Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/1330321
44 PCB007 MAGAZINE I JANUARY 2021 advisory board, we get involved with the tools available and what new tools will be needed. We pro- vide support in the development of the budget to buy new equip- ment and programs that the stu- dents will use once they get into the workforce. Now, with IPC there's an edu- cation group that is working with various universities, colleges, and high schools to start introduc- ing these programs so that when students leave school and get jobs, they have some knowledge of what's happening in those environments. Years ago, when I worked for Digital Equip- ment, I was sent to the university to interview the students—chemical engineers. And some of these students, honest to goodness, would come in and it was the first time they wore a suit. And you'd ask them, "Why do you want to work with Digital Equipment?" They would say, "We have no idea, that's an electronic computer company, you have no use for chem- ical engineers there." But others would come in and say, "I worked at a board shop in New Hampshire for a couple of summers, and you guys make boards, and there's a lot of chem- istry involved there." As part of a co-op pro- gram, they knew what went on in the compa- ny. That knowledge moved them right up the ladder as a potential hire. That's how we're trying to educate the stu- dents, whether they're in colleges or vocation- al schools. I think companies like ours need to train the students, and from there, we need to train the educational facilities that are train- ing these students so when they leave school, they come into a company with some knowl- edge and skills for the work required. I know that's a lot, but it all has to tie together be- cause that's the only way you'll get continuity. Johnson: What's your take, Leo, for those post- secondary vocational schools that are prepping their students to go into the industry and work in an area such as electronics manufacturing? The question always seems to center on how Johnson: Where you sit, Leo, doing training at the industrial level, the commercial level for IPC skills and standards and certifications, and what's happening that you can see going on in the technical schools, maybe the community colleges at that level—does the IPC certifica- tion program belong in the vocational school or after? Lambert: Great question. At the vocational schools, EPTAC has trained the instructors so they are certified instructors for IPC programs. In the process of training the kids, they're go- ing through the electronics program. They have two programs: the electrical program where they're wiring houses, and the electron- ics program, where these students are building robots and then they're learning all about the electronics, how the sensors are going to work on the robots, doing all the soldering for the robots, etc. There are also other classical types of programs so when these kids graduate from school, they will have an IPC certification on soldering and board inspection. One course being offered is an Oracle course. This provides the students an understanding of software and how to work the software to de- velop the robot. Plus, there are a couple other certificates they can earn that will help them get employed with companies like BAE, Ray- theon, Lockheed Martin, and the big employ- ers in our local area. We train the instructors, and they, in turn, train the students in the new things that are coming up. As a member of the