Further training of human resources as a key factor for commercial success [packaging production]

Now more than ever before, strong competition takes place in local and global markets of electronic packaging production. Some enterprises are successful based on products that are more or less unique to the market, but most producers, especially contract manufacturers, only have one chance: to be better than the competition. In general every manufacturer can use the same material and the same equipment to produce electronic modules, devices and systems. The point is to have controlled technologies and processes beginning from the product design along the whole value added chain on to marketing and service. This depends to a high degree on the knowledge of the people involved. It is important to have well skilled and trained workers at any place in the production line. They are a prerequisite for a high product quality level which is necessary for customer satisfaction and optimized production costs. The paper takes a look at some experiences from two different points of view: from that of a typical medium sized contract manufacturer of electronic devices, to determine and utilise the knowledge and abilities of each individual employee as efficiently as possible to best fit the demands of their jobs, and from the viewpoint of a university in that scenario. Continuing education and training for engineers has become common for universities in recent years. The tremendously fast rate of innovation in the field of electronic packaging needs lifelong learning to stay on top. It should be a challenge to expand these activities, thus far focused on engineers and scientists, to skilled and unskilled employees. The paper shows some considerations and concepts.