Major Industrial Machinery Manufacturer: Training Development

Challenge

A major manufacturer of complex industrial machinery realized it would soon lose a significant portion of its most experienced employees as they retired. With each retirement, they would lose “tribal knowledge” — undocumented rules, processes, and lessons that are learned from years, in many cases decades, of on-the-job experience. Simply put, as experienced employees retired, the company lost tribal knowledge. This in turn caused a large skills gap between generations of employees. The importance of extracting and documenting this knowledge became a business imperative.

Solution

The manufacturer selected Contiem to capture and convey tribal knowledge throughout its company. Contiem brought in its Consulting Services group, which determined that instructor-led training (ILT) would be the most effective method to transfer the highly technical knowledge and skills to the next generation of employees. They identified a set of learning tools that would reinforce the classroom sessions and serve as a reference once they were back on the job.

To create the ILT curriculum, the Contiem project team developed the course outline and conducted interviews with the most experienced employees (in other words, the subject matter experts). They went onsite to the client’s manufacturing facility to document, photograph, and video-record the actual work processes. Using the gathered information, Contiem developed the classroom training and the reference materials.

As part of the training, Contiem developed a Train-the-Trainer course. This course taught the instructors, who were selected from within the company, how to lead an effective training course. With expert knowledge of the material, the instructors have a high level of control over the pace of their delivery. This control provides them with the ability to individualize the material based on the participants’ needs.

Results

The ILT includes a classroom presentation, a facilitator guide, and a participant guide. The classroom presentation includes animation and video followed by hands-on training. Participants learn machinery operation, maintenance, diagnostics, and troubleshooting. The take-home guides provide additional levels of detail and reinforce the classroom training.

The company, with an effective platform to train a new generation of employees, retains the knowledge of the previous generation.

A safety net for the company’s intellectual property, allowing for its continued growth and progress, secures its place in the industry.