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62 SMT Magazine • May 2017 and have systems in place such as p-Dash to en- sure they have access to the information they need to do multiple jobs. Our goal is to have 40% of our associates cross-trained," said Starke. A key benefit of the production associate skills certification system is many paths to ad- vancement. Production associates have the abil- ity to advance to higher levels in a single work cell by completing training and passing a com- petency test and can also advance by mastering skills in other work cells to become a multifunc- tional production associate. However, the advancement opportunities don't stop there. Each work cell has lead oper- ators, who are essentially first line supervisors. ENHANCING RECRUITMENT EFFORTS WITH PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS "We offer soft skills training in leadership interpersonal skills and stress management as part of our group lead training activities. We also allow people who decide they have grown tired of being a lead to migrate to other posi- tions on the floor. This ability to change career path helps with retention plus ensures continu- ing availability of lead positions," said McFatter. Another popular benefit is a modified work- week. SMT and selective solder work cell em- ployees have the choice of a 4/10 or 3/12 work- week. The 4/10 workweek is four ten-hour days, Monday through Thursday, on first or second shift. The 3/12 workweek is three twelve-hour days, Friday through Sunday, on first or sec- Bethany Rinehart is a TeligentEMS SMT operator who discovered man- ufacturing through the Tallahassee Community College (TCC). "I was working in a dead-end res- taurant job with no chance of career advancement. My employer hired people with the skills they need for higher level jobs instead of training and promoting from within. I decid - ed I needed to look for a career where I could grow and get promoted. As a single mom, I couldn't afford to spend two years in college. So, I looked at TCC because they offered shorter-length programs," Rinehart said. TCC's Manufacturing Center had a one-week class designed to introduce people to SMT pro- duction. "The TCC program was one week, and they told me they would be able to immediately in- troduce me to an employer interested in hiring me. I took a week of vacation and completed the program, and then I was hired by TeligentEMS. That process really fit what I was looking for," she added. Rinehart had some familiarity with soldering because both her father and fiancé had done sol- dering in support of their hobbies. But for the most part, manufacturing was a new frontier for her. "When things get fast-paced, work- ing in an SMT area is a lot like working in a restaurant kitchen. SMT operators rotate among offline setup, SMT pro- duction and automated optical inspec- tion (AOI). I like that variety. Initially, there was a lot to learn both in terms of the equipment and things like ESD pro- tection," Rinehart said. But the real benefit was quality of life. "This job is much less stressful than working in a restaurant and less physi - cally demanding. We all get old. When I worked at the restaurant I came home exhausted and fell into bed. Now I'm working while my daughter is in school and I come home and still have the energy to be awake and play with her. The 10- hour, four-day workweek is also nice because I get a three-day weekend. And I like the predictable schedule instead of the variable shifts found in the hospitality industry," she said. Benefits and advancement were also a consid - eration. "The restaurant didn't offer health insurance and I couldn't afford Affordable Care Act (ACA) in- surance premiums. Now I'm able to afford health insurance for my family through TeligentEMS' plan. I can see a path for advancement here. This is a company I can grow in." One Employee's Story Bethany Rinehart