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September 2017 • SMT Magazine 91 Las Marias: Please give a list of some of the pro- grams of IPC that help elevate the skills of the operators, engineers, su- pervisors, etc., in the electronics assembly line. Bergman: IPC training and certification plays a key role in bringing val- ue to the electronics in- dustry. These training and certification pro- grams, built around IPC standards, devel- oped and approved by industry, are delivered in a classroom setting by IPC certified train- ers. Upon successful completion of the training and testing, the student is issued an industry traceable certification in one of the following IPC standards: J-STD-001, A-610, A-620, A-600, 7711/21, and 6012. Even though the training is conducted in the classroom, the certification testing is delivered through the online IPC cer - tification portal. IPC also provides formal class- room training and certification programs for Certified IPC Designers. For more than 30 years, IPC has been pro- ducing industry-approved, commercial-free training videos, covering electronics assembly acceptance standards, hand soldering, lead free, repair and rework, ESD control, component ID, counterfeit components, cable/wire harness as- semblies and printed board fabrication. Now available in IPC EDGE, IPC's comprehensive collection provides companies with another method of training and education to enhance the skills of employees. Las Marias: What are the advantages of these programs? Bergman: The benefits are clear. Investing in IPC training and certification programs can help participants demonstrate to current and potential customers that their company consid- ers rigorous quality control practices very im- portant; meet the requirements of OEMs and electronics manufacturing companies that ex- pect their suppliers to have these important cre- dentials; gain valuable industry recognition for their company and themselves; and facilitate quality assurance initiatives that have become important in international trading. And with IPC EDGE, from entry level per- sonnel to executives, users are provided with knowledge that support learning goals that can be applied directly to their work. This includes preparation for CIS (Certified IPC Specialist) certification, the most recognized certification from IPC in the electronics industry. Users re- ceive up-to-date information on compliance and regulatory issues, as well as highlights on the latest revisions and updates to IPC's most popular standards. From skills development, operator training, and technical knowledge to certification and professional development, IPC EDGE covers all the pertinent areas needed to excel in the elec- tronics industry. Topics covered include elec- trostatic discharge (ESD), control for electron- ics assembly, introduction to hand soldering, FOD prevention in electronics assembly, surface mount solder joint quality standards, counter- feit components, and component identifica- tion, among many others. Each year, IPC hosts and participates in in- dustry related events. Ranging from small to IPC'S DAVID BERGMAN ON INDUSTRY TRAINING AND EDUCATION