The new TAPPI Recognized Education Provider (REP) program.

"At least 30% of the variation in profitability can be explained by human performance." This statement is from a research study entitled "The Link Between Profitability and Human Performance," conducted by Jaakko Poyry Consulting. They based this on a 4-year investigation of global manufacturing operations in the forest products industry. This "profitability gap" can cut both ways. While poor performance obviously hurts profitability, the study found that, in some cases, superior employee performance overcame asset disadvantages and led to the creation of highly effective profit centers.

Clearly, the importance of continuing education and training (CE & T) to the survival and prosperity of our industry has never been greater. We now have objective data to demonstrate its impact on profitability and its powerful potential to overcome the perceived competitive disadvantage of older equipment.

That is why TAPPI is developing a "Recognized Education Provider" (REP) program Companies in the program will be committed to offering quality learning activities that meet the TAPPI REP criteria.

WHAT DOES THE INDUSTRY SAY?

During 2002 and 2003, TAPPI began exploring innovative new ways to serve the industry's CE & T needs. We conducted more than 80 personal telephone interviews to gain better insight into the major challenges facing our industry. The interviewees represented small and large manufacturers in the U.S. and Canada, vendors, consultants, training providers, degree and certificate granting colleges, and one international labor union.

Among the major conclusions were:

* Contrary to popular belief, training budgets are relatively stable

* CE & T providers take many forms: training companies, suppliers, consultants, colleges, and industry associations/institutes

* CE & T provider quality varies greatly

* There is a lack of high quality content

* Classroom and "buddy" based training are the main methods for carrying out CE & T.

Additional data suggests that many mill/training managers struggle to simply locate a CE & T provider. Once they have found one, training managers still have no way of knowing whether they will get their money's worth and the impact they are looking for.

In response to the question "would there be value to the industry in having a TAPPI 'seal of approval' program for CE & T providers," one interviewee with corporate training responsibility for a large manufacturer responded, "Any training organization that is concerned about quality of their programs would want to have the seal of approval."

CE & T QUALITY CRITERIA

In response to these findings, an industry Task Force comprised of CE & T professionals representing manufacturers, suppliers, consultants, and educators came together in July 2003 with the following mission: "Establish a new TAPPI service for the global pulp, paper, and converting industry that recognizes and encourages high quality continuing education activities." This began the development of the new TAPPI REP program.

The first step was establishing the REP criteria that CE & T providers would need to meet. That was accomplished at a July 2003 REP Task Force meeting. The criteria were then reviewed by a group of over 40 volunteers in 7 countries. The criteria in the REP Program reflect the collective knowledge of the REP Task Force and Review Group--over 60 industry stakeholders!

According to one REP Task Force member and training manager for a small pulp and paper manufacturer, "... consistency among providers is extremely important. The quality of educational services in the paper industry is highly variable, leading to mixed results and a good bit of skepticism among companies looking for providers."

While the REP application and approval processes are still being developed, approval will require a commitment to the following areas in developing quality learning activities:

* Suitable learning environment

* Learning is based on identified needs

* Clear learning objectives

* Qualified instructors and appropriate content and methods

* Evaluation of learners and learning activities

THE REP PROGRAM--RAISING THE BAR

The experience of other Associations tells us that by creating industry-sanctioned criteria such as the REP Program, the overall quality of CE & T offerings will improve. The TAPPI REP program is a way for consumers of CE & T to more easily locate and identify quality providers. Benefits are likely to include enhanced profitability as suggested by Jaakko Poyry. Look for the launch of the TAPPI REP Program in 2004, and let us know what you think!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Bob Caron is director of industry learning for TAPPI. For more information on the TAPPI REP program, or to get a copy of the REP criteria, please contact Bob at [phone], or by email at [e-mail].

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