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Purpose: To assess the ability to use small tools and to make precise hand and finger movements in close coordination with the eyes. The work sample exercises call for skills similar to those required in occupations involving fabricating, processing, or repairing materials and examining and measuring for the purpose of grading and sorting and other industrial production work.

The work sample simulates sedentary work and makes the following physical demands upon the evaluee: reaching, handling, fingering, near acuity, depth perception, and accommodation. Significant motor coordination, finger dexterity, and manual dexterity are required to perform the work sample at a competitive level.

The work sample elicits information on several work-related characteristics, including the ability to follow instructions, communication skills, frustration tolerance, and self- confidence. The work sample is well suited to work- hardening uses.

Design: Three hands-on soldering exercises. One grounded 110v outlet is required.

Special Features: Scores may be interpreted against criterion-referenced standards, supplied norms, or locally developed norms. It is appropriate for use with disabled or nondisabled persons.

Information Collected: Each of the three exercises of the work sample has been analyzed according to U.S. Department of Labor job analysis techniques. The analyses resulted in three lists of rated DOL work-related abilities and other factors that are required for successful exercise performance (Worker Qualifications Profiles). Valpar uses Methods-Time Measurement (MTM) to establish industrial work rate standards for the work sample exercises.

The evaluator uses learning curve adjusted accuracy and work rate scores to determine whether the evaluee has demonstrated the work sample’s Worker Qualifications Profiles. Unadjusted MTM standards are also given for single and multiple adminstrations of the work sample.

Procedures: Due to the short duration of the exercises, two administrations of the exercises are recommended (but not required). In their standard format, all three exercises take approximately 40 minutes to administer.

In the first exercise (Section 1), the evaluee cuts equal lengths of wire, strips a specified amount of insulation from each piece of wire, splices the wires together according to specific instructions, and applies solder to the splice.

In Section 2, the evaluee places six terminals on a mounted, printed circuit board and solders them in place.

In Section 3, the evaluee solders the wire splice to terminals on the printed circuit board.

The evaluee is allowed to practice prior to the first two sections. Throughout the work sample, the evaluee is referred to diagrams depicting both correctly and incorrectly soldered materials.

Components: VCWS 12 consists of two boxes made of 1/2″ particle board covered with blue plastic laminate. The first box is 23 1/2″ x 16″ x 4″ with a hinged lid. Inside that box are several fixtures used to complete the exercises. The second box is for storing tools and parts. The work sample comes with supplies of solder, printed circuit boards, and terminals. Also included are a 6″ ruler, 2 pairs of needle nose pliers, a safety apron, a pair of safety glasses, a pair of diagonal wire cutters, a pair of wire cutter/strippers, diagrams, a soldering iron holder with sponge, a soldering iron with extra tip, a soldering iron tip cleaner, a magnifying glass, a pad of scoring sheets, and a manual.