The pace of change in the electronics manufacturing industry requires the continuous acquisition of new knowledge and skills to remain competitive and cost effective. Companies seeking a competitive advantage through a trained workforce may find that generic off-the-shelf certification training is not enough to clearly differentiate themselves or it may simply not meet the current and future training needs of the organization. The development of a custom training curriculum at the EMPF Training Center will address the specific training objectives and work environment needs of a particular organization and deliver a high value, relevant, professional product implemented at either the client's site or at the EMPF's state of the art facility.

The EMPF utilizes a systematic approach to the development of a custom training program. The EMPF's team of instructional designers and subject matter experts work closely with clients in order to ensure that the program is successful starting with the assessment phase, through the design, development, implementation, and evaluation of the training program.

The following steps are used when developing a custom training program:

Define the Deficiency
The EMPF's team will first meet with key members of the client organization in order to help determine needs, establish goals, and make an assessment of the performance environment, student potential, and the training site. This assessment is important in that it ensures that the training that will be developed will be 100% applicable to the client's needs.

Establishing Training Objectives
Objectives should be S.M.A.R.T - Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Timely. The program objectives should be specific to the goals of the organization. If training needs are synchronized with organizational goals and can establish S.M.A.R.T. training objectives, then the successful evaluation of the program's results is assured. The EMPF's team will develop performance objectives that will address the client's needs, requirements, and ultimate project goals. Upon approval of the performance objectives by the client, the team will proceed with the development of assessment instruments that will determine whether the students have met those objectives. Assessment instruments will include written or oral tests as well as hands-on exercises.

Identifying Training Requirements
A training plan will be developed by a team composed of management, supervisors, workers and training providers. Input from all levels of a company will provide a forum for defining the purpose of the program. The team begins with a discussion to identify problems occurring in operations. This "needs assessment" identifies the difference between the desired employee performance and the actual performance. Assessment tools will include surveys, audits, job shadowing, focus groups, skills assessment tests, and self-assessment by workers. Needs assessment tools provide accurate quantitative and qualitative information while being sensitive to both company time and cost restraints.

Development of Training Methods
Once assessment instruments have been finalized, the instructional design team will begin the development of instructional materials and an appropriate instructional strategy, whether it be instructor-led, activity-based, computer-based, or a combination. The instructional strategy will be identified as one that will effectively maximize the transfer of skills and knowledge from the classroom to the client's work environment. Delivery methods must take into account the audience, the course content, and the training objectives. For example, there is little point in watching video tapes or listening to lectures if the objective is to demonstrate soldering skills or proficiency in a specific method of rework. Complex subjects can be simplified with demonstrations and directed activities. The use of examples and hands-on laboratory experience will help students make the transition from intellectual understanding to real-world application. The EMPF's unique combination of its demonstration factory, technical instructors, and laboratory facilities provide a hands-on approach well suited to the transfer of technology.

Designing and Implementing the Program
Information gathered in the previous steps is combined with the experience of the program designers and the tools at their disposal to create the unique course content designed specifically for the individual organization. The instructional design team will be involved in the implementation of the training, and the evaluation of the instructional materials. Follow-up evaluation will verify whether the goals of the project were met and have satisfied the company's training needs.

For more information, please call the EMPF registrar at (610) 362-1295, or via email at registrar@empf.org.