Rob Walls is Managing Director of PIEK International Education Center, a global training and certification company for the electronic interconnect industry.
EMS professionals are reporting growing interest in rework solutions in the wake of supply chain issues. Can you confirm this?
It depends very much on the industry. For electronics in the automotive sector, rework is no longer permitted in most cases; in other industries, more rework is carried out, it is always a question of cost and whether the reliability of the product is not impaired by rework. Environmental issues are also an issue in order to rework instead of disposing.
The industry complains about a shortage of skilled workers, while trainees describe the requirements in electronics and PCB production as overly complex (PLUS 5/2023) How does PIEK experience the problem?
We are noticing an increase in the number of untrained employees attending our customized training courses. We then provide them with special training to improve their knowledge so that they can perform their work better.
For Piek, the focus is on face-to-face events. What was your experience with online training during the coronavirus pandemic?
We have invested a lot in this area. Online training is becoming more and more popular. With a Rework & Repair qualification, the focus is on practice. Online or e-learning training is of course not possible, and our e-learning training courses are less frequently booked. ESD e-learning courses are an exception.
