Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/1464867
28 PCB007 MAGAZINE I APRIL 2022 to build, inspect, test, and verify the electron- ics coming off the line without being present in the factory. With the ever-changing tech- nology being built and being used to build, the skill set of the workforce in the factory needs to be continually advanced to meet the needs of the business. e workforce shortage is not limited to just the factory. e dearth of engineers has con- tinued for over a decade, making it critical for us to get engineers aware and interested in the challenging and rewarding career path of elec- tronics manufacturing. e IPC Education Foundation (ipcef.org) is striving diligently to do this at the college level with competitions, awareness campaigns, chapters, and interac- tions with local electronics shops to help engi- neers and technicians gain awareness of the interesting and exciting work that is happen- ing, in many cases, right under their noses. In addition, we are starting to see executives move around the industry as well. e chal- lenges facing operators, technicians, and engi- neers have escalated in discussion over the past six months, and now seems to be affect- ing executive positions. As the "Great Resig- nation" envelops much of the world, oppor- tunities are abounding, and with opportuni- ties comes movement. is is a relatively new phenomenon. ese movements are happen- ing both within the industry and with people moving outside of the industry. Okay, enough of the doom and gloom. We know we have challenges. What are we to do about it? What Should Be Done? Let's talk about potential solutions to each category mentioned above: factory line, tech- nicians, engineers, and executives. Factory Line First, we must do what we are good at—we need to innovate. We need to look for people in different ways and in different spaces. I have seen job fairs work to good effect. Now, I know you're thinking that job fairs are old school. But these latest job fairs are bringing in people, provid- ing tours of the facility, teaching them about the company, interviewing them, and offering them jobs to start as soon as the next Monday—all in the same morning. at is a very different job fair from what we have seen in the past. Another innovation is to look in places we haven't looked before. I have seen groups approaching families with graduating seniors—not to hire the gradu- ate, but to make an offer to the parent who will no longer have a reason to stay at home. Other innovative sources include the military, pris- ons, high schools (no, I am not equating high schools to prisons), etc. Look in places where most people don't look. If you are at a restau- rant, for example, and your server is competent, invite them to come to your factory for an inter- view. Finally, utilize modern skills training pro- grams like the Electronics Assembly for Oper- ators (AEO) and Wiring Harness for Operators (WHO) to bring new talent off the bench and onto the line within hours instead of weeks. Stay tuned for a new industry-developed program on the inspector front coming later this year from IPC to help on this increasingly needed (especially with automation increas- ing) area of expertise. Engineering I have already mentioned the efforts of the IPC Education Foundation. If you really want to leverage that, I urge you to get involved. You will find internship opportunities and first- hand interactions to give you a leg up on bring- ing new graduates into your organization. One other solution that IPC has developed along with the industry, to ensure that new engineers are ready to work in the factory, is the Electron- ics for Assembly Engineers course. is online course brings novice engineers rapidly up to speed on all the basics of electronics manufac- turing. is course is ideal is for new engineers who haven't had enough exposure to the spe- cifics of our industry. Now they can get that at their own pace and in a consistent manner.