INDUSTRIAL SKILLS TRAINING TODAY
Let’s take a look at some of the unique training challenges faced by American process and manufacturing companies today.
While many of the observations are also applicable to all organizations, process and manufacturing plants rely heavily on in-house skills training as central to their success.
Training methods vary widely — from traditional classroom instruction, with hands-on practice, to the latest in technology-based training options. But, which method is best?
For training a large number of students in a relatively short amount of time, the selected training method may be one that can be administered to a large group. If cost is no issue, classroom instruction will work — as long as those lectures are supplemented with hands-on practice or lab work built around simulation-based instruction (multiple media-based e-Learning and/or gaming solutions).
However, for several reasons, traditional classroom training is waning as the instructional method of choice.
It is more expensive than technology training because people costs are the single highest expense in any training initiative. Pulling people off-line has enormous personnel costs and, in many cases, lost production time costs, as well.
It often leaves poor readers behind when workbooks are incorporated into the classroom instruction. Never forget that almost 40% of the workforce cannot assimilate anything written above a 4th grade reading level.
For companies that prefer an alternate approach to classroom instruction, technology training choices offer many benefits. The ROI will be higher when one uses self-paced, interactive technology (multiple media-based e-Learning and/or gaming instruction.)
In addition, studies show that training time can be cut by as much as 50% with self-paced, interactive technology training. Even more importantly, retention levels may top 90%.
Process and manufacturing companies need to look for multisensory learning solutions with video (and/or graphic animations) plus optional full audio. Only then can they reap the economic and retention rewards they desire.
Whether they seek effective solutions in “Mechanical Maintenance,” “Electrical Maintenance,” or “Instrumentation” — multiple media-based e-Learning and/or gaming solutions will upgrade the skills of their workforce and deliver a higher ROI to the organization.
More on Monday – – –
— Bill Walton, co-Founder,
ITC LearningSeptember 26, 2018
www.itclearning.com/blog/ (Mondays & Wednesdays)