A Manufacturing Dilemma – Who Needs What Training?
Our manufacturing clients are often faced with the dilemma of knowing that their workforce needs training but not knowing who needs what training. Delivering the same training to everyone is both expensive and inefficient; negatively impacting the ROI of most organizations’ limited training funds.
Before we apply a training program, it must be comprised of the following basic elements, all of which are tightly interwoven:
- Effective – In order for training to be meaningful, it must translate directly to the bottom line. Workers must be able to apply what they learn to their operations, improving productivity.
- Efficient – Training programs must be designed to be efficient in their time delivery. Taking staff off the production floor while maintaining full operations is challenging. It is not that programs must be delivered quickly, but the time allotted for training must be maximized.
- Easy to comprehend – Like any training curriculum, it must be easy for students to understand. None of the above is possible if material cannot be understood and applied.
The above elements can only be achieved if employees are only given the training they need. A “shotgun” approach, while seemingly easier, will only end up costing more in the long run. Not only is it more expensive, but employees are more likely to disengage if they feel they are not learning.
At Scientific Management Techniques (SMT), we have developed a unique Demand-Driven Training System that targets training specifically to the needs of the individual based on their real, hard skill levels. We accomplish this by cataloguing their current skills through our Hands-On Skills Assessment Programs. These validated assessment machines are designed to evaluate the skill levels of both potential new hires and incumbent employees.
By creating standardized benchmarks and analyzing skill gaps, we then develop a customized curriculum unique to the individual. Along with a host of pre-determined operational metrics, we close the circle by administering post-training assessments to determine the effectiveness of the training, readjust and reapply. SMT’s skill training system has been utilized to train thousands of Fortune 500 manufacturing employees in 38 countries.
When done properly, skills training is a fundamental building block for any growth oriented organization. Not only does it help improve the bottom line, but gives employees a sense of purpose, growth and loyalty integral to any company’s success.