IPC Announces 2011 Schedule for EMS Program Manager Training and Certification

BANNOCKBURN, IL - IPC — Association Connecting Electronics Industries® has announced the EMS Program Manager Training and Certification dates for 2011. A four-part curriculum that culminates with a certification exam, IPC’s EMS Program Manager Training and Certification is designed to provide preparation for and insight into the varied business, operations and management issues specific to an EMS organization. The 2011 training dates are:

• Introduction to EMS Training and Program Management: January 14–15, San Jose; April 11–12, at IPC APEX EXPO™, Las Vegas; late September, in conjunction with Electronics Midwest, Rosemont, Ill.; November 4–5, Philadelphia;

• EMS Training II: April 14–15, at IPC APEX EXPO, Las Vegas; June 9–10, San Jose; late September, in conjunction with Electronics Midwest, Rosemont, Ill.; December 2–3, Philadelphia;

• EMS Leadership Training and Certification Exam: April 14–16, at IPC APEX EXPO, Las Vegas; late September, in conjunction with Electronics Midwest, Rosemont, Ill.; November 10–12, San Jose; and

• Certification Exam Only: April 16, at IPC APEX EXPO, Las Vegas; late September, in conjunction with Electronics Midwest, Rosemont, Ill.; and November 12, San Jose.

Appropriate for experienced managers, new managers and managers in training, the program covers critical topics including operations, finance, contract and time management, as well as essential leadership skills. Although, as Paul Forker, vice president of sales for Quality Production Ltd. notes, the program is not just for program managers. “I took the course and it really helped me to see how operations, legal, accounting, and customer service all come together to support our customers. I have a much clearer understanding of how I can better assist my team members and coordinate resources in support of our customers’ goals.”

The first part of the course, Introduction to the EMS Industry and Program Management, is a two-day overview of EMS program management and the EMS industry, providing interactive lectures, group discussions and exercises with industry leaders. The next segment, EMS Training I, is a self-study/online tutorial that provides students with background information in basic business areas such as customer relations, legal issues, accounting, supply chain management and more.

EMS Training II is a two-day course that expands on the basic concepts and their relevance to specific EMS situations. The final segment, EMS Leadership Training, covers effective communication practices, conflict resolution and problem-solving techniques to meet the leadership challenges presented by any customer project.

“Becoming a certified EMS program manager (CEPM) will expand a manager’s expertise and cultivate necessary skills to help the company save time and money. Earning certification can also be a powerful tool for winning clients,” said Susan Filz, IPC industry programs director. “Program management means something different in every company. But having well-rounded knowledge of the industry can help program managers provide more value to their companies and their customers.”

For more information on earning a CEPM or to register, visit http://www.ipc.org/EMSCERT or contact Susan Filz at SusanFilz@ipc.org or +1 847-597-2884.

IPC (www.IPC.org) is a global trade association based in Bannockburn, Ill., dedicated to the competitive excellence and financial success of its 2,700 member companies which represent all facets of the electronics industry, including design, printed board manufacturing, electronics assembly and test.

As a member-driven organization and leading source for industry standards, training, market research and public policy advocacy, IPC supports programs to meet the needs of an estimated $1.7 trillion global electronics industry.

IPC maintains additional offices in Taos, N.M.; Arlington, Va.; Garden Grove, Calif.; Stockholm, Sweden; Moscow, Russia; Bangalore, India; and Shanghai, Shenzhen and Beijing, China.