ASU Equips CMI Group Employees with Fundamentals of GD&T micro-badge

Precision and attention to detail are paramount in today's highly competitive manufacturing landscape. To empower its workforce with the knowledge required to produce flawless designs and products, CMI Group has partnered with Arizona State University's Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering to provide comprehensive training in the Fundamentals of Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T), where participants earned a microcredential micro-badge.

The 10-hour "Fundamentals of GD&T" course offered CMI Group's engineers an in-depth exploration of this international design standard, which utilizes 12 geometric tolerances to control the shape of features in a part. By understanding and practicing GD&T principles, CMI's technical professionals gained the ability to interpret blueprint drawings with greater precision, ensuring adherence to exacting specifications.

"This class provided in-depth knowledge of rules and details that I previously lacked, despite having a basic overall understanding. The newfound grasp of nuances and regulations will enable me to be more vigilant. It will greatly assist in comprehending blueprints better and enhancing my job performance. I highly recommend this short course to everyone in our field, as it was an eye-opener, especially on reading prints," said Giovanny Covarrubias, Engineer at CMI Group.

The course is designed and instructed by ASU’s Professor Binil Starly, renowned for his pioneering work in smart manufacturing. He stands at the forefront of advancing engineering education at Arizona State University (ASU). As the School Director of the School of Manufacturing Systems and Networks (MSN) within the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering, Professor Starly champions the development of core competencies in advanced manufacturing processes, cybermanufacturing, digital factories, and robotics and automation. Among his many contributions to the field, Professor Starly has introduced a groundbreaking micro-badge course, "Fundamentals of GD&T," designed to equip engineers and machinists with essential skills in Geometric Dimensioning & Tolerancing (GD&T) and Product Manufacturing Information (PMI). Professor Starly said about the course “Geometric Dimensioning & Tolerancing (GD&T) and the related concept of Product Manufacturing Information (PMI) is indispensable in any industry where precision, safety, and compliance converge. GD&T is a system for defining and communicating engineering tolerances - critical for maintaining the integrity and functionality of aerospace products. As industry sectors begin to adopt GD&T within engineering drawings or directly embedded in 3D Models, it is important for practicing engineers and machinists to understand how to read GD&T control frames correctly for quality part manufacturing".

The interactive course covers a wide range of GD&T concepts, from understanding the significance of various symbols and tolerance frames to calculating maximum material conditions and applying coordinate tolerancing techniques. Participants engage in hands-on exercises and real-world case studies, solidifying their grasp of this vital design language.