The National Glass Association now offers the Tempering Technician Certificate training program via MyGlassFAB on MyGlassClass.com. Developed by the tempering experts of NGA’s Fabricating Committee, the 3.5-hour training is broken down into quick-hit, interactive courses that walk tempering production personnel step-by-step through the entire heat-treatment process, training them on tasks and best practices to help ensure high product quality.
Suitable for furnace operators, production supervisors and quality control personnel, the online training covers everything from equipment and glass preparation, to how to control heat distribution in the furnace, to proper glass inspection. Courses can be taken on a computer or smartphone, with a certificate of achievement upon completion. All training is available in Spanish, and courses can be quickly referenced on the production floor when completing specific tasks.
"A lack of uniform training can make onboarding and upskilling personnel difficult, especially in a job market where employee turnover is high," says NGA Vice President of Workforce Development, Jenni Chase. "The new Tempering Technician Certificate program provides practical, skills-based training consistently and efficiently. To design the program, we worked closely with the tempering specialists of the NGA Fabricating Committee, who know the glass fabrication business inside and out. It's training built by the industry, for the industry."
The Tempering Technician Certificate training includes:
- Basics of heat-treating
- Preparing equipment for heat-treating
- Preparing glass for heat-treating
- Operating the furnace
- Inspecting heat-treated glass
- Maintaining heat-treating equipment
The certificate program is $299 for NGA members and $399 for non-members, with discounts available for bulk purchases.