IMF Professional Qualifications, Education and Training

Professional Grades of Membership

Professional Grades of Membership - Fellow, Member and Licentiate of the Institute of Metal Finishing with the respective insignia of FIMF, MIMF AND LIMF have been awarded since 1955, following recognition by the then Science Research Council. The Institute’s Council has also approved the introduction of two further professional qualifications – Associate of the Institute of Metal Finishing (AssocIMF) and Technician of the Institute of Metal Finishing (TechIMF). To be eligible for the TechIMF grade, candidates must hold a Technician Certificate and have appropriate work experience.

Holders of the TechIMF qualification are eligible to apply for the Engineering Technician (EngTech) award of the Engineering Council. To-date, all IMF applicants have been successful in being awarded EngTech and now hold a further professional qualification that is recognised, both in the UK and Internationally, outside of the surface finishing industry.

The Associate grade is an interim one for a limited period whilst a person is on route to obtaining the Technician or higher grades. Candidates for this award must have passed the Foundation examination or have completed an equivalent basic science course and have had training in surface finishing, and have a minimum of two years experience.

Copies of the Regulations for entry to all Professional Grades of Membership can be obtained from Exeter House or accessed from the IMF website. Some changes have been made recently to give more emphasis to relevant experience rather than to age. Are you at present holding the appropriate level of professional Grade? Check the regulations, it may give your career a boost if you can upgrade to a higher level.

Do you hold a Foundation Certificate or a Technician Certificate? If so why not enquire about applying for an AssocIMF or TechIMF? Over 600 of these Certificates have been awarded during the last ten years. If you know anyone who is not already a member of the Institute why not tell them about the new Professional Grades of Membership and encourage them to join the IMF?

Education and Training

Education and training are two of the most important activities of the Institute. Academic programmes have been developed to meet a wide range of requirements from Foundation up to Licentiate level. The content varies from basic general information to specific programmes on organic coatings. Bespoke academic training programmes have been developed to meet the needs of companies such as Land Rover, BMW and Seagate (in Ireland) and others, and have been recognised by these companies as having led to significant improvements in the quality of their products. Further, the Automotive Surface Finishing course, as taught at Land Rover and BMW, was the first course to be recognised by the Automotive Academy and given Industry Recognised Status. All other courses and modules have now been approved by the Automotive Academy. Bespoke courses are available in other surface finishing areas and an example of such courses are given under the later CORPORATE EDUCATION section.

A significant investment of time and money has been made to up-date most Distance Learning modules, the Foundation Course has been extended and made more flexible and there is now a Distance Learning version so that people who are unable to attend a tutored course still have the opportunity to study. A new course on environmental issues has been developed, and it is also available as a Distance Learning module. The Technician Certificate can be studied by Distance Learning or a Tutored Route. Student notes are supplied where applicable to aid candidates’ study for courses and modules. The Tutored Programmes can also be offered in different modes to suit company requirements, if studied ‘in house’. The IMF’s aim is to provide an educational service to individuals and companies. Please contact Exeter House to discuss your requirements and obtain a copy of the examination regulations document.

Opportunities to progress through the IMF educational route are illustrated in the ‘Route to LIMF Professional Qualification’ ladder leading to the Licentiateship of the Institute shown at the conclusion of this article.

A recent change has been to give membership of the Institute to those enrolling on any education and training course or module for a period of up to two years, which will enable students access to IMF mail shots, including the ‘IMFormation’ two-monthly newsletter, the alternating two-monthly ‘Transactions of the IMF’ and attendance at any fee charged events at member rate.

Qualifications

Foundation Certificate – Awarded following the passing of the Foundation Certificate examination. Subject to the necessary experience enables candidates to apply for the first stage professional qualification of Associate of the Institute of Metal Finishing and use of the insignia AssocIMF.

Technician Certificate – can be achieved by studying on a tutored Technician Certificate course or various Distance Learning modules as shown below:

Choose one module from:

Plating Practice;
Automotive Surface Finishing;
Paint & Powder

Plus one module from:

General Principles;
Environment (course or module)

The award of a Technician Certificate, coupled with three years direct involvement in surface finishing technologies, enables candidates to apply for the second stage professional qualification of Technician of the Institute of Metal Finishing and use of the insignia TechIMF.
Holders of the TechIMF may apply to the UK Engineering Council for the award of Engineering Technician EngTech.

Advanced Technician Certificate - Technician Certificate + modules shown below:

Materials Science
Surface Coating
Process Management

Plus one module from:

Electrochemistry
General Principles
Environment (course or module)

provided that the selected module has not been studied as part of the Technician Certificate route.

Advanced Technician Diploma - Advanced Technician Certificate + Project A of Licentiate Research Project

Licentiate Research Project for LIMF can be applied for following the award of an Advanced Technician Diploma plus Licentiate Research Projects A and B or by a recognised alternative route plus the Licentiate Project). Please consult the Regulations for other routes to LIMF.

Distance Learning Programmes

IMF Distance Learning Programmes offer candidates the opportunity to study for the Foundation Certificate, Technician Certificate, Advanced Technician Certificate, Advanced Technician Diploma and Licentiate. Professional grades of membership (AssocIMF, TechIMF and LIMF) are awarded to candidates with relevant academic qualifications and appropriate experience.

Information is provided in the optional form of either professionally recorded audiocassettes, CDs or in some cases a written text, all with extensive back up notes, to enable students to study privately. UK students are invited to attend an induction/enrolment session at the IMF to receive advice about the best study methods. They are also linked to an “industrial counsellor” ideally from within their own company. If there is no suitable counsellor within the company then someone appropriately qualified, local to the student’s home or company, is appointed. Estimated study time to work through a module, excluding continuous assessment work, is 60 hours per module but only 24 hours for the Foundation module.

Distance Learning modules may be studied outside the UK by arrangement, providing suitable counsellors and examination facilities can be approved by the IMF.

If you would like further information on taking any of our Distance Learning Courses, please contact David Meacham at Exeter House on 0121 622 7387.

Assessment
Throughout the modules there may be components (but not in all modules) referred to as SAQs, CMAs, PAXs, SPAXs, and TMAs - these are defined below:

SAQs - Self-Assessment Questions - at the end of each lesson there are some questions, which the student should answer to ascertain that the lesson has been understood, then refer to the appendix for the answer.

CMAs - Computer Marked Assessments - multi-choice question papers - each of a series of questions with five answers to each, full marks for a correct answer and less for a near miss.
Sample parts included in some modules e.g. commenting on appearance, contrasting finishes etc.

PAXs – These are Practical Assignment Exercises which the student is invited to carry out. Those in General Principles and Plating Practice have been superseded by SPAXs, but nevertheless can be advantageous to a student if they have the facilities to carry them out, although they do not carry forward any marks to the final assessment.

SPAXs - Simulated Practical Assignment Exercises - information is supplied as if the student had actually carried out the exercise. The student is required to write up the exercise. These are only included in the General Principles and Plating Practice modules as not all students have access to laboratory facilities.

TMAs - Tutor Marked Assignments - essentially fairly simple projects which may be associated with sample parts included in some modules or the material studied up to that point in time.

The above components, where applicable, contribute a percentage to the overall pass mark. In this way students are rewarded for their work during the study period.

The “Formal Examination (or End Test) is of 2 hours duration and consists of:
Section A - Five short questions, no choices
Section B - Essay type questions, with choice of 5 out of 8

For the Environment module the End Test consists of 25 multiple choice question, 2 essay type questions and a project. The project is associated with the student’s company and by agreement of the company, students and the Institute. The written up project is a minimum of 3000 words.

For the Foundation module the examination is of one hour duration and consists of 36 multi-choice questions.

For Final Pass Mark, the End Test contributes up to 70% with up to 30% being contributed from the Continual Assessment (i.e. CMAs, PAXs (or SPAXs) and TMAs where applicable).

The pass mark is 40%, pass with merit 60% and pass with distinction 75%.

Modules Available

Foundation Module
This is a broad introduction to surface finishing processes requires no prior academic qualification or knowledge of chemistry, and leads to the award, on passing the end test, the Foundation Certificate. Units in this module are:

Surface Finishing
Principles and use of Electroplating
Plant and Equipment
Cleaning and Pretreatment
Nickel Plating
Chromium Plating
Copper, Silver and Gold Plating
Alloy Plating
Cleaning for Paint Application
Chemical Conversion Processes
Conventional Paint Processes
‘Phoretic’ Paints

Zinc and Cadmium Plating
Anodising of Aluminium and its Alloys
Further Principles of Surface Finishing
The Environment and Surface Finishing
Health and Safety
Care and Maintenance of Solutions Electroless Chemical Processes
Conventional Printed Circuit Processes
Paint Application Method
Coating Powders and their Application
Testing of Organic Coatings & Materials
Vacuum Metallisation

Some units are mandatory e.g. Surface Finishing, Health & Safety, Environment etc, and the required 13 study units made up as appropriate to the student or company needs.

General Principles
This module provides a broad based introduction to finishing processes and does not require any prior academic qualifications, although a basic knowledge of chemistry is useful. The sections in this module are:

Why Surface Finishing?
Surface Reactions in Aqueous Solutions
Properties of Electrolytes
Properties of Electrodeposited Metals

Anodising of Aluminium
Process Control in Surface Finishing
Surface Finishing of Printed Circuits
Organic Finishing of Metals

This module is available on CDs and as a ‘written script version.

The Application of Paints, Lacquers and Varnishes (vol 1) and Powder Coating (vol 2)
This module is divided into 2 volumes. Volume 1 provides information about "wet" industrial organic finishing processes both solvent and water based whilst volume 2 is powder coating and its application.

Volume 1 - Specific sections cover:

Introduction to the Materials
Pre-treatment of Substrates
Methods of Application
Drying and Curing

Testing Applied Coatings
Problem Solving
Health, Safety and the Environment

Volume 2 – specific sections cover:

Introduction to Powder Coating
Pre-treatment of Substrates
Application of Powder
Methods of Melting and Curing

Testing of Applied Coatings
Solving Powder Coating Problems
Health, Safety and the Environment

Electrochemistry
This is essentially a theoretical module but necessary for students who wish to progress in the science of Surface Finishing. Sections contained in the module cover:

Electrochemical Cells & Electrode Reactions
Electrochemical Cell Reactions
Electrolytes and their properties

Equilibrium Electrochemistry
The Electrode/Electrolytic Zone
Kinetics of Electrode Processes

Material Science
This module covers aspects of the manufacture, properties and examination of materials used by surface finishers:

Properties of Material
Mechanical Properties and their Evaluation
Architecture of Solids
Phase Composition

Manufacture of Materials
Corrosion and Protection
Examination of Materials

Surface Coating
This module deals in greater depth with the coating materials and processes introduced first in modules 1 & 2. Approximately 25% is devoted to organic finishing. Sections covered include:

Overview of Surface Coating
Pre-treatment of Surfaces
Electrochemical Processes

Non-electrochemical Coating Processes
Organic Coatings

Environment Module
A new addition to the Institute’s range of modules by the distance learning route. Assessment and certification is by a written examination (25 multi-choice questions plus 2 essay questions) and a project. This module can be choosen as an alternative module for the Technician Certificate and Advanced Techniciain Certificate study.
The syllabus covers:

Environmental Awareness The External Environment

The Workplace Environment
Legal Aspects

Process Management
This module covers operational procedures, standards, health & safety and comparison of coating processes. It is different from other modules in that it is based entirely on continuously assessed assignments.

Licentiate Research Project - Projects A and B
Project "A" is a literature search towards Project "B", and should be written up in approximately 5000 words. This sets the groundwork for the actual project (B). On satisfactory completion of this project a student is awarded an "Advanced Technician's Diploma”.
Project "B" involves the carrying out or supervising of the actual project work. On completion, a thesis of about 10,000 words is submitted.

Projects are usually concerned with a topic associated with the student's employer and undertaken with the employer's agreement. The IMF will respect confidentiality of the project with the employer.
Completion of both Projects A and B leads to the award of the Licentiate professional qualification (LIMF).

Tutored Programmes

Tutored courses are run both in this country and outside the UK at Foundation and Technician Certificate levels. The detailed syllabi, continuously assessed assignments and examinations are provided from the UK for overseas programmes. The IMF Examinations and Qualifications Board approve tutors, invigilators and the ‘secure’ conditions under which examinations must be taken.

Foundation Course

The Foundation Course is a tutored programme, requiring 24 hours attendance. It is can be studied over 12 weeks, one evening per week, 2 hours per session, when run by an IMF Branch. However, it has also been run in-house in companies, over periods such as 1 day or ½ day per week for the necessary number of weeks to suit company working patterns.

The course is designed to provide personnel in surface finishing and related technologies with the opportunity to increase their scientific and practical knowledge. It is also of value to line managers and sales personnel to improve their knowledge of the processes operated within their companies.

The syllabus was extended in 2002 to cover additional areas of surface finishing technologies. Students are required to study thirteen units, some of which are mandatory. Further units are then selected from the available units by the tutor in conjunction with the students, or if an in-house company course in discussion with the company’s training manager.

The range of subject units available are identical to those documented under Distance Learning Foundation Certificate shown on page 4.

Students are supplied with a manual containing “Course Notes” for the selected units to minimise (not eliminate) note taking during classes; thus students can concentrate primarily on the tutor’s presentation.

During the period of the course there are two CMAs and two TMAs which contribute up to 30% towards the final marks.

At the conclusion of the course there is a one-hour multiple-choice examination. A mark is given for a correct answer, there is no penalty for a wrong choice. Successful candidates are awarded the “Foundation Course Certificate”, pass mark 40%, merit 60% & distinction 75%.

Technician Certificate

The Technician Certificate Programme requires 72 hours of teaching/tutoring and approximately a further 40 hours private study. When taught by an IMF Branch the course is normally based on 32 weeks, one evening per week of 2¼ hours duration. However, by agreement the course can be taught over alternative tutoring periods and further can be taught ‘in-house’ at a company by approved Institute recognised training consultants.

Students should preferably have a basic knowledge of chemistry or have completed the Foundation Certificate Course or Module. The syllabus covers the broad subject matters already listed under the General Principles and Plating Practice Distance Learning Modules.

Four assignments (homework) have to be completed at specified times during the course and a ‘phase test’ is set approximately half way through the course. The objective of the ‘phase test’ is to give experience in writing answers to questions. The marks from the assignments and the phase test contribute towards the final pass mark.

The final examination is of three hours duration; 6 questions out of 12 must be answered, including one compulsory calculation question. Pass mark 40%, pass with merit 60% and pass with distinction 75%.

Environment Course

This is a more recent addition to the Institute’s range of courses by the tutored route. Assessment and certification is by written examination and a project as per Environment Module.
The syllabus covers:

Environmental Awareness The External Environment

The Workplace Environment
Legal Aspects

Corporate Education

Bespoke courses for companies involved in surface finishing can be arranged using existing course or module materials in conjunction with new topics specific to the requirements of the company. A tutor with the appropriate experience would deliver the course either at the company premises or at a mutually agreed venue. Student notes would be supplied and an examination (if required) would be arranged. Students who achieve the pass level would receive an appropriate certificate or alternatively a certificate of attendance.

Below is shown two examples of bespoke course contents arranged following discussion between the company and the IMF.

Automotive Surface Finishing Course (for Automotive Surface Finishing Technician Certificate)

An Overview of Surface Finishing
Pre-treatment of Substrates
Coatings Application
Process Control in Surface Finishing

Problem Solving
Health and Safety
Environment Considerations

The course is a hybrid between a Distance Learning module and a taught course. Students received in-house tuition from an IMF tutor, but must also undertake significant private study.

The above course is equivalent to a Distance Learning module and with the addition of the General Principles or Environment (module or course), enables students who pass the appropriate end test(s) would receive the Technician Certificate and would then be able to apply for TechIMF and further the EngTech qualification of the UK Engineering Council.

Environment and Health & Safety Course

The course recently taught at a major aerospace component company, consisted of most aspects of the Environment course with the specific units from the Foundation course covering Cleaning & Degreasing, Nickel, Chromium & Cadmium Plating, Anodising and Health & Safety.

Syllabi

The full Syllabus and Objectives for all of the Distance Learning Modules and Tutored Courses can be obtained from Exeter House or from the IMF website and then clicking onto the required course or module.

Tutorials

A series of Tutorial articles on Surface Finishing topics are available from the Institute. These are aimed at technical personnel who wish to update their knowledge, both for professional and examination purposes. Each volume consists of 10 –12 articles.

  Volume 1 Fundamentals of Electrochemistry
  Volume 2 Process Technology, Kinetics & Control
  Volume 3 Applications, Testing & Measurement

Please contact the Institute for further information

Route to Licentiate of the Institute of Metal Finishing
Professional Qualification

Associate IMF, TechIMF and LIMF are insignia which may be appended to the holder’s name
*with appropriate experience ** provided not studied for the Technician Certificate C/M – course or module

The Institute of Metal Finishing

The route to Education & Training courses shown above has two learning systems – ‘Distance Learning’ and ‘Tutored’. In Distance Learning students study the relevant module(s) by themselves and if they meet a problem that needs further elaboration then they contact their counsellor.

By contrast the tutored route is how we were taught at school, in a classroom. Which technique is right only the student can decide, assuming there is tutored course available in your area.

All Distance learning modules are based on study of about 2 hours per week, which generally should not be too difficult to fit in.

Suitable personnel job titles/experience

Foundation

This module is designed to give personnel in electroplating and related technologies the opportunity to improve and increase their knowledge and increase their basic knowledge of these technologies and is particularly relevant to all new employees who have no background in the Surface Finishing industry. No knowledge of chemistry is required. This module has been studied by the tutored route since 1988 and is now available in the distance learning format. Students have benefited by studying this module first before attempting higher level modules. It is proposed to increase the number of units in this module so that some are mandatory and make up the required 12 units with optional units e.g. Paint Coatings, Powder Coating, Galvanising, Conversion Coatings etc.

Typical employee job titles (but not an exclusive list) are:

Shop floor process operators
Laboratory assistants
Non-technical management
Quality control personnel
Sales and marketing personnel
Line foremen
Heath & Safety officer
Environment control officer
Specialised operators

Technician

These modules are designed for those personnel who have studied the Foundation module and wish to progress further, or have previous experience in Surface Finishing or aspire to obtain higher professional qualification and insignia of the IMF. The syllabi for the various modules would appear to very similar to those of the Foundation course, but for the Technician courses the learning is in more depth.

Typical employee job titles (but not exclusive) are:

Process chemist
Shift supervisor
Process superintendent
Works manager
Technical manager
Personnel with chemistry background