Education
Public
Workshops
BFK Solutions regularly conducts educational seminars and workshops. We conduct
seminars for conferences, agencies, and educational institutions. The workshops
typically include hand-outs designed for the course in question. The “Handbook
for Critical Cleaning” is sometimes included in the course materials.
Examples, Public Educational Workshops
“Practical Alternative Processes,” Half Day Tutorial with C. LeBlanc and E. Kanegsberg, 14th Annual International Workshop on Alternatives to Toxic Materials in Industrial Processes (Formerly International Workshop on Solvent Substitution), Scottsdale, AZ, December 8 – 11, 2003.
“A Crash Course On Selecting Solvent Alternatives,” with C. LeBlanc, half day tutorial, Thirteenth Annual International Workshop on Solvent Substitution and The Elimination of Toxic Substances and Emissions, Scottsdale, AZ , December 9, 2002.
“Managing Solvent Use, Cleaning and Surface Preparation,” presentation, Continuing Education Conference, Toxics Use Reduction Institute, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Marlboro, MA, November 21, 2002.
“Precision Cleaning in Southern California,” California State University Dominguez Hills, Carson, CA, September 21, 2002.
“Practical Options for Parts Cleaning, Workshop on Compliance and Solvent Cleaning Alternatives,” a one-day workshop and technology exhibit sponsored by the U.S. EPA Region IX and Bay Area Air Quality Management District, Oakland, CA, October 20, 1998.
"High Technology Cleaning Workshop for Southern California Manufacturers (Solvent-free and Solvent-based Processes)," one day workshop sponsored by South Coast Air Quality Management District, Irwindale, CA, September 16, 1997.
In-house Seminars and Workshops
In addition to the public programs, we also provide customized workshops
for individual companies. Such programs are particularly valuable where
there are a number of employees who need a program relating to precision
cleaning, surface preparation, general cleaning, or regulatory issues.
In such cases, it can be more efficient and cost-effective to bring BFK
Solutions to the facility rather than incurring the lost time and travel-related
expenses associated with transporting large groups of employees to a conference.
In-house workshops are also useful where competition-sensitive issues are
involved or where problems have to be hashed out. Another advantage is
that with in-house seminars, we can tailor the content to your specific
needs, including topics that you specifically request.
Examples, In-house Workshops
Aerospace/Defense
A manufacturer of critical components had specific cleaning questions. BFK Solutions conducted a workshop, using “Handbook for Critical Cleaning” as well as material specifically requested for the project.
Optics
A manufacturer of precision optics was in scale-up mode. Processes that were suitable for the prototype were not necessarily appropriate for the product. A customized in-house workshop provided the starting point for engineers and chemists to discuss processes development issues.
Product Development
(please see product development projects)
Audits
Often, audits are a necessary part of process monitoring and education.
When working directly with the parts manufacturer, BFK Solutions prefers
the term ‘site
visit’. Paperwork and certifications are necessary, but the only way
to tell what is happening at a facility is through site visits. In evaluating
processes, including general cleaning, precision cleaning, contamination
control, and regulatory compliance, we have found that the only way to assure
success is to visit in person and to work directly with those involved.
Military Facility Audit and Recommendations
• conducted audit, large military facility
• worked directly with technical personnel
• developed effective plan to replace solvents with regulatory restrictions
A military facility needed to replace certain widely-used process chemicals
and therefore placed highly stringent restrictions on their use. These
restrictions were ineffective, because some of the applications are exceedingly
high-tech,
technical and professional personnel had developed innovative and effective
methods to obtain and store the forbidden chemicals.
When the audit was conducted, rather than attempt to locate and enumerate
all of the hidden forbidden containers, technical personnel were
approached directly and their process and R&D requirements were determined. The
resulting report indicated current usage and likely alternative chemicals
and processes, forming the basis for an effective solvent substitution program.
