Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/1523387
JULY 2024 I SMT007 MAGAZINE 9 do, indeed, matter. is issue of SMT007 Magazine tackles the topic by examining the value of certification, where to get certified, and why it matters for both the employer and the employee. Generally speaking, professional certifications don't give you a license to perform a skill, but they do show competence in an area of knowledge in a standardized manner. e MIT pirate certificate does raise some good questions, though. A certification has to mean something; otherwise, it's just for entertainment purposes. Significant work must go into ensuring that the certification criteria are fair and appropriate measures of a specific skill set. Who makes sure the certification is appropriate? Once we achieve a certification, what does that mean in the business environment? Finally, who maintains the timeliness of the certification, and how? Carlos Plaza of IPC helps us understand the nuances between certifications and being certified. He clarifies who these oversight entities might be. One example could be a government agency that authorizes vehicle operation licenses. ose are certifications that give the holder legal authorization to operate that vehicle. Another example is the bar exam, which authorizes the holder to represent others as an attorney in a particular state or country. Interestingly enough, one is not required to sit through a series of courses to take the bar exam. Of course, it might be helpful, but it's not required. is is not the case with all certifications and licensures. In the EMS industry, most certifications are administered within the industry, either internally within the company or through a third-party organization. It is up to these organizations to continually assess the validity of the certifications offered, and to analyze whether training courses must be developed to support the certification. Aer all, how do individuals obtain the skills they will be certified upon? What is true in our industry today is that customers value—and even require— Nolan Johnson is managing editor of SMT007 Magazine. Nolan brings 30 years of career experience focused almost entirely on electronics design and manufacturing. To contact Johnson, click here. employee certification in skill areas that matter to their products. rough our interviews, we learned that when all things are equal between two assembly houses, the customer is likely to choose the vendor with more industry- recognized certifications on board. For this issue, I spoke with three EMS providers about their experiences with training and certification. IPC and SMTA, two associations with a vested interest in certifications, offer opinions about how, where, and when to get certified. ey also share information about available resources. Also in this issue, Dr. Jennie Hwang reports on her annual visit to the Berkshire Hathaway annual meeting, columnist Mike Konrad shares his insight on certification, we introduce you to fabricator Tom Yang of CEE, and we spotlight a new intermediate training course on counterfeit component risk mitigation. I'm still intrigued by MIT's pirate offerings, and I've reached out to learn more. Should I assume they will add other pirate-worthy skills, such as parlay tactics and self-governance out of the philosophy department? Cannonball ballistics probably can be picked up some- where in the mathematics curriculum. Sept. 19 is International Talk Like a Pirate Day, so the linguistics department may be of help in mastering that skill. Of course, being what high-tech navigation systems are today, no self-respecting pirate would dare sail his ship into open waters without having taken several electronics courses to fully understand how to run his ship. In short, certifications matter. Read this issue and shore up your knowledge—or yer be walkin' the plank, matey. SMT007