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Technical Knowledge and Capability Survey
The goal of this anonymous survey is to gather direct input from the Technical organization to shape our capability-building programs. We want to hear directly from you about where we can bridge knowledge gaps and better support your technical growth. Your feedback will directly influence how we prioritize resources and build capability programs that serve everyone in the organization.
Respondent Background
Your background helps qualify the rest of your survey answers relative to your role and time with the company.
Lab Type Function
Please Select
Ecoat
Liquid
Powder
Color
Quality
Application
Other
Region
APAC
EMEAI
LATAM/SA
USCA
Years in the Coatings Industry (including Sherwin-Williams)
Please Select
Less than 1 year
1-3 years
4-7 years
8-15 years
More than 15 years
How frequently does your current role involve developing, modifying, or troubleshooting formulations?
Please Select
Frequently
Occasionally
Rarely
Not currently, but I expect to do so in the future
Not part of my role
Formulation Capability Needs
Think about the technical and formulation challenges you encounter and what would help you approach them with greater confidence, independence, and effectiveness. This is not an evaluation of your performance. Your responses will help identify the most valuable opportunities for Technical learning and development that you can apply to your daily roles.
Based on the formulation work you currently perform or expect to perform in your role, which areas would most help you continue building your capability?
Strengthening my foundation in coatings chemistry and formulation principles
Deepening my knowledge of the product technologies I formulate
Deepening my understanding of raw-material functions, selection, interactions, and use levels
Gaining more guided experience applying formulation knowledge to real problems
Developing a more systematic approach to formulation development and optimization
Strengthening my ability to interpret results and determine the next experiment
Strengthening my troubleshooting and root cause analysis skills
Gaining more experience connecting formulation choices to application and final performance
Strengthening my scale-up and manufacturing implementation skills
Improving my access to previous formulations, technical findings, and lessons learned
Improving my access to experienced formulators for coaching or consultation
Using clearer formulation procedures, decision guides, or standard approaches
Having more opportunities to practice and develop formulation capabilities
Having clearer standard work, documented processes, and best-practice guidance for formulation development and troubleshooting
Having more understanding of product platforms
Having more understanding of alternate product technologies and platforms
Other
More Details on Formulation Capability Needs
In which product categories would addressing this need most improve your formulation effectiveness?
Liquid Alkyd
Liquid 2K Urethane
Liquid 2K Epoxy
Liquid Waterbased
Powder Polyester TGIC
Powder Polyester TGIC-free
Powder Hybrid
Powder Epoxy
Powder Acrylic
E-Coat Cathodic Epoxy
E-Coat Cathodic Acrylic
E-Coat Anodic Acrylic
FEVE
Primer
Other
Which raw-material categories are most relevant to this development need?
Resins / Binders
Crosslinkers / Hardeners / Curing Agents
Catalysts / Driers
Pigments
Extenders / Fillers
Solvents
Additives
Specialty Materials
Other
Specific topics within the resin / binder category that would be most valuable to learn
Specific topics within the crosslinkers / hardeners / curing agents category that would be most valuable to learn
Specific topics within the catalysts / driers category that would be most valuable to learn
Specific topics within the pigments category that would be most valuable to learn
Specific topics within the extenders / fillers category that would be most valuable to learn
Specific topics within the solvents category that would be most valuable to learn
Specific topics within the additives category that would be most valuable to learn
Specific topics within the specialty materials category that would be most valuable to learn
Specific topics within your Other raw material category that would be most valuable to learn
Specific topics within the alkyd product category that would be most valuable to learn
Specific topics within the epoxy product category that would be most valuable to learn
Specific topics within the FEVE product category that would be most valuable to learn
Specific topics within the hybrid product category that would be most valuable to learn
Specific topics within the Polyester TGIC product category that would be most valuable to learn
Specific topics within the Polyester TGIC-Free product category that would be most valuable to learn
Specific topics within the Primer product category that would be most valuable to learn
Specific topics within the Urethane product category that would be most valuable to learn
Specific topics within the Water Based product category that would be most valuable to learn
Specific topics within the Acrylic product category that would be most valuable to learn
Specific topics within the other product category that would be most valuable to learn
Examples where improved references, documentation, or standardization would significantly improve effectiveness
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Skill Development
Think about your own professional goals and the skills you want to develop in the short term.
Technical skills you would most like to develop over the next 2 years (select up to 3)
Formulation and Product Development
Testing, Failure Analysis, and Root Cause Investigation
Application and Customer Process Expertise
Manufacturing and Scale-Up
Product Performance, Materials Science, and Structure-Property Relationships
Product and Market Knowledge
Specifications and Requirements Management
Business and Value Optimization
Technical Research and Literature Review
Digital, AI, and Data Tools
Other
Professional skills you would most like to develop over the next 2 years (select up to 2)
Knowledge Sharing and Collaboration
Communicating Technical Recommendations
Customer Focus and Stakeholder Management
Defining Problems and Evaluating Solutions
Making Evidence-Based Decisions with Incomplete Information
Project and Time Management
Emotional Intelligence and Working Relationships
Other
More Details on Skill Development
Current proficiency level in Formulation and Product Development?
Please Select
I am building foundational knowledge and need guidance.
I can perform basic activities with some guidance.
I can perform routine activities independently.
I can address complex or unfamiliar work independently.
I can coach or guide others in this technical skill.
This skill is not currently part of my role.
Specific skillsets desired in Formulation and Product Development?
Current proficiency level in Testing, Failure Analysis, and Root Cause Investigation?
Please Select
I am building foundational knowledge and need guidance.
I can perform basic activities with some guidance.
I can perform routine activities independently.
I can address complex or unfamiliar work independently.
I can coach or guide others in this technical skill.
This skill is not currently part of my role.
Specific skillsets desired in Testing, Failure Analysis, and Root Cause Investigation?
Current proficiency level in Application and Customer Process Expertise?
Please Select
I am building foundational knowledge and need guidance.
I can perform basic activities with some guidance.
I can perform routine activities independently.
I can address complex or unfamiliar work independently.
I can coach or guide others in this technical skill.
This skill is not currently part of my role.
Specific skillsets desired in Application and Customer Process Expertise?
Current proficiency level in the Manufacturing and Scale-Up?
Please Select
I am building foundational knowledge and need guidance.
I can perform basic activities with some guidance.
I can perform routine activities independently.
I can address complex or unfamiliar work independently.
I can coach or guide others in this technical skill.
This skill is not currently part of my role.
Specific skillsets desired in the Manufacturing and Scale-Up?
Current proficiency level in Product Performance, Materials Science, and Structure-Property Relationships?
Please Select
I am building foundational knowledge and need guidance.
I can perform basic activities with some guidance.
I can perform routine activities independently.
I can address complex or unfamiliar work independently.
I can coach or guide others in this technical skill.
This skill is not currently part of my role.
Specific skillsets desired in Product Performance, Materials Science, and Structure-Property Relationships?
Current proficiency level in Product and Market Knowledge?
Please Select
I am building foundational knowledge and need guidance.
I can perform basic activities with some guidance.
I can perform routine activities independently.
I can address complex or unfamiliar work independently.
I can coach or guide others in this technical skill.
This skill is not currently part of my role.
Specific skillsets desired in Product and Market Knowledge?
Current proficiency level in Specifications and Requirements Management?
Please Select
I am beginning to develop this skill and need guidance.
I can apply this skill in familiar situations with some guidance.
I can apply this skill independently in most situations.
I can adapt this skill effectively in complex or unfamiliar situations.
I can coach or guide others in developing this skill.
This skill is not currently part of my role.
Specific skillsets desired in Specifications and Requirements Management?
Current proficiency level in Business and Value Optimization?
Please Select
I am beginning to develop this skill and need guidance.
I can apply this skill in familiar situations with some guidance.
I can apply this skill independently in most situations.
I can adapt this skill effectively in complex or unfamiliar situations.
I can coach or guide others in developing this skill.
This skill is not currently part of my role.
Specific skillsets desired in Business and Value Optimization?
Current proficiency level in Technical Research and Literature Review?
Please Select
I am beginning to develop this skill and need guidance.
I can apply this skill in familiar situations with some guidance.
I can apply this skill independently in most situations.
I can adapt this skill effectively in complex or unfamiliar situations.
I can coach or guide others in developing this skill.
This skill is not currently part of my role.
Specific skillsets desired in Technical Research and Literature Review?
Current proficiency level in Digital, AI, and Data Tools?
Please Select
I am beginning to develop this skill and need guidance.
I can apply this skill in familiar situations with some guidance.
I can apply this skill independently in most situations.
I can adapt this skill effectively in complex or unfamiliar situations.
I can coach or guide others in developing this skill.
This skill is not currently part of my role.
Specific skillsets desired in Digital, AI, and Data Tools?
Current proficiency level in Knowledge Sharing and Collaboration?
Please Select
I am beginning to develop this skill and need guidance.
I can apply this skill in familiar situations with some guidance.
I can apply this skill independently in most situations.
I can adapt this skill effectively in complex or unfamiliar situations.
I can coach or guide others in developing this skill.
This skill is not currently part of my role.
Specific skillsets desired in Knowledge Sharing and Collaboration?
Current proficiency level in Communicating Technical Recommendations?
Please Select
I am beginning to develop this skill and need guidance.
I can apply this skill in familiar situations with some guidance.
I can apply this skill independently in most situations.
I can adapt this skill effectively in complex or unfamiliar situations.
I can coach or guide others in developing this skill.
This skill is not currently part of my role.
Specific skillsets desired in Communicating Technical Recommendations?
Current proficiency level in Customer Focus and Stakeholder Management?
Please Select
I am beginning to develop this skill and need guidance.
I can apply this skill in familiar situations with some guidance.
I can apply this skill independently in most situations.
I can adapt this skill effectively in complex or unfamiliar situations.
I can coach or guide others in developing this skill.
This skill is not currently part of my role.
Specific skillsets desired in Customer Focus and Stakeholder Management?
Current proficiency level in Defining Problems and Evaluating Solutions?
Please Select
I am beginning to develop this skill and need guidance.
I can apply this skill in familiar situations with some guidance.
I can apply this skill independently in most situations.
I can adapt this skill effectively in complex or unfamiliar situations.
I can coach or guide others in developing this skill.
This skill is not currently part of my role.
Specific skillsets desired in Defining Problems and Evaluating Solutions?
Current proficiency level in Making Evidence-Based Decisions with Incomplete Information?
Please Select
I am beginning to develop this skill and need guidance.
I can apply this skill in familiar situations with some guidance.
I can apply this skill independently in most situations.
I can adapt this skill effectively in complex or unfamiliar situations.
I can coach or guide others in developing this skill.
This skill is not currently part of my role.
Specific skillsets desired in Making Evidence-Based Decisions with Incomplete Information?
Current proficiency level in Project and Time Management?
Please Select
I am beginning to develop this skill and need guidance.
I can apply this skill in familiar situations with some guidance.
I can apply this skill independently in most situations.
I can adapt this skill effectively in complex or unfamiliar situations.
I can coach or guide others in developing this skill.
This skill is not currently part of my role.
Specific skillsets desired in Project and Time Management?
Current proficiency level in Emotional Intelligence and Working Relationships?
Please Select
I am beginning to develop this skill and need guidance.
I can apply this skill in familiar situations with some guidance.
I can apply this skill independently in most situations.
I can adapt this skill effectively in complex or unfamiliar situations.
I can coach or guide others in developing this skill.
This skill is not currently part of my role.
Specific skillsets desired in Emotional Intelligence and Working Relationships?
Current proficiency level in your Other Technical Skills selection?
Please Select
I am building foundational knowledge and need guidance.
I can perform basic activities with some guidance.
I can perform routine activities independently.
I can address complex or unfamiliar work independently.
I can coach or guide others in this technical skill.
This skill is not currently part of my role.
Specific skillsets desired in your Other Technical Skills selection?
Current proficiency level in your Other Professional Skills selection?
Please Select
I am beginning to develop this skill and need guidance.
I can apply this skill in familiar situations with some guidance.
I can apply this skill independently in most situations.
I can adapt this skill effectively in complex or unfamiliar situations.
I can coach or guide others in developing this skill.
This skill is not currently part of my role.
Specific skillsets desired in your Other Professional Skills selection?
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Priority Ranking and Additional Input
Think back to all the sections above, then answer the following questions to help focus in on your highest priority areas.
Which three capability-building initiatives should receive resources first?
Any other comments that should be known when prioritizing training, knowledge-sharing, or process improvement investments
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