Minimum competencies for electronics technicians in high technology electronics industries

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to identify the minimum competencies needed by an associate degree electronics technician for entry into high technology electronics industries. The second purpose of this study was to determine the importance of each competency, as perceived by the supervisors of electronics technicians in three areas: (a) research and development; (b) manufacturing and production; and (c) bench and field service. The survey research method was used for this study. The instrument used to collect the data was developed by the researcher and validated by a pilot study panel consisting of 12 members representing companies in the population. The population for the study was comprised of the supervisors of electronics technicians at 97 firms identified as Fortune 500 high technology electronics companies. The 60-item survey instrument was sent to the supervisors of electronics technicians in: (a) research and development; (b) manufacturing and production; and (c) bench and field service. The findings of this study suggested that: (1) The proper operation of the digital storage oscilloscope was ranked very high by the respondents. (2) The ability to calculate and properly measure electrical quantities with appropriate electronic equipment was ranked very high by the respondents. (3) Electronic circuit design and fabrication, digital logic circuit analysis, troubleshooting semiconductor circuits, and microprocessor related equipment were ranked relatively high by the respondents. (4) With the exception of data communications, the competencies related to electronic communications and telecommunications were ranked relatively low by the respondents, yet still somewhat important. (5) Competencies related to industrial automation and robotics, the UNIX operating system, and the use of a microprocessor emulator were ranked relatively low by the respondents, yet still somewhat important. (6) The competencies ranked relatively high reflect the definition of an electronics technician. (7) The findings of this study reflect the perception of the supervisors of electronics technicians.