Issue 15 (October 2006)

Quarterly Newsletter on workforce training in industry

1. Are you ready for the ESD Class 0 perfect storm?
2. Do you know and follow the S20.20 requirement for training?
3. Are you in danger of losing market share to companies that are already "lead free"?
4. Does a significant portion of your workforce speak Chinese?
5. So, what does "Lean" signify in your organization?
6. Is your basic ESD training up to date?
7. Need information? Have a question? Here's how to contact us.

1. Are you ready for the ESD Class 0 perfect storm?

The Industry trend towards extensive use of ultra-sensitive components (Class 0) and the wide spread lack of CDM understanding are brewing what ESD expert Ted Dangelmayer has called the "Perfect ESD Storm"! It is no longer business as usual and it can take up to two years to prepare.

If your operation uses even one highly sensitive component, you need to really understand why this ESD storm is inevitable and how to prepare for it because your current ESD control program might no longer provide the protection you expect.

Order the new LearnTech course: ESD: Class 0 to learn about:

• Trends that are rapidly driving Class Zero requirements into your production process
• Conventional ESD prevention techniques that don’t work as well as you might think
• The limitations of current industry ESD standards, including S 20.20, for Class 0
• The leading cause of ESD failure in today’s manufacturing environment
• Two guiding principles you must understand to manage the Class Zero risk
• The one single ESD Class 0 mitigation method you cannot be without
• A ten-step process to help you prepare, and to become ESD Class 0 ready

Action Items (any of the following):

• Review the course outline at ESD: Class 0
• Request a quote or place your order for immediate shipment on release.

2. Do you know and follow the S20.20 requirement for training

LearnTech® training meets the specifications prescribed by S20.20. You decide to utilize individualized computer-based training to present basic ESD theory, and we automate the implementation of this training decision. You allocate the appropriate courses to each job function. With our LAN system, this administrative process as well as the recording of all test information and granting of certifications are automated to improve accuracy and reduce corporate administrative load. All LearnTech® training includes criterion referenced objective evaluation designed to discriminate between those who understand the required information and those who do not.

For your convenience, the S20.20 training subsection is clipped in below.

6.1.2. Training Plan

6.1.2.1 Training Plan Requirement
"Initial and recurrent ESD awareness and prevention training shall be provided to all personnel who handle or otherwise come into contact with any ESDS items. The type and frequency of ESD training for personnel shall be defined in the Training Plan. The Training Plan shall document the procedures for recording this training in personnel training records. Training methods and the use of specific techniques are of the Organization’s option. The option that is selected shall include an objective evaluation technique to ensure trainee comprehension and training adequacy."

6.1.2.2. Training Plan Guidance
"Recurrent ESD training for personnel is an integral part of the Program. ESD training includes initial and recurrent training required to reinforce program requirements and modifications based upon lessons-learned. New technologies and correction of deficiencies identified during reviews and audits should also be part of the training process. The training requirements should be developed in conjunction with the Organization’s handling procedures for ESDS parts, assemblies and equipment."

3. Are you in danger of losing market share to companies that are already "lead free"?

A recent email from the Ottawa Manufacturer’s Network includes this statement (with our bolding):

"EU RoHS came into force on July 1, 2006. There is still significant work underway at many EEE producers across North America to properly comply with the regulations and due diligence requirements. Unfortunately, some EEE producers saw specific market opportunities evaporate during July/August due to lack of compliance. China RoHS, which comes into effect on March, 2007, has also become a major undertaking for many producers, particularly those that are excluded from the EU RoHS scope."

Help is right here. LearnTech® on-demand learning courses include Lead-Free Orientation, Lead-Free Rework and Lead-Free Wave. All are available for delivery on disk for installation onto your internal LAN, or as hosted web, or via your corporate university. Learning is very compressed, so each course covers the expected material that would be presented in a half-day session. However, your learners will spend only about half of that time, and can enter the sessions according to their individual schedules.

This training saves so much corporate time that it is far less costly than classroom. Moreover, past experience suggests that your learners will actually retain more information than with classroom or straight video.

AND prices have just been reduced. Call 866-263-9974 or 613 599-9975 or email eabell@automatedlearning.com for a quote and to discuss your requirements. Ask how you can set up a very inexpensive trial.

Course Details at: www.automatedlearning.com/products/leadfree_index.cfm

4. Does a significant portion of your workforce speak Chinese?

ALC is pleased to announce the release of the first LearnTech course in Simplified Chinese. We thank Herald Datanetics Limited (HDL) in Aberdeen, Hong Kong, for being our very first customer in China.

Place your order now for the new Simplified Chinese version of ESD Control currently available in the LAN version. The script is in Simplified Chinese, and the voice track is Mandarin.

5. So, what does "Lean" signify in your organization?

Are you on the "Lean Journey", systematically eliminating wastes that you didn’t even know existed a few years ago?

Do you think of "lean" as a less expensive or lower cost solution?

Do you combine both meanings of "Lean" to continuously employ reasonably inexpensive solutions to reduce wastes and thereby help your organization create a fatter treasure chest of revenues?

Of course, this latter activity ultimately requires buy-in and support from every member of the team, and ultimately the organization. Usually, the leaders are well trained, and frequently many of the rank and file don’t fully understand why or how their involvement can make a difference, and can even be skeptical about all the changes including reduced space and disappearing items. And training everyone can be either very expensive or very time consuming unless the process is automated.

With the LearnTech® Going Lean Suite, you can address many Lean issues via inexpensive, standardized, automated, certification training. This is the "Lean" approach to training, as it allows learners to come to terms with the theory behind specific aspects of Lean with considerable savings in time, an extremely valuable resource. You can expect your workforce to whittle about 50% off the time to learn basic theory, and can measure their learning and their retention with criterion referenced testing. Then you can reward them with a certificate of completion. For the generic, core portion of your training, on-line is the only lean alternative. We recommend, of course, that this be blended into your total Lean training program, as human mentoring and teamwork are essential to your goals.

And it gets leaner yet. Through automated administrative tasks related to training, you further reduce total time dedicated toward training.

Now, if you are looking for that "lower cost" solution, we have extra good news. Besides the phenomenal time savings, we also offer real money savings.

• First, the initial cost is significantly reduced. 25 registrations, mix and match, are only $750.00.
• Second, our concept of a Loyalty Program is to avoid wasting time with gimmicks but instead to continually lower the price as your total volume increases. We add "volume over time" for Lean, Lead-Free, ESD, and any other courses you choose. You could pay $200 or even less for those 25 registrations! Call for a quote and let us show you how you can "get lean" for less.

6. Is your basic ESD training up to date?

LearnTech ESD: Control is newly updated to reflect state of the art ESD control procedures. If you are not already taking advantage of this valuable tool, visit http://www.automatedlearning.com/products/esdb.cfm and contact us for more information.

If you are already using a previous release in LAN format, email or phone for a complimentary update.

7. Need information? Have a question? Here's how to contact us.

Administration and Marketing Office
308 Sandhill Road
Kanata, ON
K2K 2V7

Phone: 613 599-9975
Toll Free: 866 264-8678
Fax: 613-271-0611

Do you have other suggestions to improve our newsletter?
Please direct any comments or requests to:

Evelyn Abell
VP, Marketing and Sales
Automated Learning Corporation
613 599-9975
eabell@automatedlearning.com
http://www.automatedlearning.com

This brief newsletter is published about 4 times annually.

Tired of reading someone else's copy of the newsletter?
Register to have "LearnTech® Insight" delivered to your email address.

Want to un-subscribe?
email: info@automatedlearning.com … with the subject "unsubscribe".