Organizations

Organizations: TPIC, ASTD, ISPI

Technician Performance Improvement Council (TPIC).
What is TPIC?
The Technician Performance Improvement Council (TPIC) is a non-profit organization that provides a forum for the advancement and adoption of best practices as applied to enterprises involved with the semiconductor equipment workforce. “The mission of the Technician Performance Improvement Council is to be a catalyst for applying strategic performance support solutions that enhance the development of our semiconductor process, maintenance and engineering workforce.” TPIC invites international participation.

Background of TPIC
TPIC was inaugurated in 1992 under the auspices of SEMATECH (today called International SEMATECH) and Semi Sematech (today merged into SEMI). For the first six years it was called the Technician Training Council. Also, until recently, the Council was underwritten by SEMATECH and SEMI.

When SEMI eliminated funding for TPIC due to an industry downturn in 2003, individuals from a number of companies that continued to believe in TPIC’s value, met to determine a new structure for the Council. Today TPIC, operates on the basis of dues from company memberships.

Some Reasons to Join TPIC
To have a seat at the table. Currently TPIC is driving the activity within SEMI to establish semiconductor equipment training standards. TPIC is the place to be if you want to help shape the industry’s training standards for the future.
Solid ideas and new trends. Learn about these things at TPIC meetings. Would you and your enterprise have benefited from any of these recent presentations (partial list)?
Business Case for e-Learning
LMS is Not a Four Letter Word (at Lam Research)
Demographics, Productivity and Moore’s Law
The Business of Benchmarking Businesses
Simplified Technical English as a Semiconductor Industry Standard?
Lessons Learned in Live Web-Based Training (at Varian)
How to Implement SCORM
RSS Feeds, Blogs, Podcasts – Web 2.0
Distance Learning (at Intel)
Opportunities for networking. Several times a year, TPIC sponsors a site visit to see what is being done at other companies. On those occasions, at the annual conference, while working on task force activities… there are great opportunities to learn from fellow training and learning professionals within the semiconductor equipment community.

American Society for Training and Development (ASTD).
Several comments:
In order to become an individual member of TPIC, you must join ASTD. The cheapest way to join ASTD is to do so from the TPIC web page!
ASTD is made up of trainers of many industries and of many conflicting theoretical persuasions. The society’s interest in technical training is limited. In fact, ASTD used to publish a magazine and host a conference targeted to technical trainers. This was discontinued sometime during the mid 90s.
The society does host two conferences: The national convention and the Techknowledge Conference which is focused on e-learning.

International Society for Performance Improvement (ISPI).
ISPI, founded in 1962, is the leading international association dedicated to improving productivity and performance in the workplace. ISPI represents more than 10,000 international and chapter members throughout the United States, Canada, and 40 other countries. ISPI's mission is to develop and recognize the proficiency of our members and advocate the use of Human Performance Technology. Assembling an Annual Conference & Expo and other educational events like the Institute, publishing books and periodicals, and supporting research are some of the ways ISPI works toward achieving this mission.

Most of the performance-based training pathfinders were most active in this organization over the years.