Grand Slam Safety x ISAIC Custom Training
Industrial Sewing and Innovation Center is a pioneering non-profit national resource for the manufacturing of soft goods. We advance solutions that are transforming industry while promoting the upward trajectory of people through training. This training extends beyond our headquarters, here in Detroit, into communities across the United States.
Our Education and Training Department has a wide range of expertise to offer to the entire industry, where we can set up the Fundamentals of Industrial Sewing and Production program at manufacturing sites, train the trainer, and develop custom trainings to upskill workers in any soft goods industry.
We kicked off our first custom training of the year at Grand Slam Safety, a NY-based manufacturer of high-quality sports netting and fencing for indoor and outdoor venues. Grand Slam Safety recently bought a custom-netting machine, and needed to train their workforce in how to operate it. They reached out to ISAIC to develop a custom training and a partnership was formed.
In January— Cassie, our training developer, presented to a group of eight students on how to operate a custom-netting machine. This is a major development for their organization, as they had been outsourcing their netting—a process of knotting together vinyl to create an open-meshed material to use for equipment like: basketball rims, tennis nets, and volleyball nets.
Cassie learned how to operate the machine and captured the skills and steps necessary to train others using our AI software DeepHow. She developed the training from scratch, in addition to creating tests to measure the growth of operators’ knowledge before and after the education session. From there, she created a presentation that featured machine vocabulary, methods to thread and replace the needle, safety, maintenance, and more. At the start of the class, many people voiced their hesitancy and doubt in being able to run the machine. However, after the course— Cassie recalls “everyone had threaded it, sewn on it, and handled the netting as it went through the machine... They all seemed to be comfortable using it after the training.”
One of the difficulties in using the netting machine is that the netting has holes in it that can easily get snagged as it moves through the machine; It could break the needles and cause issues. Yet, operators were able to successfully use the machine after just one training session that featured a mix of presentations and hands-on learning practice.
One of the major benefits of working with ISAIC is that companies have continued access to customized training even after initial training is complete. Operators have access to on-demand videos at their fingertips that can be translated into over 25 different languages for when they need a refresher, or support navigating different parts of the netting process. Additionally, the DeepHow training can be used for new employees in the future—ensuring that all employees are trained the same way, using the same terminology, and creating consistent handling techniques and standards across all operators.
If you are interested in ISAIC developing custom training for your team, reach out to education@isaic.org. We can develop training for any soft goods manufacturing technology or machinery!