Peter Smid graduated from high school with a specialty in machine shop training. He then entered industry, completed an apprenticeship program, and gained valuable experience as a machinist skilled on all types of machine tools. Mr. Smid immigrated to Canada in 1968 and spent the next 26 years employed in the machine tool industry as a machinist and tool and die maker.
In the early 1970s, he became involved in Computer Numerical Control (CNC) as a programmer/operator and devoted the next 18 years to becoming proficient in all aspects of computerized manufacturing. In 1989, he became an independent consultant, and hundreds of companies have used Mr. Smid’s CNC and CAD/CAM skills to improve their manufacturing operations. He also wrote a comprehensive, 500-page CNC programming handbook, which is rapidly becoming the Bible of the trade.
In 1995, he became a consultant/professor of Advanced Manufacturing focusing on industrial and customized training in CNC, CAD/CAM, and Agile Manufacturing. His many years of teaching, training, lecturing, and designing curriculum give him the opportunity to pass along his vast knowledge of modern manufacturing technology to students of all ages.
Steve F. Krar spent 15 years in the trade, first as a machinist and finally as a tool and die maker. After this period, he entered Teachers’ College and graduated from the University of Toronto with a Specialist’s Certificate in Machine Shop Practice. During these 20 years of teaching, Mr. Krar was active in vocational and technical education and served on the executive committee of many educational organizations. For 10 years, he was on the summer staff of the College of Education, University of Toronto, involved in teacher training programs. Active in machine tool associations, Steve Krar is a Life Member of the Society of Manufacturing Engineers and former associate director of the GE Superabrasives Partnership for Manufacturing Productivity. He was inducted into the Canadian Manufacturers Hall of Fame in March 2009.
Mr. Krar’s continual research over the past 50 years in manufacturing technology has involved many courses with lead- ing world manufacturers and an opportunity to study under Dr. W. Edwards Deming. Mr. Krar spent a week researching Nano- technology at leading research centers, universities, and industry in Switzerland. He is coauthor and consultant of over 80 technical books, such as Machine Shop Training, Machine Tool Operations, CNC Simplified, Superabrasives―Grinding and Machining, Exploring Advanced Manufacturing Technologies, some of which have been translated into 5 languages and used throughout the world.
Jonathan A. Gill graduated from high school with an Ontario Secondary School Diploma. He entered Ryerson University in the industrial engineering program and then went into geographical analysis. Mr. Gill attended Humber College for electronics engineering and then spent 2 years at Mohawk College for computer networking and security analysis.
Mr. Gill is currently an independent contractor employed by Nexas Networks Inc. as an Applications Engineer and Support Manager, providing factory floor networking and information technology for the aerospace and automotive industry, jobbing shops, and production discrete manufacturing facilities.
Mr. Gill assisted the authors with the research, artwork, and final production of manuscript for the textbook Computer Numerical Control Simplified and is coauthor of the book Changing World of Manufacturing.
