Education & Training

Protect the investment you made in high tolerance, precision equipment by letting your operator learn about the screed in detail right at our factory.

Until March of 1997, all Somero Laser Screed training was done on-site. A trainer from Somero spent a week with the company who bought a Laser Screed. During this time, the trainer's main objectives were to get the operator familiar with the machines operation, maintenance, troubleshooting, and job planning. One of the disadvantages of on-site training is the variability of the concrete industry. Too often, the trainer would end up operating the screed while the trainee was out trying to help catch up on the finishing. This takes away valuable time that the trainer and trainee could be spending together going over the systems of the machine. Because of the disadvantages of on-site training, we decided to begin training at our facility.

When a potential operator comes to one of Somero's training centers, we launch a 3 day training class with these goals in mind. The first goal is to familiarize the operator with the machine so he/she will feel comfortable operating and maintaining it. Next, the operator learns how to plan and coordinate placements when using the Laser Screed. Understanding the main systems of the machine is another main objective. The final goal is troubleshooting potential problems on the machine. This is accomplished through an intense hands-on session at the end of the class.

When the operator leaves, he/she knows the machine and how it works. We make sure that each system is understood so all trainees are prepared if anything should happen to go wrong. One major advantage of in-house training is we are able to sabotage our machine and then let the operator try to troubleshoot the problems and fix the machine so it will perform properly. It offers the operator a chance to fix the machine without the pressure of the job site.

In-house training has been very successful and is a better choice than on-site training because the operator has more time with the trainer and he is able to get to know the machine.

In-House vs. On-Site Training

Why In-House Training is Better than On-Site Training

Training Intensity - The trainer's job is to train the operators that go to in-house training. Many times on-site the trainer must concentrate on getting the job done instead of training the new operator.
Training Continuity - Scheduling conflicts are very rare with in-house training. Once an operator is at the class, he or she stays for the entire week. On-site training schedules however, are subject to weather, site readiness, and countless other conflicts that can cut into valuable training time.
Time on Machine - In-house trainees get as much as 8 hours of operation on the machine. On-site trainees usually get minimal time on the machine due to the urgency that concrete requires. The trainer often has to catch up when the trainee falls behind.
Technical Expertise - In-house trainees are able to set the speeds and adjustments of the machine over and over. On-site many times the company does not have all of the tools readily available to set up the Laser Screed.
Troubleshooting - In-house trainees have the opportunity to set up a machine that has been torn apart and taken way out of adjustment. Bad components are installed on the machines and the trainees must troubleshoot these. On-site trainees do not have this opportunity.
Hands-On - Everything the trainee does in-house is hands-on and most people retain more information when they hear it and do it than when they just hear it.
Scheduling Conflicts - Laser Screed operators are usually top workers in a company. When trained on-site, if the company is not pouring with the Laser Screed, the trainee will usually be doing some other job and will miss out on training time. In-house has a set schedule and it does not change.
Distractions - On-site training can be very cut up because there are so many distractions. The pressure to get the job done quickly inhibits the operator's ability to learn to operate the Laser Screed smoothly. Without the job site atmosphere, the trainee can learn to operate at his own pace, starting smoothly and slowly and gradually increasing speed.
Cut-away parts - The in-house trainee has the opportunity to see the inside of valves and electrical components that have been taken apart. This gives the trainee a better understanding of how and why the systems work. Obviously, on-site trainees do not have the same opportunity.
Maintenance - In-house trainees are able to see exact maintenance procedures and then are able to perform the procedures. For example, turning an auger end for end, replacing bearings, tightening boom cords, etc. When a machine goes from the factory to a customer it has been tested and has brand new components so there is no need to make any adjustments.

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