This image from the July-August 1949 Journal of Industrial Training shows the first honorary membership being awarded by the Iowa Industrial Training Association. Fred Maytag, II, president of the Maytag company, recieved the award from R.W. Stebbins (second from the right), vice president of the association. Technical training--which was of major importance to Maytag, the company that produced household appliances--was an important part of the workplace in the late 1940s as the industrial age flourished. Although the knowledge revolution has changed the workplace, technical skills training is still prevelant.

How is technical training different in 2011 than in 1949? Technical organizations are always striving to create a lean and efficient company, but sometimes that can be at the expense of safety. What kind of pressures has the competitive business environment put on technical companies, and what role do learning professionals play in overcoming those pressures?

T+D, the flagship publication of the American Society for Training & Development, is about to begin its 66th year in 2012. For more information about T+D, visit www.astd.org/td.