March 17, 2015. Uralvagonzavod Corporation is launching a new professional development program for its technicians, who will be able to upgrade their skills at the subsidiary of National Research Nuclear University MEPhI in Lesnoy, Sverdlovsk Region. The head plant’s employees will be given courses in computer programming, the corporation’s press service reports.

‘Today’s engineer/technician must be able to do computer programming in order to be on a par with operators and programmers. Our course is meant to minimize the risks as well as to solve the problem of operator and programmer shortage,’ says Uralvagonzavod’s Chief Technician Alexei Vasilyev.

All of the plant’s technicians are expected to undergo training. Two eight-people groups (employees from the technological institute and the Chief Electronics Engineer’s Department) will train in computer programming and operation of HEIDENHAIN CNC PILOT 620-controlled mills. This course is important because it is exactly this equipment that the company is introducing at the moment. The groups will start their courses in March and in April.

The program is two weeks (72 hours of classes) long, and classes have to be attended in person. In addition to lectures, students will have to practice on modern, foreign-produced machines. Based on their final test results, professional development certificates will be issued.

Career growth opportunities open up for a technician who completes the course; for one, their promotion to engineer will depend on having done this training.