Manufacturing Team Challenge

Manufacturing Team Challenge (MTC) is an exciting team based WorldSkills skill competition reflecting what happens in a typical manufacturing environment where a solution to a problem has to be developed and then manufactured to meet specifications while working to a budget.

The MTC team (three Competitors) is able to prepare a solution for a problem before the competition, given some required design and performance specifications, and then during the competition the team works together to create the solution.

MTC competitors need to be multi-skilled and be expert in the traditional engineering hand skills and machining skills, but also in project management as well. Skills could include fitting, welding, turning, milling, electronics, electrical, CNC, CAM, CAD, process control and also preparing user documentation.

The team must work as together to achieve the solution and team dynamics are a critical component of this competition, where the usual ‘soft skills’ required in everyday work are indirectly assessed as ‘the team to work together achieve their goal more effectively’.

To ensure teams are able to adapt to everyday challenges and to assess traditional hand skills, a surprise project (worth 30% of total assessment) is also given to the teams on the first day of competition. This project must be done during the competition and teams will need to plan when they can work on this project and the available resources.

During the competition, each team member’s working hours are recorded together with machine and material usage and are costed. All team members must work together but the team is able to plan to be rostered on or off during the competition, reducing project costs.

All projects are assessed as their ability to meet the specifications and if non compliant a penalty will apply.

MTC does not just focus on the trade or practical skills but also personal development and being involved with MTC is certainly character building. Everyone that competes has the opportunity to achieve their individual goals and to benchmark their skills amongst others, while working as a team.

MTC Projects have always focused on projects that address sustainability, green issues and environmental issues.

St Gallen 2003

A complete pumping system intended to form part of a semi-automated irrigation system to support a farming community in an African village.

The pump should operate by battery and/or solar power and be designed to re-charge the battery during daylight hours (12 hours). The pump should fill a holding tank for an automatic field irrigation system. The field is to be irrigated every hour and a 300 litres of water will be needed each hour. Irrigation is required during twelve (12) daylight hours and six (6) night hours.

Helsinki 2005

The main project was a portable electric powered vehicle so that people could travel around a city with minimal impact on the environment. Each vehicle should  perform at specified speed and distance.

Testing of each vehicle was dynamic with competitors driving/riding their vehicles for the distance and speed tests. The testing was done during the last day and attracted considerable attention from visitors.

Shizuoka 2007

MTC considered that Japan had many natural disasters, such as earthquakes and storms. Once an earthquake or severe storm happens, all services such as electricity, water and gas stop immediately making people’s life very difficult.

The 2007 project required teams to construct a portable wind generator, light, water pump and water filter that in a disaster could help sustain life until services are restored.

Calgary 2009

The MTC competition had two projects:

• Solar Tracker System – This solar panel and tracker unit is a portable unit so that it can be typically used by 4WD operators and campers to maximize the charging capability of a solar panel.

• Power Generating Exercise Equipment – This unit must be capable of generating power while being used. This power can be used to charge a battery and this stored power can be used to power radios and lights.

London 2011

Pocket Bikes also known as Minimotos are miniature motorcycles that are ridden around kart tracks. They form a popular sport in Japan and Europe and it is gaining popularity in other parts of the world.

A typical Minimoto is approximately one-fourth the size of a regular motorcycle, and is powered by a two-stroke internal combustion engine, but these pocket bikes are noisy and create pollution with their exhaust emissions.

The London project will demonstrate how motor sport can be quiet and non-polluting and will enable Minimoto racing to become an environmentally friendly form of indoor motorsport.

Full sized electric powered motorbikes do compete at the famous Isle of Man TT racing circuit.

Leipzig 2013

Can you suggest an MTC project? Can you identify an environmental, community or social issue that MTC may develop solutions? Let us know in the comments.