Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/1498238
44 SMT007 MAGAZINE I MAY 2023 Feature Q&A with Sharon Montana-Beard Successful skills training is a crucial part of the onboarding process and can take expe- rienced staff members away from their pri- mary jobs on the manufacturing floor. Effec- tive training to onboard new employees can not only speeds up ramp-up times, but can be customized to a company's specific needs. We posed these four questions about new-hire training to Sharon Montana-Beard, vice presi- dent of sales and operations at Blackfox. What topics/skills does the typical new-hire course of training contain? At Blackfox, our typical entry level training fol- lows a set course flow. In phase one, we begin with how to recognize through-hole surface Successful Skills Training mount components. en we move on to ESD and safety with electronics. Phase two moves into soldering workmanship per IPC-A-610 and J-STD-001 standards, with a course on ter- minal and post soldering, through-hole solder- ing, and then continuing to surface mount sol- dering and fine-pitch workmanship. If cables and wire harnesses knowledge is needed, we train on the following , to IPC/ WHMA-A-620 workmanship requirements: 1. Safety 2. Documentation and print reading 3. Wire preparation 4. Terminal and post soldering 5. Crimping 6. Wire harness assembly