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A Certification Challenge

A Certification Challenge Made Less Challenging with Competency Management
This large electrical engineering and electronics company knew competency management was an efficient route to maintaining a competitive advantage, winning contracts and forecasting training.

Background
As one of the largest electrical engineering and electronics companies in the world, this client is continually taking every advantageous step forward to growing internationally.  One such way to increase the company’s ability to win international contracts was to become ISO 9000 certified.  ISO 9000, developed by the International Organization for Standardization, is an international standard focused on quality management.  To be ISO 9000 certified allows for more business opportunity and demonstrates a prestigious level of quality.

Challenge
In order to meet ISO 9000 standards, the client needed to certify the appropriate employees and show documentation to ISO validating this accomplishment.  The documentation needed to exhibit the skill starting point of the employee then show the timeline and activities for improving these skills to the standard.  With the large number of employees the client had to certify, the paperwork nightmare was looming.

Solution
In line with the client’s innovative culture, the client chose to use a database instead of paper.  Using a competency management process, product and a team of competency management consultants, Hal Gerrish, Avilar’s Director of Competency Management, undertook the project.  The initial step was to communicate to ISO the steps that were being taken and ensure this method of data validation would be legitimate.  Next, a survey related to sales and system engineering process support for clients was created which contained specifics on product knowledge.  The project began with a pilot and quickly rolled out to the whole organization.

Results
The Competency Management process established and populated the system with the skills and tasks required for sales and system engineering from a customer point-of-view.  Later in the same year, the client became ISO 9000 certified.  The project was so successful the client continued its use of competency management and the Individual Development Plans (IDPs) for forecasting training around the US.

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