Current Activities

The Coating and Process Lines Operating Committee (CPLOC) met at AISTech 2008 on May 6, 2008. The committee chair, Frank Goodwin of the International Lead Zinc Research Organization Inc., welcomed everyone to the meeting and asked each person to introduce themselves. Dr. Goodwin volunteered to take the meeting minutes. The CPLOC had 93 members before being restructured into two new committees: the Galvanizing Technology Committee (GTC) and the Electroplating Technology Committee (EPTC). The GTC integrated with the former AISI Manufacturing Committee on Metallic Coated Sheet Practices, and the EPTC integrated with the former AISI Manufacturing Committee on Tin Mill Practices. The CPLOC members had the option to belong to either or both of the new committees. Within both the GTC and the EPTC, a producer-only subcommittee was developed to meet the needs of the AISI predecessor committees. A steel producer will chair each of these subcommittees. Dr. Goodwin reviewed the objectives of the former AIST committee, which was to facilitate peer-to-peer communication among its members. This consisted mainly of developing programming for the AISTech and MS&T conferences held each year, and also other short courses, specialty training conferences, and meetings as desired by its members. The AISI committee facilitated peer-to-peer communication among line operators, and this had been very successfully done through the use of questionnaires that prepared participants for the meetings. This, together with plant tours, facilitated dialogue and helped meet the objectives of the AISI committee very well. Dr. Goodwin urged that these practices be preserved. The group discussed the different makeup of the two predecessor committees, with the AIST committee consisting of engineering and technical personnel and the AISI committee consisting of operating personnel. It will be necessary to develop a program of interest to both if the integration is to succeed. The election of officers took place. Eric Almquist of Star Tool and Die Works Inc. was elected chair, and Stan Shepard of Olympus Manufacturing Systems Inc. was elected vice chair. Mr. Almquist presented Dr. Goodwin a plaque for his exceptional service and dedication as committee chair for 2007–2008. The next meeting is tentatively scheduled for Sept. 24–26, 2008, in the East Chicago area. Visit www.aist.org for current details.