Distribution Data Collection & Analysis (DCA)

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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

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

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

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

Continuing Education

In addition to these Distribution Environment Data Collection & Analysis courses, ISTA continues efforts to build out an expanded list of educational courses including the new revamped Packaging Dynamics Professional (PDP) certification program. Some courses can be completed for credit towards PDP recertification.  Content offerings include:

• Packaging Dynamics Professional (PDP)
• Responsible Packaging by Design (RPbD)
• Introduction to BioPharma Cold Chain
• User Requirement Specifications (URS) to Operational Qualification (OQ)

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.