Distribution Data Collection & Analysis (DCA)

ISTA offers four Distribution Environment Data Collection & Analysis courses, each providing an in-depth look at collecting and analyzing shock and vibration data related to product transport. You can choose to complete all four courses sequentially or select any individual course based on your interests.

Courses

DCA 101 | Introduction to Distribution Environment Data Collection & Analysis 

DCA 201 | Distribution Environment Data Collection 

DCA 301 | Distribution Environment Data Analysis - Vehicle Vibration 

DCA 302 | Distribution Environment Data Analysis - Shock Impact & Drop



Course Instructor: Ricky Speck has a Ph.D. from the School of Packaging at Michigan State University and has over 25 years of experience in data collection and analysis related to packaging dynamics. Ricky has taught university undergraduate and graduate level courses in advanced packaging dynamics, packaging processes and machinery, and packaging materials. His past research combines sustainability with packaging dynamics, looking at how changes to reduce the environmental impact of packaging affect the integrity and load stability of packages in transit.

Online Self-Study

Learn at your pace, any place.

Meet your training needs on your own schedule with ISTA's improved and revamped learning platform!  The course module includes a pre-recorded video presentation and supporting text that provides a dynamic self-paced learning experience.  Study on your own with the convenience of access anywhere, any time.

  • Member discounted rates:

If you are your company's delegate, you must use your personal login to access courses.

  • DCA 101 | Introduction to Distribution Environment Data Collection & Analysis $50
  • DCA 201 | Distribution Environment Data Collection $150
  • DCA 301 | Distribution Environment Data Analysis: Vehicle Vibration $250
  • DCA 302 | Distribution Environment Data Analysis: Shock Impact & Drop $250
  • Member Access
  • Non-member rates:
  • DCA 101 | Introduction to Distribution Environment Data Collection & Analysis $100         
  • DCA 201 | Distribution Environment Data Collection $200        
  • DCA 301 | Distribution Environment Data Analysis: Vehicle Vibration $300         
  • DCA 302 | Distribution Environment Data Analysis: Shock Impact & Drop $300
  • Non-Member Access

Non-Member Access

ISTA Educational courses are now available for non-members. Click below to learn more about signing up for a non-member access account.

Non-Member Access

Course Descriptions

DCA 101 | Introduction to Distribution Environment Data Collection & Analysis

This course serves as a brief introduction to shock and vibration hazards encountered by products in shipment. It is intended to provide people with limited experience in packaging dynamics a basic background on which the three remaining presentations will build.

DCA 101 is the first of 4 courses in the ISTA Distribution Environment Data Collection & Analysis education series.

Instructor:  Ricky Speck, PhD - Assistant Professor (Retired), Michigan State University - School of Packaging
Instructional time:  18 minutes

Course Topics:  Distribution Environment Hazards; Distribution Environment Shock; Sources of Distribution Environment Shock; Vertical Shock Testing in Laboratory; Drop Testers; Horizontal Shock Testing in Laboratory; Incline Impact Testers; Distribution Environment Vibration; Vehicle Vibration Waveform; Random Vibration; Vibration Waveform RMS; Distribution Environment Damage; Vibration Testing in Laboratory; Distribution Environment Vibration Test Spectrums; Distribution Environment Data Analysis Guidelines

This course qualifies for 10 points towards ISTA PDP recertification.

DCA 201 | Distribution Environment Data Collection

Transportation shock and vibration data collection is often time consuming and expensive to do, making it imperative to ensure useful data is actually collected. Insufficient planning and/or poor execution can result in data that does not adequately address the problems being investigated.  This course covers the steps that help to focus efforts and improve the likelihood of a successful data collection project.  The course covers collecting data to characterize shock and vibration hazards encountered in the field. Items to be discussed include good documentation practices, proper mounting of data recorders, and configuring data recorders for use. Later courses will cover analyzing data to create test procedures.

DCA 201 is the second of 4 courses in the ISTA Distribution Environment Data Collection & Analysis education series.

Instructor:  Ricky Speck, PhD - Assistant Professor (Retired), Michigan State University - School of Packaging
Instructional time:  38 minutes

Course Topics:  Data Collection Project Goals; Data Collection Study Types; Data Collection Types; Data Collection Variables; Recommended Data Collection Quantity; Data Collection Documentation; Data Collection Instrument Mounting; Data Collection Mounting Fixtures; Package Handling Decoys; Data Recorder Configuration Parameters; Instrument Recording Settings; Instrument Recording Settings for Drop; Instrument Recording Settings for Vibration

This course qualifies for 15 points towards ISTA PDP recertification.

DCA 301 | Distribution Environment Data Analysis - Vehicle Vibration

This course focuses on recommended methods for analyzing vibration data collected in the field, with emphasis on creating a test procedure that can be ran on a vibration table in a packaging dynamics lab.

DCA 301 is the third of 4 courses in the ISTA Distribution Environment Data Collection & Analysis education series.

Instructor:  Ricky Speck, PhD - Assistant Professor (Retired), Michigan State University - School of Packaging
Instructional time:  56 minutes

Course Topics:  Creating a Power Spectral Analysis (PSD); Smoothing PSD Plots; Calculating GRMS; PSD Displacement; Compiling PSD Plots; Logarithmic Interpolation; Time-Compressed Vibration Testing: Accelerated Testing Time Compression Factor; Constructed Probability

This course qualifies for 20 points towards ISTA PDP recertification.

DCA 302 | Distribution Environment Data Analysis - Shock Impact & Drop


This course focuses on recommended methods for analyzing shock impact and drop data collected in the field with emphasis on creating a test procedure that can be simulated using shock impact & drop equipment in a packaging dynamics lab.

DCA 302 is the fourth and last of 4 courses in the ISTA Distribution Environment Data Collection & Analysis education series.

Instructor:  Ricky Speck, PhD - Assistant Professor (Retired), Michigan State University - School of Packaging
Instructional time:  60 minutes

Course Topics:  Test Limitations; Pulse Shapes Used For Testing; Pulse Programmers; Recommendations for Specifying Acceleration Test Pulses; Determining Impact Orientation; Drop Height Analysis; Requirements for Drop Testing; Determining Drop Height; 1g Shift Method; Shock Response Spectrum (SRS) Method; Coefficient of Restitution Method; Creating a Laboratory Drop Test Procedure; Assigning Impacts Procedures

This course qualifies for 20 points towards ISTA PDP recertification.

ISTA Continuing Education

Stay Up-to-Date with Industry Trends & Best Practices

In addition to these courses, ISTA continues to expand its educational offerings through the ISTA Online Learning platform, as well as through virtual and in-person sessions. The platform also features an extensive library of on-demand video presentations from industry experts at events like the ISTA Forum, TransPack, TempPack, and the European Packaging Symposium. These courses cover a broad range of topics, helping you stay up-to-date with industry trends and best practices. Some courses also offer credit towards ISTA PDP recertification. Content offerings include:

Group Training

Ramp up your team's skills in a cost-effective way, by having our instructor conduct training (virtual or in-person) for your group. Contact us at ista@ista.org and we'll follow up, answer any questions and help bring continuing education to your organization.