Seeking: Ideas on how to improve the ESD training within my company

[RCW]

I'm looking to pick some brains here to get some ideas on how to improve the ESD training within my company. Previously we have used the IPC CD "ESD Control Training with Operator Certification" (CD-54). There are short online tests and a final multiple choice "paper" test with this CD. This worked okay but seeing the CD is the trainer instead of a human, it was hard to get feedback on whether people actually understood the information as it applied to them. (You could get an idea from their test scores, but numbers don't always provide all the details.)

I'm looking to train around 25 people in the electronics area. If you have found any training methods that you would care to share, it would be deeply appreciated.

Oh yeah, did I mention management wants it quick, simple, and low cost? (What else is new?)

 

[Jim Wynne]

Do you want to conduct the training yourself, or have someone come in and do it? What does "low cost" mean? Have you considered using the IPC CD as a basis for group training? If you have a room and a projector, you can just go through the CD with the group and provided details and feedback as questions come up.

 

[RCW]

Do you want to conduct the training yourself, or have someone come in and do it? What does "low cost" mean? Have you considered using the IPC CD as a basis for group training? If you have a room and a projector, you can just go through the CD with the group and provided details and feedback as questions come up.

I guess I was very general in my requirements.

1) Training would be internal; nobody from outside coming in.

2) I never considered a group training with the CD. That's a possible alternative. Due to workloads, getting groups together might be difficult though. That's what was nice about a single person using the CD. If they could break off for 10 minutes or so at a time a whole group wouldn't be shutdown.

3) I have the projector and such for a group session, so that's not a problem.

4) By "low cost", it is implied that the only cost is to pay for the employees to sit in on training, while they are not performing assembly. If someone would come up with the sliver bullet solution that might require investing a $200-$300, maybe I could force it through.

 

[Jim Howe]

esd training

I can recall that ESD certification consisted of 4-levels. The 4th and highest level would train the 3rd and the 3rd would train 1&2. You must decide which personnel need which level and proceed from there. For example I was trained and certified to level 3 (as a supervisor of 20 electronic inspectors)by a level 4 (QA Engineer) and in turn I trained levels 1&2. This was all based on the old mil-std for such things and yes a lot of it was group training. This training was renewed once a year (mandatory) or sooner if needed.

 

[RCW]

I can recall that ESD certification consisted of 4-levels. The 4th and highest level would train the 3rd and the 3rd would train 1&2. You must decide which personnel need which level and proceed from there.......... This training was renewed once a year (mandatory) or sooner if needed.

Whoa, Jim! Where are you pulling this information out of? You have surpassed my limited knowledge in this area. Is this an IPC thing? If you could reference where you got this info it would be appreciated. I didn't see anything with the lowly CD I received, or else I missed it.

 

[Sidney Vianna]

I'm looking to train around 25 people in the electronics area. If you have found any training methods that you would care to share, it would be deeply appreciated.

Oh yeah, did I mention management wants it quick, simple, and low cost? (What else is new?)

Check with ESD Association www.esda.org http://esda.org/documents/EducationSchedule_2005_022305_000.pdf

 

[Jim Howe]

esd training

Whoa, Jim! Where are you pulling this information out of? You have surpassed my limited knowledge in this area. Is this an IPC thing? If you could reference where you got this info it would be appreciated. I didn't see anything with the lowly CD I received, or else I missed it.

The program I was involved with for about 10 years at 2 different companies game from mil-std's. I cannot recall which numbers but I do remember a good size handbook. Goodyear Aerospace was the first company and Western Reserve Electronics was the other. Both companies wrote their program based on these standards. The levels may have been company decisions based on what they had to do. In my opinion you need more input on the subject to be more effective. I wish I could recall the standards from memory... perhaps you good google the term and look for mil-std references. If nothing else you may find more information that can help. Perhaps another cover can remember them.
I will look into my archive's (which is quite large) and see if I can locate some numbers for you.

 

[RCW]

If my memory serves me, which isn't very often, I do believe the mil-specs being referred to for ESD have been discontinued with the ESD Association specs now taking precedence.

My goal would be to provide an effective ESD training program, especially seeing one of the "experts" around here is walking around, carrying unprotected circuit card assemblies. Of course as previously alluded to, management wants it done quick and cheaply, effectiveness would just be an added benefit.

It really makes one pull their hair out sometimes.

 

[Jim Howe]

esd training

My archives produced the following which I was able to scan and convert to PDF. Although some of the material may be dated (1992) the basics should still shine through. The first doc is a control plan and the second is a training plan. The emphasis was on a COST EFFECTIVE plan.

 

[RCW]

Jim, thanks for the info. Looks like I've got some reading to do.