Helping you become a better technician. We talk about manufacturing, industrial automation, PLC programming, and help you remove the roadblocks to success.
How to Get Your First Clients When Starting a Service Business
Starting an independent service or contracting company comes with massive challenges, and finding your very first clients is often the hardest part. In this video, we answer a question from JT about how to land those initial accounts and how to recognize when you are truly ready to take the leap into starting your own business. We share the story of how TW Controls started—including the mistakes we made by jumping in without a safety net—and contrast that with the ideal balance of preparation and timing. You will learn practical strategies for leveraging low-hanging fruit, such as transforming former employers into professional clients, building relationships with local competitors, collaborating with equipment distributors, and putting in the sweat equity needed to solve immediate breakdown emergencies for local facilities.
Helping you become a better technician so you will always be in demand Not sure what video to watch next?
Enhance your skills and track your progress at https://controls.tw/yt-courses (https://controls.tw/yt-courses)!
Items used in this video:PLC Trainer https://controls.tw/yt-plc-trainers (https://controls.tw/yt-plc-trainers)
The above links make these videos possible. Please use them!
31 May 2026
Why Your Manager Is Stressed About Downtime (And How to Fix It)
It has been a busy few weeks at the training center with custom guest training covering IO-Link, sensors, and TIA Portal. In this update, I discuss the progress on our new pneumatic trainer and pick-and-place robot trainer, both of which will be featured in upcoming videos. I also take some time to answer your questions regarding the real-world application of IO-Link, how to transition between different PLC platforms, and how to effectively communicate with your manager about justifying the need for training equipment to reduce costly downtime. Using a practical, data-driven approach to justify the hardware you need for your sandbox environment is the most effective way to transition from reactive maintenance to planned machine shutdowns.
Helping you become a better technician so you will always be in demand
Not sure what video to watch next?
Enhance your skills and track your progress at https://controls.tw/yt-courses!
Workforce Readiness for Managers https://twcontrols.com/workforce-readiness-for-managers
The above links make these videos possible. Please use them!
1 Mar 2026
Insulation Testing, Legacy Networks, and Shop Fires: Weekly Q&A
This week we dive into a wide range of topics gathered from your questions on YouTube and LinkedIn. We start by addressing a common terminology correction regarding motor insulation testing and why it is so difficult to provide a universal "good" or "bad" resistance value. The conversation moves into the technical hurdles of migrating from legacy 1734 POINT I/O to the newer 5034 modules, including the unexpected challenges of scope creep and input filter settings.
We also tackle the "heated" debate over legacy networking protocols like ControlNet and DeviceNet. While many agree these systems are nearing their end of life, the physical media and downtime requirements make replacement a complex planning task rather than a quick fix. Finally, we share a personal story about a project vehicle fire that serves as a reminder of the importance of thinking under pressure, and we reflect on how our responses to industry events define our professional community.
Helping you become a better technician so you will always be in demand
Not sure what video to watch next? Enhance your skills and track your progress at https://controls.tw/yt-courses (https://controls.tw/yt-courses)!
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Apple Podcasts (US)
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6 ratings
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