certification

Engineering Management Skills

Posted on 08.11.16

While we might proudly wear the badge “nerd,” many engineers struggle to identify the correct skills, tools, and techniques to use when they are promoted to supervise the work of others. When I was first appointed to a management position, I was disappointed. Didn’t they understand how many years I went to school to learn technical skills? Didn’t they think I was smart enough? Little did I understand that “they” had recognized another set of skills – not just technical – that could benefit others and help me to grow both personally and professionally.

Engineering Management

So, what do engineering managers do if it’s not 100% technical? The American Society of Engineering Management (ASEM) outlines eleven (11) skill areas to master in becoming a Professional Engineering Manager (PEM). These are:

Introduction to Engineering Management,
Leadership and Organizational Structures,
Business Strategy and Planning,
Financial Management,
Project Management,
Operations and Supply Chain Management,
Sales and Marketing,
Management of Technology and R&D,
Systems Engineering,
Legal and Regulatory, and
Ethical Issues.

All of these skills require an interaction with teams of people who do the actual work in the organization as well as communication and information exchange with the senior executives of the firm.

Becoming a PEM requires learning these 11 areas in breadth and depth. PEM certification also requires an appropriate degree and a number of years of experience. Thus, PEM certification is based on three components: education, experience, and demonstrated knowledge.

Education

Most engineering management professionals, like me, come to the profession from a technical background. Studying in college for an engineering degree teaches analytical thought, a disciplined approach to solving problems, and application of the scientific method. An engineering education may be narrow (high voltage power engineering) or more broad (chemical engineering).

Education requirements are common for most certifications. For example, PMP® certification (Project Management Professional) requires 35 hours of specific training in project management. PEM certification requires a college degree (BS or BA) while the work experience requirement is decreased if the applicant holds an engineering management degree (BS or MS) from an accredited school.

Work Experience

Nearly all certification programs require practical work experience to demonstrate active participation in the profession. More than a simple requirement, work experience validates learning and application of theory to real-world situations. We often learn more from the “school of hard knocks” than during a four-year college experience.

Candidates for PEM certification will need to demonstrate varied work experience depending on their degree program. Work experience requirements range from two (2) to five (5) years and the candidate must manage programs or projects within three or more of the 11 domains of engineering management (see above).

In some cases, the experience requirement is reduced by one year if the candidate participates in a 24-hour PEM Test Prep class. This waiver applies when the applicant’s degree is from outside the field of engineering management or from a non-accredited school. Stay tuned at www.simple-pdh.com as well will be offering PEM test prep classes soon!

Certification Exam

All worthwhile credentials require a passing score on the actual certification exam itself. The PEM exam, like the PMP and NPDP (New Product Development Professional) certification exams, is a four-hour multiple choice test. A passing score of 70% correct answers on 200 questions is necessary.

ASEM offers a short set of practice questions to help candidates prepare for the exam. At Simple-PDH, we offer subject matter specific courses, like cost estimating, to help candidates gain and maintain their certification as Professional Engineering Managers. Contact us at info@simple-pdh.com or 281-280-8717 for information on facilitated, on-line PEM test prep courses. And, keep your eyes out for a full set of practice questions to be released in early 2017.

Professional Engineering Management

Professional Engineering Mangers (PEM) help to accomplish the work of an organization by improving productivity and efficiency of operations and workers. Engineering managers ensure that technical experts are motivated and inspired to achieve high-quality project work and to increase the revenues of a firm. It is a rewarding career path, as I learned. Instead of discounting my years of education, becoming an engineering manager challenged me to find new and creative problem-solving methodologies, to encourage and support group collaboration, and to advance the needs of the firms, its employees, and customers in a profitable and cost-effective manner.

What challenges do you face as an engineering manager?

Study. Learn. Earn. Simple.

A division of Global NP Solutions, LLC

Certification vs. College

Posted on 06.09.16

The news story told of a 300% increase in college tuition over the past five years. Former students explained their fear of deep debt from college loans hanging over their heads as they move forward in life. Parents, in the story, told of cashing in retirement savings to fund their child’s college education.

Every day we encounter these gloom and doom stories about the rising costs of college education partnered with joblessness and underemployment. The dream, we are taught, is to get a college degree and it will automatically open the doors to a high-paying job.

Another Way

Employers hire for several reasons. An ideal candidate should:

Fit the company’s culture,
Support the firm’s values and purpose,
Be loyal and trustworthy,
Demonstrate skills and capabilities, and
Commit to lifelong learning.

Most jobs today rely on knowledge workers who must stay current in their field. Top management requires flexible, fast, and adaptable employees for long-term success.

Employers may be initially screening job applicants for college degrees, but because of the nature of today’s fast-paced, globally competitive work, employers also need staff to hit the ground running. Hiring is done for specific skill sets so team members can fill a capabilities gap at the firm. Often, work experience is what differentiates job applicants.

Even more so, professional certifications differentiate potential employees. Professional certification demonstrates education, experience, and aptitude within a given field of study. For example, New Product Development Professional (NPDP) certification demonstrates knowledge and experience in strategy, portfolio management, life cycle management, new product development (NPD) processes, tools and metrics, teams and organization, and market research. Project Management Professional (PMP^®) certification affirms capabilities in initiating, planning, executing, monitoring and controlling, and closing projects bounded by constraints in scope, schedule, and budget.

Promotion of managers in engineering roles is assisted by Professional Engineering Manager (PEM) certification demonstrating skills ranging for management, organizing, and people to operations, supply chain, and regulatory compliance.

The Value of Professional Certification

Professional certifications have several advantages are advanced college degrees:

Less expensive;
Depth of (vs. generalized) topic knowledge;
Rigorous, standardized testing;
Demonstrated work experience; and
Commitment to continued professional development.

Most certification programs cost less than 0.5% of an advanced college degree (assuming about US$50,000 for a degree). While a college degree prepares a graduate for any number of potential jobs and industrial fields, professional certification is focused: new product development, project management, or technical engineering management. Unlike colleges and universities which have a wide range of instruction and course requirements to graduate, professional certification use the same, standardized test around the world. The measuring stick is easy to understand.

Finally, the most rigorous professional certifications require a validated work history to show experience in the field. Hand-son experience is exactly what employers are hiring for today and licensure as an NPDP, PMP, or PEM demonstrates knowledge and experience.

Continued Professional Development

The world is changing fast. New theories, tools, and techniques are emerging almost daily. To maintain professionalism, a person must keep up with emerging trends, new practices, and improved problem-solving methods. Continued professional development includes earning professional development hours (PDH) or continuing education units (CEU) required by certifying bodies such as the Product Development and Management Association (PDMA), Project Management Institute (PMI®), and the American Society of Engineering Management (ASEM). PDHs validate lifelong learning. Employers benefit by having an educated, adaptable, and highly-trained workforce that is engaged in their careers.

PDHs are easy to earn at Simple-PDH.com. We provide a combination of narrative, video, and audio files with downloadable study guides for you to study. All PDH courses include a practice test for candidates to validate and learn the material whether it is a basic refresher training or new, emerging topic. You can take the practice test as many times as you want. Finally, prepared by the learning materials and practice quiz, you earn your PDH credits by passing a final quiz. It’s simple!

NPDPs and PMPs requires 60 PDHs every three (3) years, and PEMs require 45 PDHs every three (3) years. To learn more, try our popular Disruptive Innovation training course and earn 1 PDH toward you NPDP, PMP, or PEM renewal.

Study. Earn. Learn. Simple. New courses are being added for PEM, PMP, and NPDP professional development every month, so check back often! If you have questions about existing or upcoming PDH courses, please contact us at info@simple-pdh.com or by phone at 281-280-8717.

Study. Learn. Earn. Simple.

A division of Global NP Solutions, LLC

Learning is Curiosity

Posted on 04.28.16

Even though “curiosity killed the cat,” continuous, lifelong learning depends on curiosity. Curiosity give

Chinese girl with thought bubble in classroom

s us the motivation to learn how something works, how we can better ourselves, and how we can improve the world around us. Learning has a prerequisite of curiosity!

In addition to curiosity, we must also be vulnerable in order to learn. Vulnerability creates a mentally “open” state that allows us to absorb new ideas, new concepts, and new ways to solve problems. Being vulnerable is not taking undue risk; instead, being vulnerable is being open without judgement.

Learning Methods

Children often learn through curiosity. Their learning is typically hands-on. Toddlers will touch and feel objects

while teachers and parents repeat the names of those same items. A red block. A blue ball. Early learning focuses on identification.

As we mature, we begin to recognize written language that identifies the objects we have learned to describe verbally. The written word allows us to gain context and meaning when we are not directly presented with the object. The red block sits to the right of the blue ball.

Moreover, as we continue to learn new ideas and concepts as children and young adults, we find that that the written word itself can present new discoveries. We can read about distant places and foreign lands, wild animals, and famous people who have lived before us. The written word takes us to magical places and teaches us life lessons (e.g. The Chronicles of Narnia).

While the written word paints a picture of dreams and wishes, it can also provide learning for our practical needs. Reading is considered one of the most common hobbies of successful business executives. Engaging in reading allows us to learn new concepts that have been tested in other situations. Curiosity allows us to investigate these new ideas and vulnerability gives us permission to test a new theory in our industry.

Continuous Learning

To continue to grow as professionals, we must embrace lifelong learning. Many of us have demonstrated learning through the attainment of professional credentials like NPDP (New Product Development Professional), PMP® (Project Management Professional), and PEM (Professional Engineering Manager). These certifications demonstrate education, experience, and knowledge in a given field of practice.

A hallmark of certification is the commitment to continuous learning. NPDP and PMP certification require 60 professional development hours (PDH) every three years. Likewise, the PEM certification requires 45 PDHs of continuing education every three years.

Some certified individuals find it a challenge to meet these requirements. At Simple-PDH, we understand how busy the life of a product, project, or engineering manager is. We want to make learning easy and presented in a way to stimulate your curiosity. Our PDH courses are simple, affordable, and fully on-line. Your simple study the material presented in bite-sized chunks (written word, video, and audio). You learn the basics of master theories and emerging topics in product, project, and engineering management. Upon completion of a short quiz (usually 10 questions for each PDH), you earn PDH(s). Simple!

Curiosity and Vulnerability

professional development in arrows If you are curious as to how on-line learning works, please check out a FREE course. Learn more about NPDP certification by clicking here to register at no cost.

If you feel that your firm is vulnerable to innovation threats, check out our popular course offering PDHs to NPDPs, PMPs, and PEMS. Click on Registration in the upper right corner at www.Simple-PDH.com, then enroll in either of the Disruptive Innovation or NPDP Certification courses (see Courses in the top menu). Use coupon code SPE2016 through 31 May 2016 for a 50% discount. Disruptive innovation is a learning theory itself and requires an innovation team as well as senior management to embrace curiosity and vulnerability to succeed.

New courses are being added for PEM, PMP, and NPDP professional development every month, so check back often! If you have questions about existing or upcoming PDH courses, please contact us at info@simple-pdh.com or by phone at 281-280-8717.

Study. Learn. Earn. Simple.

A division of Global NP Solutions, LLC

The 3A’s of Professional Development

Posted on 03.31.16

Most professionals today are swamped. We attend meetings, manage email, and do the work of our projects. However, most professionals also maintain an obligation to continuous learning within our chosen professional field. In fact, many of us are required to demonstrate continued education in order to maintain our professional credentials.

For example, PDMA (Product Development and Management Association) and PMI® (Project Management Institute) both require renewal of certifications every three (3) years showing 60 professional development hours (PDHs). PMI specifies that of these PDHs, at least eight (8) hours must be attained in each of business and strategic management, leadership, and technical project management. ASEM (American Society of Engineering Managers) requires 45 PDHs every three (3) years to maintain the Professional Engineering Manager (PEM) certification.

In a working world short on time, how can professionals get the job done and maintain their credentials? That’s where the 3A’s of professional development come in:

Accessible,
Available, and
Affordable

Accessible

One option for New Product Development Professionals (NPDP), Project Management Professionals (PMP®), and PEMs is to earn continuing educations units (CEU) online. Online learning is accessible wherever there is an internet connection. At Simple PDH, we make PDH courses accessible through a variety of formats.

First, courses include documentation and video/audio to make learning easy. Students can download articles to read at their leisure or proceed through the course at one sitting. Most PDH courses are designed for completion within just one or two hours.

Next, practice tests are available for users to test their knowledge on the topic before, during, and after studying course materials. Practice tests help you prepare for the final exam. Continuing education credits are awarded after the candidate achieves a passing score on the final test.

Finally, candidates can take the final exams as many times as necessary during the course registration period (typically 60 days). Once a user obtains a passing score (typically 70%), s/he can download and print the completion certificate clearly indicating the course title, date, and number of PDHs earned.

Available

While we are just getting started in 2016, a wide variety of professional topics for PDH courses are coming available at Simple PDH. Professional credential holders should routinely review foundational concepts as well as emerging topics.

For example, NPDPs should be well-versed in strategy and portfolio management. PMPs must understand the triple constraint and earned value management. (Our newest course, launching in April 2016, covers Project Cost Estimating, the triple constraint, and earned value management.) Likewise, PEMs should be familiar with organizational design and quality systems. Yet, all professionals benefit from emerging knowledge in the fields of open innovation and design thinking, for example. (Look for courses on these topics later in 2016.)

Affordable

A big drag on maintaining a professional credential is the cost. Most certifying bodies require a certification renewal fee in addition to demonstration of continued professional development. Many of us cannot afford the time or money to attend large, multi-day conferences just to earn a few PDHs. In other cases, even attending a full conference does not meet the minimum required PDHs for renewal of a professional credential.

Online learning is simple and affordable. Most one-hour courses cost less than a meal at a local restaurant. In addition, annual memberships offer discounted course rates in which you can bundle your own select group of courses to save more. Corporate memberships are coming soon!

The 3A’s of Professional Development

You have worked hard to attain a professional certification like NPDP, PMP, and PEM. It is our belief at Simple PDH that maintaining your certification should be accessible, available, and affordable. With online courses you can study, learn, and earn your PDHs simply!

Try It Now!

To find out how easy it is to study, learn, and earn PDHs at Simple-PDH, join the Disruptive Innovation course now and earn 1 PDH for NPDP, PMP, or PEM renewal. If you’re not 100% sure of how online training works, please take an introductory course for FREE! Learn more about NPDP certification by clicking here to register at no cost. Or click on Registration in the upper right corner at www.Simple-PDH.com, then enroll in either of the Disruptive Innovation or NPDP Certification courses (see Courses in the top menu).

Study. Learn. Earn. Simple.

A division of Global NP Solutions, LLC

How Learning is Different Today

Posted on 03.17.16

Not so many years ago, education occurred in a classroom. Teachers prescribed textbooks for students to read and then lectured on the textbook as students diligently took notes. Homework assignments were written on notebook paper and duly graded with a red pen.

Learning is very much different today and is continually evolving to take advantage of changing lifestyles. For example, classroom education is declining among adults as more efficient methods of delivering education are available. Of course, technology plays a large part in this evolution of learning.

Technology in Learning

Today we carry a computer in our pocket. Smartphones give access to encyclopedic knowledge as well as “how to” and trivia. It is not impractical to view a YouTube video to learn woodworking skills as you step-by-step build new garden furniture.

Unfortunately, because of the availability of information, most people have lower retention rates. This is really the gap between knowledge and information. Watching a woodworking video gives me information on the skill to use a router but until I actually hold the router in my hands and apply it to a piece of wood, I do not have knowledge.

Professional Knowledge

Because learning is so different today and the required skills to be proficient at a job are growing, professional certifications are increasing. Certification demonstrates knowledge (not just information), skills, and experience in a chosen field of study. In many cases, professional certification is required for jobs above and beyond college degrees.

It is important to note that professional certifications are awarded based on demonstration of skills, knowledge, and experience. New Product Development Professionals (NPDP), for example, require skills in new product development and innovation demonstrated by an educational requirement (high school diploma or bachelor’s degree), experience in the field (five or more years of product development experience), and a passing score on a certification exam. Certification exams validate basic knowledge in the field of expertise. Project Management Professionals (PMP®) and Professional Engineering Managers (PEM) must meet similar requirements in certification.

Continued Education

A key criteria for professional certification is the continuing education requirement. Continued learning validates experience and skills in the field of study and encourages professionals to maintain knowledge of best practices and emerging trends. Most professional certification programs require continuing education.

Certification	# Professional Development Hours (PDH)	Renewal Period
NPDP	60	3 years
PMP*	60	3 years
PEM	45	3 years

*Includes 24 hours in Business Strategy, Technical Project Management, and Leadership

Earning Professional Development Hours (PDH)

Because learning is different today, so is maintaining a professional credential. In the past, certificate holders needed to attend expensive conferences out of town and away from the office. Many of the topics presented at a conference are not applicable to your business or background.

Today, learning is different. Online courses are short and affordable. You can select the topics that interest you. Instead of listening to someone drone on for hours in a lecture, online courses are interactive, engaging, and at your own pace. A typical course at Simple-PDH will offer learning with a downloadable article to read, various audio and video components, and a practice test. Final exams allow participants to download and print a certificate for their records to demonstrate earned PDHs to maintain certification.

Simple-PDH

Learning is different today. It is much more engaging, simple, and affordable. While many careers today require professional certification for advancement, we know that it is hard to maintain these credentials. At Simple-PDH, online courses make it easy to study, learn, and earn continuing education credits for your professional certification. It’s simple!

Try It Now!

Study. Learn. Earn. Simple.

A division of Global NP Solutions, LLC

Maintaining Certification

Posted on 01.21.16

Professional certifications like NPDP (New Product Development Professional), PMP® (Project Management Professional), and PEM (Professional Engineering Manager), demonstrate experience, knowledge, and specific skills. The most rigorous certifications require continued learning to validate knowledge of best practices and emerging industry trends. Many accrediting bodies require a number of professional development hours (PDH) each period and may require particular categories of learning.

PDH Requirements

NPDP

New Product Development Professionals (NPDP) demonstrate mastery of skills in the field of innovation. As of first quarter 2016, the NPDP exam covers six key topic areas: strategy, portfolio management, NPD (new product development) processes, market research, teams and organizational structure, and innovation tools and metrics. You can learn more about the initial NPDP certification at www.globalnpsolutions.com/workshops/.

PDMA (Product Development and Management Association), the certifying body for NPDP, requires 60 PDH every three (3) years. For many of us, as busy product development professionals, this is challenging. Conferences are expensive and take us away from important day-to-day work. Email and meetings continue even when we are away from the office.

Simple-PDH offers an easy way to maintain your NPDP certification through online courses. Online PDH courses include appropriate documentation such as course reading notes, white papers, and tip sheets. Course materials are available with video and audio to make learning easy. Each course comes with a practice test and a final exam. Upon achieving a passing score on the final exam (typically 70%), you can download your completion certificate, clearly indicating the number of earned PDHs.

PMP

Project Management Professionals (PMP) demonstrate mastery of knowledge, skills, and practices in the field of project management. Currently, the fifth edition of the PMBOK® Guide (Project Management Body of Knowledge) covers five process groups and ten knowledge areas. Core knowledge areas include:

Scope,
Time,
Cost, and
Quality.

Supporting knowledge areas include:

Human Resources management,
Communication,
Risk management,
Procurement, and
Stakeholder management.

In addition, the knowledge area of project integration management pulls together project management plans and activities from all of the core and supporting functional areas. Learn more about initial PMI certification at http://www.globalnpsolutions.com/workshops/pmp-certification-training/.

As the certifying body for PMPs, the PMI (Project Management Institute) requires 60 continued professional development hours (PDH) every three (3) years. Of these, at least eight (8) hours must be dedicated to each of the Talent Triangle™ arenas:

Business and Strategic Management,
Technical Project Management, and
Leadership.

At Simple-PDH, courses are clearly identified by the Talent Triangle for easy tracking of your continued education. Course completion certificates also plainly state the number of hours in each subject matter area. (Note that some course will have overlapping content and earned PDHs can count toward multiple categories on the Talent Triangle.)

PEM

Professional Engineering Managers (PEM) demonstrate experience and knowledge covering an Introduction to Engineering Management and ten (10) additional domains. Core domain knowledge includes:

Leadership and Organizational Management,
Strategic Planning,
Financial Resource Management, and
Project Management.

Supporting domains include:

Operations and Supply Chain Management;
Marketing and Sales Management for Engineering Organizations;
Management of Technology, Research, and Development;
Systems Engineering, and
Legal Issues in Engineering Management.

Underpinning all of the subject matter domains is the Professional Codes of Conduct and Ethics domain.

PEMS are required by ASEM (American Society of Engineering Managers) to maintain 45 PDHs over each three (3) year period. Simple-PDH offers course materials online to further your knowledge of engineering management and to help you become a better leader in your organization.

Upon completion of any course on the PEM PDH program, you can download and print your certificate, providing documentation for the PEM tracking form. Most courses are designed for a 1-hour continuing education credit (CEU); however many courses offer two or more PDHs.

Maintaining Your Credentials

It’s not easy to study for and pass a professional certification exam. Maintaining the pride in your accomplishment in your industrial field of study is demonstrated through continuing education. At Simple-PDH, we make it easy and affordable for you to earn your PDHs. Study course materials. Learn the newest best practices in management. Earn your professional development hours (PDH) and continuing education units (CEU). It’s all online, at your own pace. It’s simple.

For more information, please contact us at info@simple-pdh.com or by phone at 281-280-8717.

Study. Learn. Earn. Simple.

A division of Global NP Solutions, LLC

Welcome to Simple-PDH

Posted on 01.07.16

Welcome to Simple-PDH. Our mission is simple – we want to help you maintain your professional credentials with on-line learning.

Study. Learn. Earn. Simple.

Lifelong learning is the keystone for any successful professional. In today’s competitive job market, certifications are what differentiates standout candidates from the rest of the crowd. Professional certifications – like New Product Development Professional (NPDP), Project Management Professional (PMP®), and Professional Engineering Manager (PEM) – demonstrate mastery of skills, practice, and theory. Further separating these valuable credentials are the requirements for continued learning in one’s chosen field. Many of these programs require up to 60 hours of continuing professional development every three (3) years.

That’s where Simple-PDH comes in. It’s difficult to get away from our busy day-to-day jobs to attend expensive conferences. Internal corporate training often focuses on regulatory requirements with no time for technical education and growth. Simple-PDH offers affordable on-line courses so you can earn your required professional development hours (PDH) and continuing education units (CEU) quickly and easily.

Study

Simple-PDH offers learning materials in a variety of formats to make maintaining your professional credentials easy. Courses include an assortment of study methods to best fit your needs: reading, audio downloads, video, and practice exercises. You can download or print study materials for later reference as well.

You can study the course materials as much as you like during the course registration period. Depending on the course content and number of PDHs, courses are available for 30-, 60-, and 90-days. Members may choose to bundle several courses for a discount or subscribe to annual access to all courses. Members will be the first to know about new courses, too!

With Simple-PDH offering a variety of learning packages, you can study, learn and earn continuing education units simply and easily.

Learn

The goal of the professional credentialing bodies (like PDMA, PMI®, and ASEM) is to maintain elite candidates growing the body of knowledge in their respective fields. Continuous learning enhances our professional careers as we continue to accomplish new skills and applications.

Simple-PDH recognizes the special qualifications of professional associations and offers specific course content to validate subject matter expertise. For instance, the Project Management Institute (PMI) has recently released Continuing Certification Requirements (CCR) to meet the elements of the Talent Triangle™. Our courses are designed to meet these expectations for continued education in Strategic and Business Management, Technical Project Management, and Leadership. Simply search on the class categories to find related courses.

Earn

In addition to study materials, every course at Simple-PDH includes a practice exam and a final exam. You can take these exams as many times as you want throughout the duration of the course. Upon completion of the course with a passing score (usually 70%) on the final exam, you can simply download and print your completion certificate verifying your PDH or CEU credits.

Normally, a one-hour course will have a 10-question exam and longer courses may have a 20-question exam. Don’t worry, though. We keep it simple and after reviewing the study materials and practice exams, the final exam should be a cinch!

Simple-PDH

Study. Learn. Earn. Simple. It really is that easy. Our affordable on-line courses make maintaining professional certifications quick and easy. For more information, please contact us at info@simple-pdh.com or by phone at 281-280-8717.

Study. Learn. Earn. Simple.

A division of Global NP Solutions, LLC