Blackfox Ready for IPC APEX EXPO 2024

Estimated reading time: 4 minutes

Blackfox Training Institute offers IPC-certified training for a myriad of PCB assembly techniques and standard certifications. With many technologists beginning to eye retirement, this training is at a premium. I recently spoke with Jamie Noland, director of training and education for Blackfox, about the company’s latest educational efforts, and his plans for the upcoming IPC APEX EXPO, where Blackfox will be exhibiting.

Shaughnessy: Jamie, why don't you tell us about what's going on at Blackfox? What have you been working on?

Jamie Noland: Blackfox is still just as busy as ever, keeping up with the new updates to IPC training programs. All our training centers are quite busy, and we're doing a lot of online and in-person training. We've been going into our customers’ facilities at a higher rate than we have in the past.

Shaughnessy: You're the director of training and education, but you're also a master trainer. What are your specialties?

Noland: Yes, that’s correct. I’m a Master IPC Trainer for all six IPC training and certification programs. My specialty is IPC-A-6012, along with IPC-A-600 and more of the bare board standards and certifications. Interacting with students and being active on IPC committees keeps me current and updated. I’m teaching and learning, and that’s what I love about it.

Shaughnessy: So many experts are retiring now, or they will be in the next few years. I imagine that's creating a loss of subject matter experts in our industry. Is that what you’re seeing?

Noland: Oh, definitely. That transfer of information is so important. We try to fill gaps when the older generation is retiring and get that information passed on to the younger generation. At the same time, we fulfill IPC’s certification requirements for contracts.

Shaughnessy: What is the split nowadays between onsite and online?

Noland: We've been doing a lot of online training for customers all over the world, such as Australia, Europe, and South America, where we don't have training centers yet. Many people internationally want to get certified but don't have the approvals or are unable to travel internationally to one of our facilities. We offer all six training and certification programs; a lot of training centers don't do that.

We try to satisfy everybody, but we find most of our training is still done in-person because many prefer the in-person training methods. Obviously, several training programs—anything that’s hands-on—can only be taught onsite. The lecture-based courses still do well as online remote training.

Usually, onsite classes are much larger class because often both trainers and operators from one company want to take a class at the same time. The onsite classes are a good way to certify a lot of people at one go.

Shaughnessy: What are some of your most popular classes?

Noland: The most popular by far is J-STD-001. That training program satisfies so much of our customer base because it is so focused on military and aerospace, which is most of our customer base. There's also a space addendum that's optional for J-STD-001. Here in Colorado, many of the manufacturers in the region are aerospace manufacturers. To satisfy NASA and DoD contracts, they need that certification to get the jobs done and to win new contracts.

Shaughnessy: How is your veteran’s training program going? That’s a great idea for servicemen about to exit the military.

Noland: It’s going well. There’s a nonprofit company we work with called Evolution Foundation to help veterans transitioning into civilian life. We provide the training and certification they need to get gainful employment and make it a nice, smooth, easy transition into civilian life.

Shaughnessy: That's great. Many people coming out of the military are wondering what they'll do next.

Noland: Right. Students in that program can receive those certifications in just a few weeks. After that, they’re ready for employment in our industry.

Shaughnessy: You all are exhibiting at IPC APEX EXPO in April. What do you have planned for the show?

Noland: We’re looking forward to the show in Anaheim, California, this year. We have a new colleague attending this year, sales manager Darin Pesola. He’s also a Master IPC Trainer for a variety of standards. He’ll be primarily running the booth for all three days of the show. I'll be there as well, moving between our booth and the IPC committee meetings. There’s a lot going on with IPC now. Almost all the IPC training and certification programs will be revised within one year. There are a lot of exciting changes and updates coming to the training programs. We’ll be more than happy to answer any questions anyone has about anything, including schedules, onsite vs. online classes, or just putting together quotes.

Shaughnessy: Sounds good, Jamie. Thanks for talking with me.

Noland: Thank you. I’ll see you in Anaheim.