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Modernization at Crane Army Ammunition Activity

By Solomon NavarroSeptember 13, 2022

Modernization at Crane Army Ammunition Activity
1 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Team members from Crane Army Ammunition Activity attend an electric motor control workshop at Vincennes University, Ind. Learning institutions like Vincennes University that provide programs in Computer Aided Design, Supply Chain Logistics Management, Manufacturing Automation, CNC Machining and Programming, Industrial Maintenance, Product Design, Welding, Industrial Engineering and Heavy Equipment Operation help to better equip CAAA personnel to store, distribute, produce, renovate and demilitarize conventional munitions and related components in support of Joint Force readiness. (Photo Credit: Solomon Navarro) VIEW ORIGINAL
Modernization at Crane Army Ammunition Activity
2 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Team members from Crane Army Ammunition Activity attend an electric motor control workshop at Vincennes University, Ind. Learning institutions like Vincennes University that provide programs in Computer Aided Design, Supply Chain Logistics Management, Manufacturing Automation, CNC Machining and Programming, Industrial Maintenance, Product Design, Welding, Industrial Engineering and Heavy Equipment Operation help to better equip CAAA personnel to store, distribute, produce, renovate and demilitarize conventional munitions and related components in support of Joint Force readiness. (Photo Credit: Solomon Navarro) VIEW ORIGINAL

CRANE, Ind. – A new initiative at Crane Army Ammunition Activity is providing additional training opportunities to further develop the technical skills of its workforce to stay current with new technologies and ensure the organization remains ready and relevant in the 21st century.

Recent investments in modernization at Crane Army have resulted in increased capabilities to produce, store, distribute and demilitarize conventional munitions, ammunition and related parts. But to modernize the organization as a whole, CAAA is working to provide more opportunities to attend certificate programs and relevant workshops at colleges and universities in the state.

“Combined with other technical classes and academic degree training, and on-the-job training and cross training, developing Crane Army’s workforce will expand their technical expertise and further grow the capabilities of the organization,” Brett Carroll, a program analyst responsible for training at Crane Army, said.

The initiative was the result of work between several CAAA department heads and analysts reviewing training priorities and workload, and looking at future workforce development needs.

As part of the new initiative, Crane Army mechanical engineers, engineering technicians and maintenance personnel attended an electric motor control workshop at Vincennes University in May.

The electric motor control workshop was the first in a series of planned workshops at VU and will lead to Crane Army employees training at Ivy Tech Community College later this year.

“Electric motors are very common in our production buildings,” Daniel Anderson, a mechanical engineer in the countermeasures division at Crane Army, said. “So I wanted to learn how they worked, how to control them, and the safety concerns of using them in a hazardous environment.”

“The course was not only a good refresher for the basics, but I believe we also learned a lot of new information that can be applied to many pyrotechnic manufacturing operations,” said Josh Shipman, a mechanical engineer responsible for providing engineering support in the pyrotechnics division at Crane Army.

“It is a strategic priority at Vincennes University to support and grow industry training partnerships,” Rob Hudson, a senior director of corporate partnerships development at Vincennes university, said. “Through this partnership, we are able to help Crane Army meet its workforce training needs, while at the same time enhancing our national security.”

The intent of the program is for participants to share their training experiences with fellow employees to increase demand for additional training and push modernization efforts across the conventional munitions enterprise.

“A relationship between colleges and universities like VU and Ivy Tech and Crane Army will help all levels of our workforce be better prepared to support our mission,” Anderson said. “It can help us learn new technologies that we can implement to modernize Crane Army.”

Crane Army Ammunition Activity produces and provides conventional munitions in support of U.S. Army and Joint Force readiness. It is part of the Joint Munitions Command and the U.S. Army Materiel Command, which include arsenals, depots, activities and ammunition plants. Established Oct. 1977, it is located on Naval Support Activity Crane.