We frequently hear the phrase "this person comes having X years of experience" when businesses announce new job appointments. Of course, experience is a good criterion for assessing someone's skill or ability in their profession, but the implementation of their knowledge is the real test.

Undoubtedly,improved output results from expertise, attending IPC-certified courses such as IPC-a-620 training, and utilizing the proper tools for producing electronics, but there's much more to it than that.

What Is Competency?

Competence, which is the capacity to carry out a task and provide a repeatable result over time, can be acquired by combining the 3E approach:

● Education, or training, comprises around 10% of the knowledge required to complete the activity.

● Exposure

● Experience

This combination demonstrates that a training session is beneficial but insufficient to develop your team's competency; instead, you need a comprehensive strategy that addresses all three elements (3Es).

It can be worrisome to contemplate the number of places in your electronics manufacturing where one person's judgment of "excellent" or "best practice" may differ greatly from another, given that growing competency is definitely more involved than simply giving over a certificate.

Example Scenarios:

Inspection

Can your inspectors agree, and, more importantly, do they comprehend what they are looking for?

Consider whether one member of your team can consistently inspect. This refers to whether they can concur simultaneously their teammates as well as a recognized norm.

I'll give you an example: a group of PCB end-of-line inspectors is doing their inspections. Do they understand how to use it and are they familiar with the IPC A610 standard? Can everyone agree that a "poor" board is subpar and that their interpretation of this is consistent with a standard if one is provided to them?

Assembly

Product assembly requires practical technique knowledge, which is backed by instruction. Can someone complete the task successfully? Can they properly operate the specified equipment? Can they adhere to strict standards based on the application of the product?

The case study illustrative of this point;

It should be evident that a worker in an assembly line knows how to operate a soldering iron properly. If they don't, they risk failing to accomplish the task and risk causing harm to the boards and other components.

Based on the intended use of the product they are building, can they solder in accordance with the pertinent IPC classifications? Do they understand how to use J-STD 001 and relevant other standards?

The rates of scrap, reject, and rework, the amount of time required, and eventually, the expenses incurred can all be directly impacted by not being aware of the competency gaps in your team.

Your business can be harmed by lack of competency. It will have an impact on both profitability and the sourcing choices made in the future by your clients. Also, there is a chance that your client could end up serving as a filter for your subpar work, which will harm your long-term reputation and client relationships.

Electronics producers are already dealing with a substantial increase in component prices due to the severe component scarcity now hitting the electronics industry. It is high time you know your team's competency and proficiency to establish your company name in manufacturing electronics.

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