Overview
Before using any piece of equipment in the cleanroom, users must undergo additional training specific to that piece of equipment. Depending on the complexity of the tool, there is either one or two training sessions. Highly complex equipment may have more than two sessions. The number of sessions that a particular tool requires is shown on the equipment pages in the laboratory management system.
For efficiency, a group of typically six users are trained at one time in the first training session. In the first session, the super-user or responsible engineer shows the users how to operate the equipment by following the operating procedure and pointing out additional processing rules and potential pitfalls. For less complex equipment this first training session is all that is needed for the user to start using the equipment.
For more complex equipment, a qualification or certification training is required of all users. The second training session is a one-on-one session where the user demonstrates that they can operate the tool in an independent fashion. The super-user or engineer watches the user independently operate the tool and evaluates whether or not the user can safely use the tool without supervision. It is recommended that a qualification run be scheduled when the user has a real sample to process. In this way the user can get advice on the best recipe to use and potential difficulties related to their specific sample.
Procedure
The first level of equipment training sessions occur as demand dictates and are organized by the laboratory training coordinator. Once the training coordinator initiates a training session, the training slots are offered to users based on their position on the training waiting list in the laboratory management system. Slots are offered to the top six users on the wait list via an email. If a user would like to attend the training session, they can accept or decline the training invitation on the home screen of the laboratory management system. Users should decline training sessions that they cannot attend to free up slots for others.
When attending training, users should print out and review the operational protocol or spec for the machine. At the date and time of the training, trainees should enter the cleanroom and go to the machine, bringing with them the operational protocol. Users must arrive to training sessions on time. If you need to cancel, please notify the training coordinator so that another user can take your training slot.
Training for New Users
New users often need to be trained on many pieces of equipment as soon as possible. This is not a unique or new situation and while we try to hold training sessions soon after the laboratory walkthroughs, the fact is that getting training on many pieces of equipment takes time. There are some things new users can do to move the process along.
After attending the walkthrough, new users should immediately login to the lab management system and signup for training for all of the equipment that they expect to use. Do not signup for every piece of equipment, just the ones that you need.
If you see that there is a training session for a tool that you need and you are not on the training list, it is OK to go the training session and see if the trainer will let you attend or if someone does not show up.
Advantages to Becoming a Super-User
A super-user is a regular ISNC user who has received additional training on a tool so that they can train other users on that tool. Users are encouraged to become super-users. Not only will you provide valuable service to the laboratory, you will also demonstrate that you are a responsible and dedicated laboratory member by giving back to the laboratory. In addition being a super-user has the following benefits:
For every hour of training time you receive:
- A laboratory usage credit so you are not paying to train others.
- An additional laboratory usage credit as a way of paying you for your service.
- An additional machine credit for chargeable equipment as a way of paying you for your service.
- Priority on equipment training lists so you don’t have to wait as long to be trained on equipment that you need to use.
- The ability to train others in your laboratory without holding a public training.
- Periodic parties held by staff to acknowledge super-user contributions.