
machine reliability and performance relative to
a regular maintenance plan.
" We're getting to know the machines so well
that we can keep parts on the shelves that
are short life parts we know are going to need
replacement, " Kennemur said.
Diagnostic tools, procedures and
troubleshooting tips provide students the
ability to take the necessary steps to reduce
machine downtime. On demand course
content includes Fundamentals or Advanced
Multivac - An Industry in Need - April 2023

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