Capturing Expertise: ISAIC Continues Training Development Partnership with Drexel University

This month, ISAIC Training & Innovation Project Manager Cassie Franklin returned to Philadelphia to continue an exciting collaboration with Drexel University's Center for Functional Fabrics. As the project's training developer, her goal was to capture the knowledge and expertise required to operate one of the center's most sophisticated pieces of equipment: the Comez warp knitting machine.

According to Comez, the machine represents a new generation of double needle bed warp knitting technology designed for producing technical articles and high-tech narrow fabrics. Its versatility allows for a wide range of applications, making it an essential tool for research and innovation.

This work builds upon ISAIC's previous visit to Drexel, which focused on documenting the center's warper machine. While the warper is considered the simpler of the two systems, it plays a critical role in the process by creating customized warp beams that are later loaded into the Comez machine, where knit samples are produced for research and development purposes.

The second phase of the project presented a much greater challenge. The team needed to capture significantly more content within the same timeframe while documenting a process that is inherently exploratory. Unlike a traditional manufacturing environment, Drexel's team uses these machines primarily for research and experimentation. There is no standard production run or finished product that a new operator can follow from start to finish. Instead, operators must understand the machine's capabilities, setup requirements, and the reasoning behind different adjustments and configurations.

As Cassie worked through the complexity of documenting the Comez warp knitting machine, she found herself drawing on experience gained from previous projects, particularly ISAIC's Variant 3D knitting machine initiative. While the technologies differ, both projects involve translating highly specialized machine knowledge into accessible learning experiences for future operators. She was also able to leverage her familiarity with ISAIC's internal circular knitting equipment to better understand the relationships between machine setup, yarn behavior, and knit structures.

"Experiences like this highlight one of the most rewarding aspects of my role: applying knowledge gained from past projects to increasingly complex challenges where the path forward is not always clearly defined."
— Cassie Franklin, Training & Innovation Project Manager

This project presents a unique challenge for a training developer. Traditional training programs often focus on teaching repeatable processes. In this case, the goal is different. The team is developing training that equips new operators with the foundational knowledge needed to safely and effectively use the equipment while supporting the creativity, problem-solving, and experimentation that define the lab's work.

The final training program will combine multiple learning methods, including instructional videos, written materials, and knowledge-check quizzes. Together, these resources will help onboard future machine operators and preserve valuable institutional knowledge that might otherwise be difficult to transfer.

ISAIC is also leveraging the full capabilities of DeepHow's platform throughout the project. Since partnering with DeepHow in 2022, ISAIC has utilized the platform's technology to capture, organize, and deliver expert knowledge in ways that support modern workforce development.

Looking ahead, Cassie will return to Philadelphia in August to pilot the training with a new learner. This testing phase will provide valuable feedback on both the content and overall learning experience, allowing the team to make final refinements before the project concludes at the end of September.

"Projects like this remind me that effective training development is about much more than documenting procedures. It's about preserving expertise, making complex knowledge accessible, and creating learning experiences that empower the next generation of innovators. I'm grateful for the opportunity to continue partnering with Drexel's talented team and look forward to seeing the impact this training will have for years to come."
— Cassie Franklin, Training & Innovation Project Manager

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