More and more companies are recognizing that the targeted further training of their specialist staff is a key factor for survival in international competition. The software manufacturer Eplan wants to offer its customers more effective qualification opportunities with the new module-based training program to become an Eplan Certified Engineer (ECE). The new 'Eplan Certified Company' (ECC) quality seal also allows companies to provide additional proof of their engineering expertise and gain a competitive edge in the market.
In the highly competitive, constantly evolving electrical engineering sector, including the electronics industry, the demands on products and therefore on the developers themselves are constantly increasing. More and more companies are focusing on the targeted personal development of their employees in order to keep pace with this competition.
Pioneers IPC and FED
Associations such as the American industry association IPC and the German trade association FED, both active in the electronics industry, offer companies structured multi-stage training concepts in modular form, in which participants gradually acquire knowledge on various key topics in their field of work. Successful completion of the respective training modules is documented with a certificate. In the field of design, for example, they can then call themselves Certified Electronics Designer (ZED) with four different levels (ZED I-IV) in the case of the FED or Certified IPC Designer (CID) with two different levels (CID or CID+) in the case of the IPC. CID here means Certified Interconnect Designer-basic, i.e. the basic level, CID+ correspondingly advanced, i.e. the advanced level [1, 2].
The IPC plays a pioneering role in the introduction of CID and CID+ courses in the electronics industry, as it laid the foundations for this in the USA back in the mid-1990s. As a cooperation partner of the IPC, the FED followed the path of the American trade association. As a first step, it also introduced CID training in the German-speaking countries, initially mainly on the basis of the IPC standards. In 2001, the CID examination in German was held for the first time in Germany in accordance with IPC regulations. At that time, the basic idea for a separate FED designer certificate was born. The association expanded the training program for the CID/CID+ to include new content that was particularly important for the European region. The first examinations for the CED Designer followed in 2002. The training and examination parts of the CID+ (Advanced Certified Interconnect Designer) were included here.
In a second stage up to around 2013, the FED further developed the IPC training program into a partially independent concept with the aforementioned four-stage ZED course system for PCB and assembly design (ZED I-IV).
Further training and certification concept from Eplan
The concept of the professional associations with a step-by-step personal training course based on modules with a subsequent certification examination at different levels was also well received by companies, for example the German company Eplan and the Australian-American company Altium. Eplan has its headquarters in Monheim am Rhein. Eplan Software & Service GmbH & Co KG is part of the globally active Friedhelm Loh Group and develops world-leading software solutions for engineering in the fields of electrical engineering, automation and mechatronics.
The Eplan Training Academy has been offering professional training to become an Eplan Certified Engineer (ECE) for several years. In contrast to the CID of the IPC and the ZED of the FED, where the focus is on the technical training of designers per se, independent of specific CAD software from individual providers, Eplan has geared its certification concept towards the best possible use of its own CAD/CAE software by customers. Until now, participants have completed the ECE training material in one block. A new extended program structure was announced at the beginning of the year. As the following descriptions show, there is no mistaking a certain basic similarity in the approach with the IPC or FED system.
Modular concept
The basis of the new training method is the successful completion of a basic module. Since the beginning of the year, participants have then been able to choose in-depth focus modules and thus expand their personal expertise in their areas of work or learn about more advanced solutions. This makes the training even more effective for both the experts and their company. Three subject areas are offered:
In the 3D control cabinet construction specialization, trainees receive detailed training in the Eplan Pro Panel software (Fig. 1).
The Engineering Package focuses on product structuring, a cross-disciplinary method for structuring machines and systems in compliance with electrical engineering standards.
In the Automation Package, participants concentrate on PLC topics and learn about automation options within the Eplan platform using practical examples.
Users are certified as Eplan experts with the ECE seal of approval within up to 22 training days. More than 500 users worldwide have already completed the Eplan Certified Engineer qualification program as personal training.
New: Eplan Certified Company
In response to customer demand, Eplan has now expanded its range to include a certificate for companies [3]. Companies benefit from the new 'Eplan Certified Company' (ECC) quality seal, which underpins their engineering expertise in the Eplan application environment. "With the 'Eplan Certified Company' certification, companies can stand out more clearly from the competition," said Harald Weiß, Head of the Eplan Training Academy, explaining this step.
How does ECC certification work?
It starts with a three-day workshop with key users in which the current status and efficiency level (eLevel) of the company is determined. For this purpose, a standard order project in Eplan is evaluated on the basis of reference key figures. In the following six months, unused potential is identified in terms of the Eplan Experience. This includes workshops on the project environment or product structuring as well as the topics of ERP/PDM or production integration. The final step is the optimization of workflows in automation. Tailored to the individual design and manufacturing processes of companies, Eplan consultants provide support with standardization and automation along the company's own value chain. Certification is then carried out by an assessment board made up of experts from Eplan and the customer's divisional managers. In order to receive the "Eplan Certified Company" rating, companies must fulfill the following criteria:
- Use of up-to-date CAE software, customized to the workflows
- At least one employee must have successfully completed the ECE certification process
- The degree of automation and depth of use of the software is tested and improved in the engineering process
In order to achieve the ECC title, intensive work must therefore be carried out. Interested parties can find more information on this at [3].
Certification also at Altium
In the electronics industry, EDA software provider Altium has also been offering training courses for the more effective practical use of its software tools since 2013. They lead up to the Certified Altium Designer Advanced Level. After the basic course, where essentials (basics) are taught, an advanced course can be completed. Both courses usually last three days [4]. However, this relatively short training course cannot be compared with the much longer course that leads to the Eplan Certified Engineer (ECE). Nevertheless, the advantage of such further training is that professionals with appropriate certification can perform their work better in the company and are also likely to have greater advantages in the job market. The advantage of personal certificates from IPC and FED is also that they can be listed as a supplement to the professional title of the person concerned, for example Dipl.-Ing. (FH), CID+, and thus provide further information about the qualification.
References
[1] www.ipc.org
[2] www.fed.de/aus-und-weiterbildung/zertifizierter-elektronik-designer
[3] www.eplan.academy
[4] https://resources.altium.com/pcb-design-blog/are-you-altium-designer-certified
