DAF Trucks N.V. is a technology company and a leading manufacturer of commercial vehicles in Europe. DAF is a wholly owned subsidiary of PACCAR Inc., a world leader in the development and production of outstanding light, medium and heavy commercial vehicles.
The engine plant in Eindhoven produces high-tech engines on high-tech production lines with CNC machining centres. The arrival of the new engine block and head line at the Motorenfabriek created an additional need for well-trained machinists. Because the pool of trained machinists is small, DAF decided to organise a programme itself. STODT was approached to give shape to this course. In the summer of last year, a steering group was put together including the area managers, supervisors, production engineers, a PPS facilitator, a representative from HR and the STODT CNC machining training experts.
Complex
In the training you learn about material types and how to use tools. "It's about understanding what you are going to do before you start. Otherwise, you are likely to make mistakes," says Andrzej. And of course, a lot of attention is paid to the technical part. And of course, a lot of attention is paid to the technical part, from dealing with breakdowns to even more complex tasks, such as the precise measurement - 'clocking out' - of the so-called 'cutters'.
The intention was that 90 employees of the motor factory would follow this course. In the meantime, 140 new and existing employees have already completed the CNC Basic Machining course.
I really like the CNC project that the engine plant has developed together with Training & Development and the training institute STODT. "I started out conventionally; in the beginning I just chipped by hand. Reading programs, operating CNC machines and really learning to understand them well was really new to me. I previously followed the instructor training course at DAF and always liked to teach colleagues things. "I will continue to do so, but now I have even more knowledge and background than before. This is exactly what I wanted."
Andrzej Zielinski
Operator en instructor CNC DAF Engine factory
