22nd Annual Procedure Symposium

was held on June 15th through 17th, 2010

With PPA Writer Certification Classes on 6/14 and 6/18

Members can log in to obtain copies of the presentations offered during the 2010 and prior symposiums. If you are not a member and would like to have access to this information, contact Carolee Schmidt - 620-364-8831 or email at cschmidt@ppaweb.org to discuss PPA Membership.

PPA Writer Certification Program

PPA, in conjunction with a number of member companies, has developed an industry backed Writer Certification Program and makes this program available to individuals and organizations looking to improve their technical writing skills. The instructors and companies who have become certified through PPA to provide this training are posted here so you'll know where to turn for professional assistance in this area.

     Jack Hardy, Global Procedure Services, LLC

     Dwight Hargett, Duke Energy Corp.

     Dave Linders, Absolute Consulting, LLC

     Steve McCord and Darlene Bennett, Procedure Solutions Management, LLC

     Bill Russell, Joe King, Mike Foster, and Ed Hudson at South Texas Nuclear Operating Co.

PPA Writer Certification Program Materials are NOT to be reproduced without the explicit and expressed written consent of Procedure Professionals Association (PPA).

For Info on PPA Writer Certification email Dwight Hargett at dlhargett@ppaweb.org

PPA Writer Certification
Program Description

Several years ago PPA initiated an industry effort to develop a Training Program for procedure writers.  The goals of the initiative are to:
 

• Develop a lesson that applies to technical procedure writing at any facility.
• Aligns with the industry standard guidance for technical writing (NEI Documents AP 907-001 and AP 907-005).
• Addresses the human factors benefits that can be derived from best practice methods in how we write.
• Develop this lesson using the INPO SAT development process.

 
This initiative was kicked off because we all saw that very little material existed for training new writers.
 
The lesson plan consists of 3 separate modules.  In short they are; Human Factors for Procedure Writers, Procedure Development, and Procedure Review, Writer’s Manual Format and Writing Methods.  The full course can be taught in 3 days with additional time required for the Dynamic Learning Activity and Exam.  It is expected that a utility will supplement the course with the site specific details necessary to complete a writer’s training for a location.
 
Certification will be tracked by PPA and is granted upon completion of the course by a PPA Certified Instructor.
 
For the student, this course provides:

• A quality course of instruction developed by a team of industry writers and procedure group supervisors.
• A baseline of understanding on specific writing methods used by our industry and their value to the procedure user.
• A certification that the student has this knowledge that he/she can present to potential employers.

 
For the utility, this course provides:

• A quality course of instruction developed by a team of industry writers and procedure group supervisors.
• An assurance that each writer has a baseline level of understanding in key aspects of writing and process methods.
• An assurance that any vendors brought in for project support have a similar baseline of knowledge.

 
For vendors, this course also provides:

• A quantifiable skill level that can be demonstrated when presenting potential contract employees to a utility