With Scott
Dow
Director of Services
Vibe-Assist
LLC
We talked with Scott Dow of Vibe-Assist after he sent us
information about a new CD-ROM training disk they produce.
Scott speaks frankly about the V-Trainer, an award winning CD-based
training product for Vibration Analysis. His answers to our
questions follow below:
Can an entry-level technician use this training
program?
Absolutely. In fact, the only level the
V-Trainer manuals may not help is the "true expert" level
(a level very few analysts will ever attain). The "Basic
Theory" manual in V-Trainer starts at the "What is
vibration" level and progresses, step by step, through advanced field
tests and corrective actions.
How many hours (average) does it take to
get through the program?
At this point the manuals consist
of a total of over 300 pages. It would take probably a couple of days to
go through each of the pages thoroughly. But there is no need to do that
since the format provides the ability to bite off manageable pieces,
address them at your own pace when convenient and be able to easily locate
and review them as the need arises.
Is it heavy theory or does it include
hands-on examples and lessons?
V-Trainer - and Vibe-Assist's training
philosophy in general - is geared towards the average guy in the plant
trying to run a successful vibration program. Current theory training
(memorization ?) classes spend way too much time on highly theoretical
subjects that have little use or meaning to the average practitioner and
too little time on understanding the practical application of the
technology to monitor and maintain equipment reliability. If you want to
find out exactly how an anti-aliasing filter works or which chips are in
which boxes and why, don't get V-Trainer. Our animations explain
the subjects in ways the written word cannot and our text explanations of
what is happening in these animations are kept simple and concise. The
case study portion provides the student with the ultimate in hands-on -
the ability to think through and solve actual case studies. We strive to
answer two questions - "What is the data telling me ?" and
"How do I use that information ?".
Would a seasoned vibration veteran gain
anything from taking the course?
That's a tricky question because the level
of "seasoning" does not necessarily coincide with a certain
skill level in applying the theory to the real world. Often analysts
operate in a vacuum and develop bad habits or misunderstand the theory
simply because no one is there to correct them. Between the unique, new
ways that the animations allow the student to look at the subjects in
V-Trainer's manuals and the ability to test yourself by solving actual
case histories, the "seasoned" analyst may actually gain a
tremendous amount.
Do you have any plans on delivering the
course over the Internet?
Yes, you can get access on the web at
VibrationSchool.com.
Click here for
VibrationSchool.com
Are there Part2 or Level 2 course scheduled
for release?
There are no plans to ever
"finish" V-Trainer. The product is designed to continually
expand into new and different subjects as well as re-visit existing
subjects when better animations or explanations are developed. For
instance, recently an extensive new section on time domain was added and
sections on oil analysis and other subjects are on the drawing board. What
will also change is the case studies being developed that are the
student's "test" - the place they will go to be challenged to
apply what they have learned and gain experience and confidence.
Are there any other points about V-Trainer
that you think our members would be interested in?
Although the focus has been on the
"manuals" V-Trainer provides, it is important not to lose sight
of the tremendous value of V-Trainer's "other" aspect - the case
study portion. This unique case study portion is not merely a video game -
it is a serious learning tool. Every problem faced, investigated and
solved - including, of course, the "real" ones in the student's
own plant - gains experience and confidence for that student and makes
them a better analyst. The case studies help the students develop the
creative thought processes necessary to tackle the unusual problems that
they will eventually encounter. That is what makes an analyst a
"true expert" - not how much theory you can cram into your head.
It is how well you use the technology and tools it provides as information
that solves problems and improves the reliability of your equipment and
that is what V-Trainer is all about.
Click
here for more vibration analysis resources and links
|
