VMA Delivers… Valve Education

Ross Eppinette, a mechanical engineering (M.E.) student graduating in May, praised the program. He told VMA staff that: “This program is ideal for students and individuals entering the industry. They don’t teach you this stuff in school… As a student, I can’t say enough about how valuable this program is.” Fellow M.E. student Mauricio Figueroa commented: “I learned so much about things I had only partially heard about in school. It [the petting zoo] gave me the opportunity to see and feel all the components.”

Future Plans

A number of attendees at the Houston and previous basics events have been asking for additional courses, and VMA expects to roll out more education programming in the next year. Greg Johnson, chairman of VMA’s Education & Training Committee, said: “We’re planning to add an optional half-day to the end of the 101 course, made up of some select topics that we haven’t been able to cover in our regular presentation.” Among topics under consideration are modules on Sizing & Selection, Codes & Standards, Materials, Repair & Maintenance, Industry Applications and Valve Accessories.

In addition, “we are beginning to work with VMA member companies to prepare a variety of short courses in PowerPoint, which will be sold in The VMA Store as downloadable PDFs. We hope to start rolling these out within the next couple of months,” he said. These “mini courses” are expected to cover a wide range of subjects and will be prepared so each topic is covered in an educational and non-proprietary manner – which is the criteria the committee has used from the program’s start to develop and assess course content.

Recognizing that online training is an essential part of any training offered in today’s world, the association is now in the process of developing a narrated, online program for those who want to learn about the industry on their own time and at their own time. The Valve Industry Basics Training program is expected to launch in the latter part of 2012. Watch Valve Magazine and VMA.org for additional information.

The Evolution of Valve Ed

The Valve Basics program began in 2009 as VMA’s leadership as well as its members began to recognize that no other organizations or companies offered an entry-level course on valves, actuators and controls for those new to the industry. Why was this so important? “With so many baby-boomers poised to retire, it seemed essential that VMA take the lead in developing a valve education program featuring the basics,” Johnson said. “As much as we would like to think industry pros from the older generation are passing on their legacy knowledge to new employees, in too many cases – especially as busy as everyone is – that just doesn’t happen,” he continued.

In addition, VMA has sold more than 50 Valve Basics in a Box programs (for teaching multiple individuals at facilities or plants) and hundreds of Back to Basics article compilations, as well as the downloadable presentation An Introduction to the Valve Industry.

Sandler noted that everywhere VMA staff travels, people ask about the association’s Valve Ed program. “We’ve had orders for our education products from all over the world, and people have traveled from South America, Europe and Israel to attend our Valves & Actuators 101 course.”

Plenty of Support

The program’s content was developed by members of VMA’s Education & Training Committee, who have spent hundreds of hours over the last few years – much of it during their spare time – writing and reviewing content and making presentations at 10 different venues. They have been assisted in their efforts by many other VMA members. “You can’t underestimate the contributions of these folks,” said Bill Sandler. “It’s difficult to imagine how much blood, sweat and tears went into the making of Valves & Actuators 101.”

Along with chair Greg Johnson of United Valve in Houston, who also serves as a presenter (Introduction to the Valve Industry and Multi-turn Valves), committee members who have been with the program since its beginnings include:

Leon Brooks (Quarter-turn Valves), ETC Vice Chairman – Cameron Valves & Measurement, Houston
Ed Holtgraver (Actuators: Pneumatic and Hydraulic), Actuator Lead and VMA Board Liaison – QTRCO Inc., Tomball, TX
Dan Angelino (Pressure-relief Valves) – Farris Engineering (a division of Curtiss-Wright Flow Control), Brecksville, OH
Arie Bregman and Jeff Kane (Check Valves) – DFT Inc., Exton, PA
Paul Souza (Electric Actuators) – AUMA Actuators, Inc., Canonsburg, PA

In addition, David Scott of Samson Controls, headquartered in Houston, has been working with the committee for the past year, and is responsible for the Control Valve lesson.

Next Up: Denver

The next Valve Basics Seminar & Exhibits will take place in Denver, Oct. 10-11, 2012, at the Crowne Plaza Denver Airport. Registration for attendees and exhibitors will open on VMA.org by May 1.

Along with serving as associate publisher/editor in chief of Valve Magazine, Judy Tibbs is VMA’s director of education. She welcomes queries about the Valve Ed program.