Formalizing an education and
training program for the label
industry
‘THE LABEL ACADEMY’
Formalizing an education and training
program for the label industry
How is the label industry evolving?
 Continuing global growth
 New and emerging label markets
 New technologies, materials and solutions
 New decoration and interactive label methods
 Rise of digital technologies
 Importance of environment and sustainability
But how do we educate and train employees for this new and fast
evolving future?
Formalizing an education and training
program for the label industry
Where does the industry stand today?
 Education and training has not evolved as fast as
the industry itself
 There are limited (or no) international education
and training schemes or standards
 Limited availability of standardized training
materials
 Few organized global resources to meet the
growth in label industry personnel, their
knowledge or skills
Formalizing an education and training
program for the label industry
What are the industry challenges?
Most of the education and training resources available today
have been prepared in a random way to meet specific industry
sector, supplier, college or company requirements
Yet all these resources have much the same industry content
requirements in common, for example:
Label substrates
Printing processes
Die-cutting/tooling
Ink/varnishes
Formalizing an education and training
program for the label industry
So what’s required to develop an education and
training system for the label industry?
Assess industry education and training needs and
produce a defined course content for the label industry
Completed
Create syllabus specifications and training logbooks
First six prepared
Prepare education and training content modules
against syllabus specifications. Obtain sponsorship to
produce
First six being
written
Endorsement by key label associations
FINAT endorsed
Develop certification and industry qualifications
In hand
Accredit training organizations and training centres
Some requested
Promote global training scheme and deliver training
Still to plan
Formalizing an education and training
program for the label industry
Where are we today?
1. Development of training material
A training consortium has been formed by Labels & Labelling
Consultancy/Tarsus, 4Impression and CTI to:
Assess the
industry
education
and training
needs
Create
common
syllabus
content and
logbooks
Write
education &
training
content
modules
Ideal requirement would be for this consortium to be endorsed not
only by FINAT, but eventually all of L9. This is in hand.
Formalizing an education and training program
for the label industry
The consortium’s target aims are to:
Produce a recognized ‘global’ course that will
serve to close the industry knowledge and skills gap
Each course module to cover a specific aspect of
the industry and the knowledge needed
Each module to be written by authors who know
the industry and are aware of current
developments
Formalizing an education and training program
for the label industry
The modular approach to be made available to
companies by way of 3 publications/resources?
1.Information about the course and purpose to be
published on the internet (e-learning)
2.Course modules to be downloadable for use
during company HR cycles. May also be purchased
in hard copy format (Printed on-demand)
3.Supporting training handbooks for each module,
which can be sampled, to be ordered (POD) in hard
copy format through Tarsus (or downloaded
electronically)
Formalizing an education and training program
for the label industry
How is it proposed companies use the modules?
They can download the module syllabus content
They can pick the appropriate syllabus elements their
employees need
They can order/download the appropriate module
training logbooks – with binder and the ability to
personalise the first page
They can order the appropriate technical content
handbooks
Formalizing an education and training program
for the label industry
How is it proposed companies supplement the
modules?
Where training is required, local trainers will provide
this service
A consortium of organisations will undertake the
supervision of trainers and work to provide qualified and
certified trainers for the future
Existing training organisations, supplier schools,
colleges, etc, can all apply to become accredited training
centres to use the module scheme
Formalizing an education and training program
for the label industry
1. Where does the consortium stand today?
 An initial 19 modules have been identified
 An outline syllabus has been written for the first six
modules – ‘Label substrates’; ‘Label printing processes’;
‘Design and origination’; ‘Inks, coating and varnishes’;
‘Dies, die-cutting and tooling’; ‘Environment and
sustainability’
 Draft training logbooks have been prepared for the first
two modules – ‘Label substrates’; ‘Dies, die-cutting and
tooling’
 Work is starting on writing the training handbooks. Existing
‘Digital printing’ and ‘Environment’ booklets being
incorporated into the modular programme
Formalizing an education and training
program for the label industry
Can we obtain sponsorship/funding to produce
training materials?
Discussions have been held with some of the leading industry
suppliers about sponsoring the training modules and handbooks.
Avery Dennison, Gallus, Nilpeter, Mark Andy, CTI, Gidue, etc,
have all indicated that they would be prepared to sponsor
production of training modules and handbooks, particularly if
the scheme is endorsed by FINAT and/or other associations –
and leads to recognized qualifications.
Tarsus/Labels & Labeling sales team to co-ordinate
sponsorship funding and financing of module writing and
production
Formalizing an education and training program
for the label industry
What about the industry Associations?
Representative global label associations are being
invited to give their consent/endorsement to moving
towards full course development. FINAT Board has now
formally endorsed the programme
The LMAI have also initially indicated that they would
like to endorse the scheme and use it as the basis for
education and training in the Indian label industry
Will be on the Agenda for the next L9 meeting
Formalizing an education and training program
for the label industry
Will other bodies want to become accredited
training centres?
Labels & Labeling November 2012
Labels & Labeling November 2012
Avery Dennison opens
Knowledge Center in
India
MARK ANDY UNIVERSITY
OFFERS TRAINING
Have requested to become an
accredited training center for the
scheme in India
Have requested to become an
accredited training center for the
scheme in the USA – and also
introduce into their schools program
Both 4Impression and CTI would also wish to become accredited training organisations. Have
also discussed with Schreiner Group, AWA, Product & Image Security, etc
Formalizing an education and training program
for the label industry
How will the scheme be marketed and
promoted?
Once the first modules are ready Tarsus (and Associations) to
market to their global and regional databases
Launch on L&L and PPW websites
Launch at Labelexpo press conference and on booth
 Accredited training organizations and centers to eventually
market to their own client/customer base
Dedicated websites or web pages to promote the scheme and
keep register of accredited training bodies and training
materials
Formalizing an education and training program
for the label industry
What further steps are still required?
Aim to get all the Label Associations to endorse the scheme. To-date:
FINAT and LMAI
Look to incorporate the existing education and training consortium (The
Label Academy) into a co-opted working group to take the scheme forward
Need to assess requirement for translation and different language
versions (first modules will be in English)
Decide e-learning system. Assess potential to download e-books/elearning modules. How will certification be carried out
Working group to determine how accreditation and certification can best
be built into the scheme. In discussion with Qualifications board
Prepare outline costings and budget to implement
Produce timetable and action plan to complete, promote and bring the
scheme to market
When and how to launch (Labelexpo/websites)
Formalizing an education and training
program for the label industry
What are the proposed revenue streams after
implementation?
Sales of hard copy Module Handbooks
Sales of e-learning Module downloads
Payment for examinations
Organizing training courses/masterclasses,
etc
Training center fees
Formalizing an education and training program
for the label industry
Longer term aims:
Adopt a quality assessment system
Assessment of local trainers
Training and certifying of new trainers
Preparation of training kits and training aids
Monitoring quality of courses (random checks)
Development of more advanced e-learning/e-book modules
Possible options for Tarsus
Establish a permanent training center (Academy) at
Hammersmith
Organise and market intensive training programmes/courses
Organising master-classes for middle/senior management