Issue

Setting the Standard: Invest wisely, invest in yourself through volunteerism in the Institute of Environmental Sciences and Technology

04/01/2005

BY Jan Eudy, President of IEST, and Corporate Quality Assurance Manager for Cintas Corporation

Time is a finite and precious commodity. Talent is a gift. Just as economists advise to “pay yourself before paying others” to create monetary wealth and security in retirement, business experts are advising us to take “ownership of our career direction, goals and objectives.” There are several avenues that one can consider to acquire the skills and knowledge for self-promotion. Some of these opportunities, such as pursuing an advanced degree, require a personal cash investment. However, one can obtain much of the desired industry knowledge and management skills required for professional advancement through volunteering in professional organizations. Therefore, if you invest in yourself first, you will realize some of these same financial opportunities.

How does one pursue self-investment?

Historically, the scenario has been: My company has hired me for a position and if I meet the company’s goals and objectives and if the company is financially secure then I will be promoted within the guidelines established in their “succession planning.” This scenario became obsolete after 9/11 when companies began right-sizing and down-sizing, and many jobs went off-shore. Some companies offered job placement assistance and even retraining. Many companies expect employees to “take ownership and reinvent themselves” to position themselves as valuable to the company.

If your goal is to be promoted to a project leader or team leader, then volunteering to chair a recommended practice working group of the Institute of Environmental Sciences and Technology (IEST) can give you the team leadership training and team management skills of taking a project from inception to completion with a diverse group of individuals. Some of the leadership and team building skills that you will acquire are:The ability to lead a group of individuals through an assignment from beginning to end
Improved listening skills and openness to other opinions
Improved verbal skills to clearly and concisely state your opinion and share your experiences and industry knowledge
Confidence to speak publicly

Organization and delegation of responsibility and authority
The ability to hold all team members accountable for their assigned tasks
Improved writing skills

Invest in recommended practices

The dedicated volunteer members of IEST have been publishing recommended practices for over fifty years. As the United States technology was leading the world in the aerospace, microelectronics, semiconductor, medical device, pharmaceutical, and biopharmaceutical industries, the best practices used by these industries were recorded and disseminated through the IEST Recommended Practices for:

The international community observed this activity and many of the volunteers that work on the IEST Working Groups to publish the IEST recommended practices also participated in the writing of the ISO 14644 series of standards for cleanrooms and other associated environments.

IEST recommended practices are not just for operations that manufacture in cleanrooms. All of the theory contained in IEST recommended practices for contamination control in cleanrooms can be utilized in any industry that desires to control their manufacturing environment.

Simultaneously, as these companies in the United States were manufacturing the “latest and greatest” innovation, there was increased emphasis of designing and producing a quality, reliable, durable product. The dedicated volunteer members of the Institute of Environmental Science and Technology began publishing recommended practices to design, test and evaluate the product and assure its reliability. The best practices used by the testing laboratories were recorded and disseminated through the IEST Recommended Practices for:

• Shakers and Vibrators (They “shake, rattle and roll” electronic components before you do!)

•Extreme Temperatures (so your cell phone works on Mt. Everest and in the Sahara Desert)

• Explosions (so the cockpit recorders will survive impact)

Invest in the Executive Board

If your goal is to be promoted to an executive or leadership position then volunteering to be a member of the IEST Executive Board can give you the skills to focus on and establish long-range goals, vision and strategy. Some of the upper-level management skills you will acquire are:

• Establishment of vision and direction

• Creation of a strategy and timeline with benchmarks to achieve long-range goals and objectives

• Confidence and assurance to lead an organization, make tough decisions and execute “the plan”

Personal perspectives

We all belong to several professional societies. We volunteer our time and our talents as we can. For the past ten years, I have volunteered most of my time to IEST because my company’s focus and my personal career goals and objectives are aligned with the principle objectives of IEST.

Initially, I became involved with only one contamination-control working group that focused primarily on my company’s core business. However, I soon learned that there were many contamination-control working groups meeting to discuss and formulate best practices and leading-edge technology that I could incorporate into a continuous quality improvement program within my company.

As President of the IEST, I have developed the skills, confidence and assurance to establish the vision and strategy to lead the IEST in the 21st century. I have been able to enthusiastically articulate my knowledge and experiences with my professional peers.

Mitch Mazer has been an IEST Chapter President, Fiscal Vice President, and President of IEST. He relates his perspective of volunteering with the IEST as a professional in the defense industry: “Since the late 1970s I have been involved in the aerospace/defense sector with AIL Systems, Eaton Corporation, and most recently, EDO Corporation. Early on, I discovered that test methods, MIL-Specs and procedures were subject to broad interpretation. As an example, during product environmental qualification, test item failures can set back a program by several months, which can equate to huge losses and penalties for missed contract dates. As a member of IEST, I knew that I could rely on the industry experts for precise interpretation of MIL-specs, while exercising all of the parameters for a fair but rigorous qualified test program.

“From my standpoint, the real value of associating with IEST is best exemplified by the broad network of industry experts that becomes available to you as a member. The experience, combined with recommended practices and standards, has helped delineate the direction and contributed to the success of major test programs for the Navy and Air Force. With access to an expert body of knowledge and experience, IEST has provided guidance when it was most needed. Aside from the educational opportunities, IEST still offers opportunities for individual recognition by presenting and publishing papers, earning awards for technical excellence, leadership and service. Moreover, all of these benefits have been and continue to be available at both a local and national level.

“Most recently, EDO Corporation has been consolidating its operations in the New York area, and I have been involved in the planning, design and coordination of this huge task. My association with IEST has again proved advantageous because we are in the process of constructing new and more efficient cleanrooms. Once again, I was in contact with leading experts in cleanroom design, construction, and management.

“Overall, my association with IEST continues to be a rewarding one, since it affords the opportunity to stay informed on the current and future direction of technology affecting the defense electronics segment. From my perspective, membership in the IEST has provided a huge return on investment, which I could not have imagined over twenty-five years ago.”

Mick Roy was the Technical Vice President for the Design, Test and Evaluation and Product Reliability Division and President of IEST. He relates his experiences: “I have found that furthering the goals of IEST has also been a great learning experience, both technically and professionally. IEST membership and conference attendance is an important part of staying on top of this ever changing world we work in. I cannot stress enough the importance of mentors and the technical friendships that one acquires through a society such as the IEST. Participation gives you the opportunity to get answers to your questions, increase your knowledge via participation in Working Groups and Technical Committees, and pursue leadership responsibilities. You can learn more about test methods, test procedures and checklists, and leadership through direct participation. Working Group participation is the best possible way to improve yourself, make those technical contacts, and provide a return on investment for your corporate support. You can help IEST further bridge the technological gap for those in need of technical guidance as well as enhance your own technical development.

“The role of the environmental engineering specialist is an important cornerstone in a company infrastructure. You can become that individual in your company who is looked to for guidance in your area of expertise. Regardless of the type of product you design, there is still the need for sound, disciplined engineering, robust designs, and meaningful environmental testing to get positive results. Self improvement is a never-ending task and I hope you take the opportunity to participate in IEST activities. Involvement in IEST can lead to your personal technical growth but you need the motivation to go after that information. It is a two way street, so don’t miss your opportunity at ESTECH 2005* to start your IEST journey. You should always be growing and trying to get somewhere or to some new level.”

Realization of the rewards of self-investment

Why invest in yourself first? Because you are your most valuable asset. You are most knowledgeable of your planned professional development and skills. As you invest your time and talent in IEST activities, your self-confidence will project your acquired skills. Peer recognition within industry as well as within your company will increase. When applying for the next promotion, you will have established the foundation necessary to achieve your goal of professional growth and therefore increase your financial growth. III

*ESTECH 2005, the 51st annual technical meeting and exposition of IEST, will be held May 1-4, 2005, at the Hyatt Regency Woodfield in Schaumburg, Illinois (close>to Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport).

Jan Eudy is the Corporate Quality Assurance Manager for Cintas Corporation where she oversees research and development, directs the quality system and ISO registration at all cleanroom locations and supports validation and sterile services. She is the President of the Institute for Environmental Sciences and Technology and the 2003 recipient of the Monroe Seligman award. She can be reached via e-mail at: [email protected].