New SATRA SAFT course syllabus

Reporting on forthcoming changes which are being made to this key footwear industry training programme.

Successful product development, manufacturing and sourcing rely on accurate practical information and the ability of staff to understand and apply such information. In a global and competitive marketplace, knowledge and skills are increasingly important. To address this issue, SATRA designed the internationally-renowned SATRA Accredited Footwear Technologist (SAFT) training course for all technologists involved in any aspect of the footwear supply chain.

When the SAFT course was first introduced some 20 years ago, it consisted of five modules. In 2012, this number was increased to six with the addition of ‘Industrial Footwear’. It is now felt that the course content needs to be updated in order to modernise the subject matter and provide a more comprehensive and relevant syllabus. We have revised the module content, extending some of the modules to a full two days in length, and updated the content of the course materials.

The new course now consists of seven modules which are each covered in two days (there will no longer be ‘half modules’), and the new programme is as follows:

Module 1 – ‘Lasts, fitting & comfort’ remains as a full two-day module.

Module 2 – ‘Materials’ is to be extended from a half module to a full two-day module. This gives us the opportunity to expand the current content for uppers, solings and components and also now include adhesives and sustainability considerations.

Module 3 – ‘Testing’ remains as a full two-day module but with revised content, including a session on the importance of testing for restricted substances.

Module 4 – ‘Constructions & product design’. This originally contained ‘Lean manufacturing’, which now has its own full two-day module (module 7). Module 4 now covers a day learning about footwear constructions’ and a second day on product design including pattern design, pattern cutting and grading.

Module 5 – ‘Risk assessment & quality assurance’ remains as a full two-day module.

Module 6 – ‘Industrial footwear’ remains as a full two-day module.

Module 7 – ‘Production efficiency, costing & specifications’ has been created as an enhanced and extended version of what was 4.2 (‘Lean manufacturing’). This module considers all aspects of lean manufacturing, covering implementation and the techniques involved. Also covered will be the process of shoe costing and examining the way materials, labour and expenses are calculated to produce a final selling price.

Delegates can take as many modules as they wish, and will still have the opportunity to take optional examinations for each module. In order to achieve the complete SAFT award, the candidates will need to achieve an examination pass in five out of the seven modules, including three compulsory core modules (at the moment modules 1,2 and 5). Core modules in the new version will be numbers 1, 2 and 4.

The change in syllabus may affect current delegates who are already part way through their studies. No one will be disadvantaged during the changeover, and requirements will be discussed with each individual on a case-by-case basis.

This new version of SAFT will be introduced at our next UK session in April. Full details, including a comprehensive syllabus, can be found on the events page of SATRA’s website at www.satra.com/events

Publishing Data

This article was originally published on page 44 of the January 2021 issue of SATRA Bulletin.

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