Opportunity Based Training
at the LBNL 88-Inch Cyclotron
Jim MorelOperations Supervisor

88-Inch Cyclotron
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
April 15, 2010

The 7th International Workshop on Accelerator Operation

Opportunity Based Training
The 88-Inch Cyclotron Operation• The 88-Inch Cyclotron is a small facility– staff of ~ 24 FTE (4 Oper., 10 Techs, 3 Eng, 7 Ops Grp.)• The Cyclotron runs ~ 93% availability.
• Scheduled operation of ~ 5000 hours a year.
• Operates on a 10-4 cycle, 24 h/day, 2 long shutdowns/ year.
• We support LBNL nuclear science research program (60%)
and our applied science program for the Aerospace industry
radiation effects testing (40%).
• 88-Inch has managed to survive by continuing to doimportant nuclear science research and applied science witha steady program of upgrades and by adjusting to our user’s
needs.

Opportunity Based Training
Overview• The Cyclotron’s layout• Variable frequency RF Tank

• Accelerate every elementfrom Hydrogen to Uranium
at various energies

Opportunity Based Training
88-Inch Cyclotron Complex
Experimental Facilities
Heavy Ion Facilities

Cave 4C GRETINA/GRETA
Cave 1 BGS

BASE
Cave 0, Isotope production
Applied and Nuclear Science
Neutron Facility
88-InchLight Ion Facility

LIBERACE
Laser TrappingOpportunity Based Training
The Berkeley ECR Ion Source Program• The 88-Inch Cyclotron’s flexibility is due to having one of thepremier ECR Ion Source programs in the world.
VENUS 18+28 GHz
LBL ECR
VENUS

6.4 GHz
AECR-U

External
Beam line

RF Tank

Magnet Yoke
188 - Inch Cyclotron

4m

AECR-U 10+14 GHz

Opportunity Based Training

Training Challenges at the 88”
One Operator/Shift- Operator must be independent andconfident in their ability to handle the machine.

No dedicated training staff- Operators train Operators.
No dedicated training facility or elaborate training aides.

Low Turnover – New Operator ~ 2-3 years.
The Skill of the job is Tuning – Tuning is Hands On
We have 6 month to determine if the trainee will make it.

Opportunity Based Training

Objective of Training at the 88-Inch- To train an Qualified Operator in 9 months.
- Standing supervised shifts in 1 month- Safety, Theory, Systems, Procedures, Skills- Take all the required institutional training- To instill independence and confidence.
- To develop effective troubleshooting skills.
- To end up with an Operator that assumes
ownership of the machine’s performance.

Opportunity Based Training
Opportunity Based Training
The opportunity base training scheme is an intensive sort oftraining where the trainee is placed in learning opportunities
based on the facility schedule.

The trainee:– learns the theory, systems and procedures while working
on the machine under supervision.
– sees the actions taken by the operator and learns cause andeffect as it happens.
– sees the application of the theory, the interconnectednessof the systems and the sequencing of the procedural steps.
– is routinely doing the standard tasks of an operator on shift,i.e. taking logs, doing rounds, preparing for tunes
and doing tunes.

Opportunity Based Training
Opportunity Based Training
The basic training sequence is:Trainee:- is assigned to a task and prepares to do the task.
- watches the operator do the task and learns the task.
Then does the task.
- is supervised and challenged to explain actions.
- Is motivated to improve performance each time.
The trainee is put in the situation to perform under the time
constraint of knowing that the users are waiting for the beam.

The process repeats by assigning the trainee to the next task.

Opportunity Based Training
Opportunity Based Training
Facility Schedule
G Shdn4D135S
2Shdn

7621 DaysGDSLearn T S P

1 Learn

Trainee’s Schedule45
32 Learn

7Learn6

Opportunity Based Training
Opportunity Based Training
Facility Schedule
G Shdn
4
D
1
35S
2Shdn

7
621 DaysG

1 Learn

Trainee’s Schedule
45
37

DLearn T S PSLearn
2 Learn
6In this 21 day period the trainee has worked on 7 tunes,
has worked with three different operators andhas worked in the control room on all three shifts.

Opportunity Based Training
Conventional “Linear”Training

TheorySystems Procedures

SkillsSup Shift Shift

4 Weeks

4 Weeks

Reading and Testing

Performed 8 Tunes

1 2 3 4 5

Facility Schedule
6a,b 7 8 9a,b 10a,b11a,b,c

1288” Trainee Training Experience
Performed 18 Tunes
Spent 8 weeks working with Operators in the Control Room

Opportunity Based Training
Opportunity Based Training
The high performance expectations is a strong motivator to get
relevant answers to specific questions - this way the learning
is more effective and is directed to the trainee’s needs.

In this method the trainee is forced out of
their typical learning comfort zone.
• They are not in a classroom.
• Their schedule is jumping from shift to shift.
• They are immersed in the real world of an operator.
• They have to participate in solving problems with limited
information.

Opportunity Based Training
Opportunity Based Training
The determination of comprehension and competency isaccomplished by:- Demonstration of comprehension during interviews and duringtask completion (no specific tests).
- Observation of performance ( setups, tunes, failure response).
- Completion of specified tasks (typical shift tasks).
- Standing shifts without need for supervision.
- Demonstration of improvement in skills.
When the qualification list is completed the trainee is qualified.

Opportunity Based Training
Advantages of Opportunity Based Training– The trainee does not spend time learning abstract things,
the relevance of which will be explained later.
– They learn the location of systems and controls because
they are touching them and adjusting them.
– The trainee sees the techniques of each operators and sees
the effectiveness of each operator’s process.
– The trainee is forced to build an effective model of themachine because as they are doing the work theirunderstanding of the machine is continually being
challenged.

Opportunity Based Training
Advantages of Opportunity Based Training– The trainee effectively learns procedures by doing the steps
because they see the cause and effect of their actions.
– The trainee sees the entire scope of the work of an operator.
– The trainee is regularly placed in situations with demands onthem to perform at a high level so they learn to deal with it.
– We are able to evaluate the trainee’s performance andunderstanding before the6 months are up.

Opportunity Based Training
Summary
From the very beginning this training process:- allows the operator learn effectively.
- allows the operator to test their understanding.
- forces the operator to function in the control room.
- allows the operator to develop confidence in their skills.
- allows the operator many opportunities to significantly
improve their performance and to develop a pride in the qualityof their work.
This training process leads to independent, confident, capable,
qualified Accelerator Operator in the needed time.

Opportunity Based Training

From As Seen By

We would like the classic SUPER Operator.

Opportunity Based Training
But we would rather keep our newest Operator.

Paul Johnson
Hired:
May 2009
Tuning:Jun 2009
On Supr. Shift: Aug 2009
Qualified:
Jan 2010
On Shift:
Feb 2010