On the prowl for a new technical training system to supplement his fastener distributorship's in-house program, Don Nowak was scouting around an industry trade show recently and found the solution in the National Fastener Distributors Association's "Train the Trainer" program (T3).

After watching a T3 demonstration, the vice president of Charlotte, N.C.-based fastener distributorship Falcon Metal Corp., purchased a single module on straight forming screws – a product area where he felt his firm could use a training boost.

"We need to be constantly updated about what's happening on the product side of the business," says Nowak, adding that the company's workforce includes a mix of very experienced to new employees, which can make training a challenge. "To fulfill our training needs, we needed something new and updated."

Nowak says Falcon Metal plans to purchase more T3 modules, if everything goes well with the first one. "We're very comfortable with it so far," says Nowak, "we just haven't put it in place yet."

NFDA, a 250-member organization based in Cleveland, developed T3 about two years ago. It introduced the first six modules at its annual meeting in 2001 and rolled out another seven the following year. Topics range from all-metal locknuts, hex head cap screws and inorganic chromium-free coatings, to nylon push-on nut fasteners, retaining rings and self-pierce riveting.

According to Dave Merrifield, NFDA's executive vice president, the T3 program is meant to assist those in a position of training to gain the tools and perspective necessary to better educate other employees. Distributors can opt to send that person to the training program in Cleveland, or order the materials and handle it on their own.

The company receives an instructor's module on CD-ROM, which includes training tools and tips. Each CD-ROM session includes a PowerPoint presentation of notes, video and key points to communicate to employees, as well as entrance and exit exams, glossary of terms, student survey, trainer's report and trainer's notes. NFDA members pay $79 to $99 each for the modules (depending on purchase quantity) and non-members pay $109 to $129.

Within the fastener distribution industry, Merrifield says, the need for low-cost, cutting-edge technical training is high, particularly for salespeople. "We researched the best way to bring effective technical, affordable training to them," says Merrifield, "rather than have them travel to meetings, conferences and workshops."

Developed by NFDA and its associate members, T3's technical training modules provide the most value out in the field, where distributor salespeople interact daily with customers. "The distributors that train on these topics have the advantage when it comes to selling," says Merrifield, adding that feedback from T3 users has been "very good" and that NFDA plans to roll out another six training modules at its fall meeting in 2003.

Art Salani, president at Global Fastener and Supply in New Berlin, Wis., calls the T3 program a "good training facility" for his firm. "We like anything that helps us out on the training front," says Salani, whose firm does its own internal training and uses the T3 program to supplement those efforts. "It fills in technical areas for our newer employees, and helps them visualize things a little better."

Based on the feedback he's received from his firm's quality assurance employees and inside salespeople, Salani says the company is impressed with NFDA's T3 program and plans to continue using it. "We always welcome programs like this or anything else that they might have on their drawing board," says Salani. "We regularly replace retiring employees with new faces, so anything that helps us get them up to speed is very helpful."