Original Date: 05/19/1992
Revision Date: 01/18/2007

Training is a key element of the CONAX Florida Corporation four-part Total Quality Management (TQM) plan, providing a cornerstone for the company's emphasis on continuous improvement and quality. CONAX Florida Corporation considers people the base on which the future of its business must be built. Therefore, the company developed a mission statement in 1986 that recognized the need to provide an environment to foster employee development and motivation to achieve specific business objectives and personal growth.

An in-house survey was conducted to help identify employee needs and concerns. It highlighted the need for training to provide employees with knowledge and skills to do their jobs, and with opportunities for personal growth and development. In 1987, a consultant was hired to conduct initial training in team building, time management, basic and advanced supervisory skills, selling to internal and external customers, and customer relations. These courses have been continued using company resources.

The company received a state grant to fund training courses conducted at CONAX Florida Corporation by St. Petersburg Junior College. These courses included team building, supervisory skills, motivational instruction, TQM concepts, computer courses (Lotus and dBASE), MBO implementation, and interviewing skills. Inter-departmental training is conducted in management, supervisory, and administrative skills. The engineering department provides technical courses on such topics as valve design, primer application, and life support. Formal training is provided in government quality and manufacturing standards such as MIL-Q-9858, MIL-STD-1520, MIL-STD-480/481, cost of quality, and MIL-STD-1528.

CONAX Florida Corporation employs full-time industrial training specialists and has three category "C" certified personnel for soldering training. Soldering training is provided in WS6536E, MIL-STD-2000, and surface mount technology. Other process related training includes internal company process specifications, electrostatic sensitive devices, primer (explosives) handling, and test procedures for in-process and environmental testing.

The extensive training at CONAX Florida Corporation is largely responsible for the company's success in developing and retaining is employees. With a small work force, this emphasis has helped CONAX Florida Corporation attain leadership in its technical and market sectors.

For more information see the Point of Contact for this survey.