professional development -Enhancing Customer Education

By Stephen Thompson, Moldflow Corporation

Savvy software providers offer flexible, innovative training programs that help customers learn to quickly and efficiently become proficient using their software products. The initial challenge for organizations such as Moldflow is to develop effective methods of empowering customers with the skills, tools, and information to harness knowledge and maximize business performance. The next challenge is to align these outcomes with business processes to deliver measurable results. Moldflow customers need to implement software and train users while adhering to existing time-to-market requirements and production deadlines. Sending engineers and designers off-site for week-long training sessions and on-the-job learning curves can negatively affect new product development cycles. Knowing these challenges, and as part of our commitment to help our customers achieve maximum business and productivity values as quickly as possible, Moldflow is launching the Moldflow Center for Professional Development (MCPD). The MCPD is a corporate university that is being developed specifically for our customers to empower MPI users. The MCPD comprises a worldwide team of professionals who specialize in assessing, designing, developing, delivering, administering, and evaluating learning solutions to improve customer performance. These learning solutions will provide a blended mix of instructor-led classes; live, online collaborative learning experiences; and Web-based, self-study resources.   New course structure We are developing an enhanced Moldflow curriculum that will include a five-day Simulation Fundamentals class designed to deliver instruction for our MPI/Flow module while introducing students to the basics of the Cool and Warp modules. The primary purpose is to "jump start" students so they are functional with basic performance requirements once back at work. As follow-up for students who wish to complete their Moldflow education, we recommend advanced training, which includes two-day classes focusing on the Flow and Cool modules, as well as a one-day Warp class. With the release of MPI 3.0, a new, one-day update training class is being created for both MPI and former C-MOLD users. This class will be given for the first time at the International Moldflow User Group Conference in September and then offered regionally. Our Web-based training initiative will allow students to have round-the-clock access to Web-based, self-study resources created by Moldflow. Web-based courses are planned to cover MPI 3.0 modules for gas-assisted flow, injection compression, co-injection, stress, and thermoset molding analyses, which will augment the core MPI/Flow, Cool, and Warp classes. These Web-based courses are expected to be available in stages beginning in January 2002. New certification program In response to customer feedback, the MCPD will offer a corporate certification program. To become "Analysis Level 2 Certified," companies must: Implement the core MPI modules (Flow, Cool, Warp). Have Moldflow-trained users on staff who have completed the Simulation Fundamentals and advanced Flow, Cool and Warp classes and successfully completed the voluntary certification exam for each class. Have an active maintenance account. Why get certified? There are many benefits to becoming Moldflow-certified. With this investment in employee education, senior management will know that employees are using the current software correctly, thus justifying the cost of the software and the training. For companies that become certified, we will offer a special "Moldflow Certified" logo that may be framed for display or used for marketing purposes. We will also include company information in our certification database, which will be available on our www.plasticszone.com Web site. This listing will reflect a company's formal knowledge, compliance, and experience with Moldflow products and processes. It will allow your company to use Moldflow proficiency as part of your sales process. The certification provides a standard by which your customers may objectively judge your Moldflow technical and functional expertise. New simulation level definitions In conjunction with our corporate certification program, Moldflow is launching new definitions for levels of simulation usage. Moldflow will offer formal certification only for Analysis Level 2. By promoting these definitions, we hope to create more value for our customers and to better differentiate our offerings. For more information about Moldflow education and certification programs, please visit our Web site at www.plasticszone.com.