Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/1531663
34 PCB007 MAGAZINE I JANUARY 2025 a job offer from? I have visited many shops I wouldn't work in, even if offered double or tri- ple my current salary. I've also noticed that a neat and organized workplace contributes to employee morale and a willingness to go the extra mile to keep production running. at's why the first thing needed to attract and keep skilled labor is a safe and clean workplace. Workplace conditions have been contingent on the attitude of the upper management in the shops I have visited. In the good shops, man- agement cares about the health and safety of their employees. ey are hands-on and famil- iar with their production processes. ey have written procedures for equipment operation and maintenance and contingencies (for spills, leaks, etc.), and make sure everyone knows those procedures. ey know a well-organized workplace is more profitable in the long run. In the not-so-good shops I have visited, man- agement is more concerned about getting the maximum amount of product out the door in the shortest possible time and counting their prof- its. ey don't tolerate things that slow down this process (equipment maintenance, cleanup, etc.) and put them off until something breaks. At that point, panic ensues, and there is a lot of running around and yelling until somehow they resolve the problem. en, they resume maximum production until something else breaks. Employees see man- agement only cares about getting goods out the door. Consequently, they eventu- ally see their chief priority as completing their shi with as few problems or exertion as possible, so they can leave immediately when their shi ends. I've found a poorly kept workplace leads to a poorly motivated workforce with lit- tle incentive to do any more than is absolutely necessary to keep their jobs. However, once we have a workplace that is reasonably clean and safe and may attract and keep skilled workers, how and where do we find them? ere are no college courses in PCB production and, to the best of my knowledge, no formal training programs or trade schools to teach the skills to become a productive PCB employee. So, where can you find experienced workers, and once you hire them, what kind of training pro- grams can you offer them? One source may be your suppliers. ey have already seen more problems and solutions in their specialized processes than you can imag- ine. Most will provide a training program in those processes, either in-house or at the suppli- er's facility. Some may also provide formal train- ing courses for their specialties in their facilities, or through webinars at a modest price. " I've also noticed that a neat and organized workplace contributes to employee morale and a willingness to go the extra mile to keep production running. "