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KBI’s weekly review topic help piper designers learn more about the requirements of SPED’s  Professional Piping Design (PPD) certification program. The Society of Piping Engineers and Designers’ PPD Program Certifies Piping Designers to four levels.

View the topics here.

KBI developed review videos for the 20 topics of PPD Level I and 20 more for Level III.  The videos are distributed by Information Assets, Inc. (http://www.infoassets.com/)

More on PPD from Society of Piping Engineers and Designers (http://www.spedweb.com/)

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The weekly SPED Professional Piping Designer (PPD) Review Topic of the week features videos developed by KBI.  The SPED PPD Certification Program has an exam requirement listing specific knowledge to be tested: KBI offers 30 videos to allow candidates to review the content.  KBI training videos are distributed by Information Assets, Inc. (IAI) on CD and offered for viewing online in courses.

The PPD Review Topic of the Week can be viewed here.

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KBI Piping Design Training Videos seen by Thousands

KBI, creator of over 150 Piping Design Training Videos, says its videos have reached thousands, says Information Assets, Inc., its distributor.  In a recent news release, IAI announded over 1,000 had viewed them though the SPED online training website:

sped.lms.infoassets.com

(See IAI’s announcement here)

Many more had viewed the videos on corporate websites.  KBI piping design training videos are authored by William G. Beazley, PhD.

The videos are now organized as two courses:

Piper Boot Camp

Process Plant Layout

They will soon be featured in the new PipingU website.

 

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Mechanical designers from automotive manufacturers and suppliers were exposed to multiple application constraints that help in piping: The requirement to work on tight schedules; demanding accountability; congested areas exposed to heat and vibration; design within a broad range CAD systems capable of solving problems of fit-up, routing, shielding, mounting, fabrication, etc.  Classroom lectures and CAD labs were changed to leverage these existing skills.

As a result, the second class was able to spend more time on skills that integrate their industrial experience with their piping training.  For example, class 2 spent an extra week of lab work on PDMS beyond a full week of PDMS instruction.  This week included significant development of PDMS models plant equipment, which benefits directly from their prior experience with surface and constructed 3D geometry on other work assignments.  Bill said, “this led to their creating much more detailed and extensive models in their lab than with similar classes.  In short, they make great equipment modelers.”

The class also visited a working power plant, courtesy of DTE Energy.  The Plant, Belle River Power Station, permitted students to see coal fired boilers in service and turnaround conditions, a rare opportunity.  The level of questions from the class clearly demonstrate their knowledge of pipe, valves, fittings and equipment.

Finally, the efforts made to structure the class within Angel are paying big dividends.  The class used more use of the videos, practice quizzes and web links to review and extend class lecture and labs.  This increased the amount of equipment of equipment modeled and the level of comprehension about their function.

Bill Beazley summarized by saying, “this class continued the high level of competence we achieved in the first class. Not only are they proven pipe designers but they stand ready to bring into the field their long experience in other industries. They should all do well on their next piping assignment.”

Macomb College uses instructional videos recorded by William Beazley and Marketed by the Society of Piping Engineers and Designers (www.spedweb.com).

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IAI Trains Automotive Designers to be Piping Designers

IAI is completing it first class for Automotive Designers who wish to become Piping Designers. Funded by the State of Michigan the designers are retraining for other industries, including piping design. The first class is 17 industrial designers as piping designers. All will test for SPED PPD Level I.

“It is a little appreciated fact that the center of the automotive engineering world is Detroit, Michigan. Says Bill Beazley, IAI President and Class Instructor. “ What is also little appreciated is that much of this engineering talent has been laid off, with little hope of working again in the Auto industry.” One expert estimated the there are three to five thousand unemployed engineers and designers in the Detroit area.
“These folks are hungry, eager to change careers and are accustomed to lower wages.

And they can be trained. Adds Beazley, “make no mistake about their level of ability: This group of designers represented the most interesting combination of experience, maturity and capability I have seen yet.”

The experienced designers have easily mastered the typical training applications of fabrication planning, spool takeoff, control valve station layout, and pump suction/discharge piping. Beazley said, “their questions, however, showed an application focus and a disciplined methodology often seen in highly experienced designers. They were hungry to learn, came early and stayed late. They show the intensity typical of someone escaping from a dead end to a promising future.”

What’s more, the designers bring developed skills from automotive design that clearly apply in piping design. They have been working in confined spaces routing tubing and cables, placing components and checking for interference. They have designed jigs and tooling that increases fabrication and assembly efficiency. Some have planned parts flow, staging and movement into place just as pipers have to plan logistics and construction. The frequently have to practice modular design and coordinate their interfaces with others. They understand documentation and paperwork. They are used to tight schedules (18 month programs) and know how to meet deadlines.

Michigan has also funded their PDS training provided directly by Intergraph. They can explain and defend all of their drawings and designs.

These are serious folks who want to work. Today they might work in Houston, California or South Carolina. Tomorrow, when there are hundreds or thousands trained, they might attract EPC companies to Michigan. As one piping manager said about his company, “they like to locate offices where there are lots of low cost resources.” Why go overseas when there are better prepared folks right here at reasonable rates?

For more information, contact:

William G Beazley, PhD

President

Information Assets, Inc.
9211 West Rd.
Suite 143-191
Houston, TX 77064
713.443.9914

http://www.infoassets.com/

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