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SUPPLY CHAIN I TRAINING


Electronics Yorkshire is AT Engine Controls, based in Worsley, Manchester. AT Engine Controls is a specialist systems company which has supported the helicopter aerospace industry for over 40 years and which designed the first full- authority control system for the Rolls-Royce Gnome engine. This was initially fitted to the Westland Whirlwind and is now in extensive use worldwide in the Sea King helicopter. To ensure quality standards throughout its manufacturing


Recertification: Electronics Yorkshire says demand for IPC training and certification will increase as personnel need to understand quality assurance benefits and materials and technologies


IPC offers globally recognised, industry-traceable training


and certification programmes in the key areas of discrimination skills, i.e. see it, hear it, read it, write it and apply it and, through demonstration, in hands-on skills. Many of the specialist staff development programmes cover soldering, product assembly, cable and wire harness assembly, rework of electronics assemblies/repair and modification of printed boards, with IPC-A-600 for printed boards, IPC-A-610 for electronic assemblies and IPC/WHMA-A-620 for cable and wire assemblies, all reinforcing the discrimination skills; whilst two further workmanship programmes, the J-STD-001 for soldered assemblies and IPC-7711/7721 for rework and repair, provide other critical aspects of hands-on skills that need to be demonstrated by the student.


The masters of IPC training Electronics Yorkshire has been delivering IPC training with its own master IPC trainers (MITs) for over ten years and is the only authorised IPC centre in the UK offering five complete programmes at the two levels of CIS and CIT. One company working in the aerospace industry that has benefited from having staff trained in IPC standards at


processes and procedures are to internationally-recognised levels, AT Engine Controls has introduced a continuing programme of IPC training and recertification for its staff. Tutors from Electronics Yorkshire recently delivered two distinct onsite training courses to staff at the company’s base in Manchester. The IPC A-610 electronics assembly course for Application Specialists is focused on the industry-accepted workmanship criteria for electronics assemblies, whilst the IPC 7711/7721 rework, modification and repair of electronics assemblies offer a wealth of industry-approved techniques on through-hole and surface mount rework, as well as land, conductor and laminate repair. Mike Taylor, production engineer at AT Engine Controls, explains: “In an increasingly competitive global market, having staff trained to the IPC standard has become an integral part of us maintaining the highest quality standards throughout our manufacturing processes. As a result we have been able to supply reliable quality products to our customers and have continued to win key contracts in the helicopter aerospace industry. IPC standards are now being viewed as benchmarks by which our company is judged.” Eric Hinsley, training and technology centre manager


at Electronics Yorkshire and one of the organisation’s two MITs, comments: “Working to IPC standards ensures that quality levels are acceptable for use throughout the aerospace industry and that staff are trained to apply them correctly and appropriately. We are committed to IPC training excellence and continue to help companies involved in electronics achieve the highest manufacturing standards as we realise this can be an essential requirement when they are looking to win new contracts or maintain existing ones.” It is anticipated that the demand for IPC training and


certification will increase as experienced technical staff and quality control personnel need to not only understand the benefits of quality assurance but also be knowledgeable about new materials and technologies; understanding, for instance, what constitutes a real defect as opposed to a simple, often cosmetic, anomaly - IPC training can, undoubtedly, provide staff with the resources to determine this. ❙ Electronics Yorkshire is a not-for-profit organisation supporting


everyone involved in the UK’s electronics sector. They currently offer around 20 industry-dedicated training courses which include the full


range of IPC Standards for trainers and specialists. www.electronicsyorkshire.org.uk


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