(NIMS: Fairfax, VA) -- The National Institute for Metalworking Skills (NIMS) has developed a new methodology to learn, retain, and transfer knowledge for Geometric Tolerancing & Dimensioning (GD&T) across an organization. NIMS offers the training in a day and a half workshop.

Conventionally, most people are taught print reading with drawings, annotated with limit dimensioning and all its flaws. Lessons in limit dimensioning are further applied in engineering or manufacturing activities. Students or employees are then exposed to GD&T—the international standard, with symbols to describe parts in a language that is clearly understood by any manufacturer. This traditional approach usually results in limit dimensioning being the first language, or “native tongue,” and GD&T being the second. Going back and forth between the two is a struggle for many, and they rely on craftmanship to produce parts. This approach may eventually lead to producing parts within the specifications but, according to NIMS, that approach is inconsistent and wastes time.

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