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NEOTech Empowers Workforce through Internal Training Center


By Michael Skinner, Editor N


EOTech’s executive man- agement has long dis- cussed the implementa-


tion of onsite training centers as another method to improve pro- duction quality. “We established a Tiger team that looked at the question of onsite training cen- ters from multiple perspectives,” says Arturo Mendiola, vice presi- dent of operations at NEOTech’s Agave2 site in Juarez, Mexico. “Their analysis determined that it would greatly benefit our em- ployees, our organization, and our customers.” The company kicked off its


first training center at its Agave2 site. It was no easy task. As new manufacturing equip- ment was procured for its SMT lines, the company steadily real- located its older machines to a newly constructed training area, separate from the main manu- facturing floor. NEOTech also


acquired soldering and test sta- tions, as well as advanced audio/visual training equipment for classroom instruction. “Acquiring the equipment,


building the separate training area, and creating the training curriculum has been a signifi- cant investment of money and ef- fort by NEOTech, but one that we are happy to make,” says Mendiola. “Our employees are our number one asset, and en- hancing their development is a win-win for us all.”


New Knowledge As new employees are


brought on board, NEOTech carefully analyzes their skillsets and experience and assigns them to specific jobs. At any time, they can view the training center’s curriculum for additional skill - sets that interest them. They start with several days


of classroom-led instruction with quality and training staff. Then follow up for several more days working on the manufacturing equipment in the training center to gain their hands-on experience. All under the careful guidance of the company's trainers. Once they successfully com-


plete the course requirements, the employees receive an immediate increase in their payrate. They are also assigned to a new job role on the manufacturing floor based on their newly acquired skillsets if a position is available. Or, if the position is not available immedi- ately, they are added to the queue to be moved once the position be- comes available. They can gain skills for any position on an elec- tronics manufacturing service production floor. The training classes allow


employees to learn about loading the component reels on the pick- and-place machines and manag- ing the product through the process. Or employees can choose to learn about conducting in-circuit testing (ICT) on the testing systems to ensure quality products come off the product line. They can also enhance their training at the soldering sta- tions, which is a vital part of the assembly of through-hole compo- nents, as well as for product re- pair and troubleshooting. “As our employees continue


to complete training sessions, they increase their value-add to our organization. They expand their areas of responsibility and are empowered by management to become an integral part of the complete manufacturing solu- tions we provide our customers,” says Mendiola. “We emphasize to everyone they are not just ‘but- ton-pushers,' but instead are vital to the success of our customers' products. This gives them the sense of ownership that our cus- tomers' products are just as im- portant to us as to the customer.”


Quality is Paramount NEOTech works with some


of the most advanced high-tech OEMs in the aerospace and de- fense, high-tech industrial, and medical device markets. Their products play key roles in their industries and have little-to-zero margin for failure. Quality is paramount and they look to


NEOTech to deliver the high-re- liability product that their cus- tomers demand. “As our employees gain ex-


perience and proficiency in their job role, many become interested in enhancing their skills to other responsibilities, which also gives them the opportunity to increase their payrate,” says Mendiola. “They grow in the organization and rapidly become an integral part of the product's success.” All this creates legacy knowledge


“As our employees continue to complete training ses- sions, they increase their


value-add to our organiza- tion. They expand their areas of responsibility and


become part of the complete manufacturing solutions we provide our customers,”


about every product requirement that contributes to the overall quality of the product. This empowerment has dra-


matically improved employee re- tention, which builds team lega- cy knowledge of each product and enhances product quality. NEOTech's instructors are


long-term employees. They've be- come experts at electronics manu- facturing and know how to pro- duce a quality product. They are trusted leaders that the manufac- turing teams respect. When they're not conducting a class, they're working as supervisors, quality managers, and inspection leads. “NEOTech is thrilled to project continued growth for our customer's production volumes in the coming years. With quality being the number one require- ment from every customer, our entire organization has to contin- uously provide an all-star per- formance,” concludes Mendiola. “Our Mexico facilities are vital to NEOTech's success with most of our higher-volume production of high-tech industrial products being channeled there. The open- ing of our training center in the Agave2 site is just the first of


more to come.” Contact: NEOTech, 9340


Owensmouth Avenue, Chatsworth, CA 91311 % 818-495-8617 E-mail: kunal.sharma@neotech.com Web: www.neotech.com r


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