There is a lot of confusion in the industry today about training of electronic production personnel. Should you train on in-house courses or on IPC standards? And what about SAQA Unit Standards? In my previous Dataweek article (28 October 2009) I explained why certification is necessary.
Some new thoughts to consider are whether your soldering staff should have inspection background or your inspectors should have rework skills. In this article I will endeavour to make sense of it all.
The most frequently asked questions are:
* What is the difference between South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) Unit Standards and IPC standards?
* How do the IPC DVD training programmes differ from Certified IPC Training programmes?
* How does the IPC certification process work?
* Which IPC training programmes are available?
The IPC standards were created by the global electronics industry under the management and watchful eye of the IPC. The South African Unit Standards are created by subject experts for SAQA. These Unit Standards lead to South African qualifications and define the content and specific outcomes of such training programmes. On the other hand, they define the IPC standards, the quality of electronic assemblies and not the training of operators. The IPC training programmes are regulated by the IPC training policies and procedures document.
Let us focus for a moment on the South African training standards. I have already written Unit Standards to encapsulate the IPC training programmes. These Unit Standards have already been accepted and registered by SAQA. It is now possible to be trained on IPC standards and receive a South African qualification at the same time. This also means that you can claim your training cost back from your SETA. When you send someone on a course you should check that the provider is accredited by the SETA and has assessors and moderators for this specific training programme. If not you will not be able to claim your refund from the SETA. When you book for training be sure that you will be registered on the National Learners’ Records Database (NLRD).
IPC training programmes
Now let us look at the IPC training programmes. There are two types of training programmes designed by IPC. The first are video (DVD)/computer-based training programmes and the second are Professional Certification programmes.
DVD training is an ideal way to train and verify competency in key subject areas such as ESD control, lead-free soldering, component ID, safety and acceptance standards. These multimedia resources include everything a trainer needs to instruct, test and certify that their operators have completed a course successfully. All trainees with a grade of 70% or higher on the final examinations qualify for a locally printed certificate.
There is no expiration or renewal date for any DVD training programme, and it may be administered by anyone in your company. DVD training certification does not qualify instructors or students to teach or interpret IPC specifications, or assure proficiency in the physical skills required to create products to the requirements of IPC specifications. The certificate does not carry any serial number for the trainee or trainer, no document number is found on the printer certificate and the certificate does not qualify the trainee as a Certified IPC Specialist (CIS). Nkoka Training is the official South African distributor of these DVDs.
Professional Certification programmes are the only programmes which carry IPC qualifications. Not only the operators but also the trainers receive serialised certificates after proving their competence. These are the only certificates that are valid for IPC Professional Certification. Using the serial number on the certificate, anyone can verify the validity of the certificate and the trainer. MITs (Master IPC Trainers) train, test and certify CITs (Certified IPC Trainers). These CITs are authorised to train test and certify CISs (Certified IPC Specialists). CITs are also known as operators who will do the physical soldering, inspection and rework.
All of these certifications are only valid for two years. The qualifications are renewed with a recertification examination which must be done before expiration. Trainers, trainees and companies must keep track of these expiry dates as failure to re-certify timeously will result in the employee having to be retrained at a much higher cost than would otherwise have been the case. Nkoka Training has a policy of routinely reminding clients of certificate expiry dates.
Currently IPC has five Professional Certification programmes. Programmes focused on understanding and applying criteria, reinforcing contrasting skills and supporting visual acceptance criteria in key standards include:
* A-610, Acceptability of Electronic Assemblies.
* IPC-A-600, Acceptability of Printed Boards.
* IPC/WHMA-A-620, Requirements and Acceptance for Cable and Wire Harness Assemblies.
Programmes covering standards knowledge plus development of hands-on skills include:
* J-STD-001, Requirements for Soldered Electrical and Electronic Assemblies.
* IPC-7711/IPC-7721, Rework of Electronic Assemblies/Repair and Modification of Printed Boards and Electronic Assemblies.
So how does the certification process work? Anyone who successfully passes an IPC professional course will be registered on the IPC database by the training provider and receive a genuine IPC certificate. This registration process logs the course results and feedback from the trainees. The training provider also has to keep a record of theory and practical examinations. A serial number is allocated to the learner which appears on their certificate; these certificates are issued by IPC. After two years the trainees will need to be recertified to keep their certification current; it is therefore possible to audit any certificate. This is also true for the trainer’s certification as well.
Nkoka is accredited by IPC to provide all of these courses to the industry. I have been certified by IPC for 10 years now to present IPC training. We also enjoy accreditation from the Isett SETA as a training provider for the Unit Standards based programmes. Nkoka also has assessor and moderator certification. Nkoka has put in a lot of effort in to registering these Unit Standards with SAQA for the benefit of the industry. For more information please visit www.nkoka.co.za, www.ipc.org.za or phone me at +27 (0)12 653 2629.
For more information contact Rian Venter, Nkoka Training, +27 (0)12 653 2629, rian@nkoka.co.za, www.nkoka.co.za
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