Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/1080843
12 PCB007 MAGAZINE I FEBRUARY 2019 One World, One Industry by John Mitchell, IPC—ASSOCIATION CONNECTING ELECTRONICS INDUSTRIES Become an IPC Workforce Champion As many of you know firsthand, one of the most difficult challenges facing today's elec- tronics industry is a chronic shortage of ad- equately skilled workers. We at IPC have launched a new campaign called IPC Work- force Champions to tackle the critical issue of the skills gap. What is the IPC Workforce Champions cam- paign? It's a commitment from IPC and its members to create one million new education, training, and career opportunities in the U.S. electronics industry over the next five years. How will we do that? By using a multipronged, demand-driven approach that will cover all aspects of skills building from middle school through adulthood. We invite all of our member companies in the United States to become IPC workforce champions by committing to at least three of the following five efforts: 1. IPC Job Task Analysis Committee (JTAC): Volunteer to join the IPC JTAC to help document the core knowledge, skills, and abilities required to succeed in key roles in our industry. The outcome of this project will shape IPC's future certification and education programs for years to come. 2. Earn and Learn: Join IPC in partnering with electronics companies and academic institutions to develop apprenticeships, internships, and related opportunities that offer valuable, real-world skills in tandem with academic programs. 3. STEM Programming: Partner with IPC to work with schools and nonprofits on