Valve Manufacturers Assn. creates online training

With employment rising, valve basics course seen as way to educate industry

December 5, 2013

The Valve Manufacturers Association (VMA) is offering an online version of its popular Valve Basics Training course. In an effort to reach more industry employees, VMA adapted its place-based training to the Web with the launch of Valve Basics Online Training (VBOT).

“We recognize that not everyone can travel for training so the next best option is going online. That’s why we’ve created an engaging and informative Valve Basics Online Training program to ensure we are providing many ways for our member companies—as well as end-users and others who work with valves and related products—to train their workforces,” said VMA President William Sandler. “This is also an important way to reach the younger generation since they are so attuned to working in a digital environment.”

According to recent VMA research, the valve industry employs 30,000 people—a 50% increase from a decade ago, provides great jobs and is expecting to add many more in the coming year. However, the industry faces competitive challenges as the industry grays and it gets harder to find new employees, which makes it even more important to find creative ways to attract and keep them.

In response, VMA established an in-depth valve education program—Valve Ed—in 2009 to help those working in the valve industry, or the industries that use valves, train current and future valve employees. Four years after its introduction, more than 900 people have taken the 101 course, which includes a hands-on component called the “Valve Petting Zoo,” and hundreds more have ordered other educational products from the association. The new online training program will provide still another vehicle to promote valve literacy and career interest.

There is a free for the online courses, with a discount for VMA members. VBOT provides eight lessons and features live narration. Students can complete the course at their own pace and will receive six hours of continuing education credits and a Certificate of Completion. 

Similar to what is offered in the onsite Valves & Actuators 101 seminars, lesson topics include:

  • An Introduction to the valve industry, including pressure ratings and classes, standards organizations, valve components and more
  • Multi-turn valves
  • Check valves
  • Quarter-turn valves
  • Pressure-relief valves
  • Actuators – pneumatic, hydraulic and electric
  • Control valves