The embedded software supports the Japanese electronics industry. However, the number of the embedded system engineers is currently scarce. According to "2008 Report on the Actual Status of Embedded Software Industry" announced by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, the number of engineers engaged in the embedded software throughout Japan is estimated to be 242,000. However, it is estimated that approximately 88,000 engineers are still in short supply. In order to compensate this shortage of the engineers, the companies developing the embedded software are forced to outsource the development of the embedded software to various sub-contractors. We often hear of the trouble that the delivered software turns out not to meet the expected quality due to the inadequate technical skill of the engineers at sub-contractors. We often find those troubles especially when outsourcing to the overseas companies.
In order to understand embedded software, we need to have a high-level knowledge, technical skill, and rich experience because it is necessary to have the knowledge of both hardware and software and to implement real-timeliness, high-reliability, and energy-saving function, etc, within the limited resources. However, there are no methods and standards at the moment to measure the knowledge, the technical capability, and the experience of the embedded software engineers. Those who outsource the work do not have the objective criteria to determine the technical capability of the counterpart. Therefore, T-Engine Forum and TRON Association started conducting the TRON Engineer Certification Examination to gauge the knowledge and technical capabilities for embedded systems using TRON architecture with the focus on T-Kernel and ITRON specification OS and the ability for general embedded systems development.
The first and second examinations were held on June 28, 2008 and September 28, 2008 each. The third and fourth examinations will be held on January 24, 2009 and March 7, 2009 respectively.
Today, people from human resources department of companies, and temporary staffing firms are interested in the TRON Engineer Certification Examination as an exam to check the practical skill of engineers to develop the embedded systems. Therefore, free trial exam will be held at TRONSHOW2009 in order to provide more people with opportunities to experience the TRON Engineer Certification Examination. Please feel free to take the trial TRON Engineer Certification Examination and check its validity for yourself.
We plan to extend the TRON Engineer Certification Examination to the world in the future so that it can be held in many countries.
