The American Gear Manufacturers Association (AGMA) has converted six classes that normally occur face-to-face into online, live courses to meet industry demand for distance learning opportunities. AGMA has always offered a virtual workforce education series free to members through the AGMA Foundation funding, but the new classes give companies the opportunity to have everyone, from the newest machine operator to an experienced engineer, learn.

The courses won’t have the “hands-on” components that the in-person experience offers, but the instructors will be teaching live and most of the online programs will be IACET accredited to add value to professional development and give engineers the needed continuing education credits to maintain certifications and licensures.

As an additional measure to provide industry training, AGMA is still offering on-site education that allows one instructor to go to a plant and teach their workforce — minimizing cost and risk.

Topic covered by the virtual education series include detailed gear design, basic gear inspection for operators, gear failure analysis and external spur and helical gear mesh contact analysis.