We at Wiring Harness News met Greg Merrill at the EWPT Expo in Milwaukee, where he had just finished leading a packed educational session titled “Training for the Future of Manufacturing.” The room was full, the audience was engaged, and the feedback was overwhelmingly positive. Greg then stopped by our booth, still radiating the energy from his presentation. His enthusiasm for the topic of training was immediate and infectious. Within minutes, we knew a deeper dive was in order.
Greg is the founder of Electronic Training Solutions (ETS), and his credentials are as substantial as his personality is engaging. With more than 45 years in the aerospace and spacecraft industries, Greg began his career in the U.S. Air Force as an aircraft electronic systems technician. That role evolved into work on the top-secret F-117 program, service on Air Force One and Airborne Command Post aircraft, and later, two decades as a senior source inspector for companies like NASA, SpaceX, GE Aviation, and Boeing. He’s been a certified IPC trainer for 12 years and a master IPC trainer for six.
All that experience converges at ETS, where Greg and his team offer IPC training in soldering, inspection, rework, and program management. But what makes ETS stand out isn’t just the curriculum. It’s the delivery. Greg isn’t interested in teaching people how to pass a test. He wants them to understand the standards and apply them in real-world manufacturing environments. And he does it with a firecracker delivery style that turns dry documentation into something you actually want to pay attention to.
“I’m not going to assume the expertise of anyone in any class,” Greg told us. “I demonstrate everything and usually show two or three different ways to do it because the goal isn’t just to comply, it’s to get people comfortable and confident. That’s how quality goes up.”
Greg’s thesis is simple but powerful: Quality doesn’t dip when new employees are hired. It slows because no one teaches them the basics. He recalled asking a room full of seasoned manufacturers if anyone had been trained how to use a simple IPA alcohol dispenser. Not one hand went up. The same went for common crimpers, screwdrivers, and go/no-go gauge tools. It’s not the million-dollar laser welder causing issues on the floor, he contends. It’s the stuff no one ever bothers to teach.
He’s not shy about challenging the status quo. “People assume everyone knows everything when they walk in the door. Then they’re surprised when products get slowed down or returned,” Greg said. “You want throughput? You want receivables? Start by teaching people how to use the tools they touch every single day.”
That hands-on, example-driven philosophy extends beyond the tools. Greg believes in building quality into the process, not relying on inspectors as the safety net. He advocates for auditing, continual improvement, and most of all, closing the feedback loop between engineering and the shop floor.
Greg shared an anecdote from a recent training: “I had an engineer sit in on a J-STD-001 course. Halfway through, she turned to me and said, ‘I’ve been writing standards for ten years, and I had no idea half this stuff worked like that.’ That’s the kind of awareness we need.”
He also doesn’t sugarcoat the challenges in training today. From instructors who assume too much to documentation written by people who’ve never built the product, Greg sees a lot of room for improvement. That’s why he’s working with IPC to adopt train-the-trainer programs that include real-world, hands-on skill development.
Greg’s methods are working. He reports no one has ever failed his workmanship certification classes, a point of pride backed by his clear dedication to making sure every student understands the material before testing. And judging by the reaction in Milwaukee, he’s changing minds and raising eyebrows across the country.
For now, ETS doesn’t have a fixed training facility, but Greg travels extensively for onsite training and hosts open sessions in hotel conference rooms when enough interest in a region builds. A permanent location is likely on the horizon.
“In my classes, you’re going to get at least twice the information you expect, in the same amount of time,” Greg said with a grin. “And you’re going to have fun doing it.”
“You want throughput? You want receivables? Start by teaching people how to use the tools they touch every single day.”
That sounds like the kind of training the future of manufacturing desperately needs.
About Electronic Training Solutions
Electronic Training Solutions (ETS), founded by Greg Merrill, delivers practical, hands-on IPC training for professionals in the electronics and aerospace manufacturing sectors. With over 45 years of industry experience, Greg and his team offer certification in key IPC standards such as IPC-A-610, J-STD-001, and IPC/WHMA-A-620, as well as training in hand soldering, inspection, and program management. ETS is known for its accessible teaching style and commitment to real-world application. Training is available on-site, remotely, or through open enrollment classes across the U.S. You can reach Greg at 716-346-2495 or [email protected].
See Greg’s Line Card below:
