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PDMA NEWS & ANNOUNCEMENTSNPDP Certification Program of PDMA expands steadily—Users praise program for multiple benefitsby Ken Westray PE, NPDP, PDMA Certification Committee Member and President, Cloud Nine Product Solutions, Inc.(kwestray@cloudninesolutions.com)Recognition and use of PDMA’s certificationprogram is growing, as moreand more corporations use it to traintheir new product developmentmanagers. Recent conversations with usersrevealed why they support PDMA’s New ProductDevelopment Professional (NPDP) certificationprogram for their people.The benefits of NPDP varied by organizationbut all agreed that the value was therefor them. The acid test of the value of NPDPcertification was when the executives wereasked if they would have still support certificationin these recent difficult times, theanswer was a resounding “Absolutely yes!”Comments ranged from the certification program“Is a key to advancement … andgreater acceptance … ” to the fact that it“Helps us differentiate ourselves” … and “Itis one of the best things we have ever done.”What Do Users Thinkof NPDP Certification?Executives say NPDP certification has—• “Helped our NPD process gain greateracceptance.”• “Been a key to advancement.”• “Helped us differentiate ourselves.”• “Been one of the best things we haveever done.”Like any other investment in life if youwant to get a return, you need to take actionnow. Over 50 individuals with their companies’leadership and support have made theinvestment and already receiving a professionalreturn on their efforts.Questions about NPDP certification?When is the next exam and review workshop?What are do I need to do? Please go to the tothe newly redesigned NPDP home page atthe PDMA website (http://www.pdma.org/certification/). Here are comments from topexecutives at four corporations that are usingPDMA’s certification program.Cingular Wireless, Atlanta GAAlmost two years ago in the summer of2001 Cingular Wireless of Atlanta, GAstarted a program to get many of their individualsactive in new product developmentcertified as New Product Development Professionals(NPDP). The objectives of this initiativewere to develop a common NP foundationallanguage, improve the internal professionalimage internally of the departmentin this newly formed company and establishrealistic professional expectations for individuals.By the end of the year 14 individualshad been NPDP certified. Today, after almosttwo years, Jeff Schlueter, NPDP, ExecutiveDirector, Product Management, whois the executive responsible for approvingthe training, has this to say:“After a dynamic two years in the telecommunicationindustry the majority of theAbbott Labs—Abbott’s most recently certified NPDPs are (back row to front row):Timothy Manthei; Mark Ward; Carla Koch, Pharm.D.; Michael Cozine; Timothy Pasternak;Armin Gerhardt, Ph.D., R.Ph., Angie LeCaptain; Jerry Groen; Kathleen Georgen;Lee Reif, Ph.D.; Michael Cain, Ph.D., R.Ph and Joe Bebout.Ken Westray PE, NPDPCloud Nine Product Solutions, Inc.individuals certified are still active in NewProduct Development with Cingular Wireless.”Schlueter says the certification programhas been good for “expanding theknowledge (NPD) for use in other parts ofthe company.” Schleuter also stated “our NPdevelopment process has been strengthenedand gained greater acceptance within the organizationbecause of certification.”When asked if he would have done thesame thing regarding NPDP certification todaybased on what has transpired during thelast two years Schleuter said, “Absolutely!”Integrated Development Enterprise, Inc.(IDe ® ), Concord, MAHas NPDP certification helped IntegratedDevelopment Enterprise, Inc. (IDe ® )? “Yesit has,” says Curtis Spear, NPDP, Vice President,Services. Over a year ago IDe embarkedon a program to assist anyone withinthe organization who wanted to achieveNPDP certification. Twenty individuals respondedto this opportunity. Individuals fromalmost every department—sales, marketing,customer service, program management andcustomer support—participated in theNPDP certification program. Preparing totake the exam helped individuals achieved agreater breath and depth of NPD knowledgethan what was immediately required for theirspecific jobs.Spear said, “ … certification was one ofthe best things we have done in developingour people.” Asked to identify the businessbenefits, he said, “ … during the criticalimplementation phase of our IDweb ® NPDsoftware system, the credibility of IDe personnelhaving the NPDP certification hashelped us quickly build a positive team environmentwith the client.”28 PDMA VISIONS JULY 2003 VOL. XXVII NO. 317
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