In the manufacturing industry, employee training is a critical task, not just for success, but to simply ensure the safety of the folks that work hard to keep the wheels turning.
Not to forget, in most manufacturing industries, employee training is a compliance requirement.
As a result, most companies engaged in the manufacturing business have also been engaged in training their employees for a long time.
However, over the years, just like the manufacturing process has evolved, the learning needs of individuals have evolved.
The good news is, just like advancements in manufacturing technology, there has been incredible advancements in training technology, enabling training providers to cater to the changing learning needs of their learners.
For instance, these days, it is possible to deliver training on a mobile device like a smartphone or a tablet.
However, why would you suddenly start delivering training on new devices? Here are a few practical reasons to consider:
OSHA Requires You To Provide Blended Training
Blended training is the practice of mixing instructor led training with self paced training.
While it is true that you don’t necessarily need mobile devices for blended training, they can make the training experience significantly more engaging and in turn, the results of training more impactful.
For instance, if you are providing practical training in the field for let’s say, operating a forklift, you cannot expect your learners to head back to their desktop computers every time you share a piece of theoretical information.
This is where a mobile device becomes relevant. Since almost everyone today has a smartphone, you can utilise them to deliver relevant theoretical information to your learners in real time.
Geofencing
Geofencing is the name given to the technology that allows organisations to share relevant information with users, and in this case, learners, based on their geographical location.
Imagine, your new recruits being given all the relevant information they need before they start their actual first day at work after training. The refresher information will help fortify the learnings shared in the training and will enable your workforce to do their jobs with safety and efficiency from day one, reducing the margin for error.
Augmented Reality Capabilities
Augmented reality (AR) technology has been around for decades now. However, its applications in training have only been realised in recent times.
AR technology lets users superimpose digital elements on real ones, using a camera and a digital screen for display.
Since most smartphones are already equipped with the necessary hardware, they are perfect for delivering training using AR technology.
With this, you can provide a risk-free environment to your learners, allowing them to try new things and possibly even make mistakes without any real consequences.
Moreover, with AR, you can also make your training more relevant to real life situations. Helping your employees see this relevance will motivate them to take the training seriously.
Cost Effective
Despite having so many benefits, mobile learning is still surprisingly pocket friendly to implement. THis is because of the easy availability and the increased affordability of smartphones and other mobile devices.
In all probability, most of your employees already have the tools they need for training through mobile devices.
As an organisation, all you need to do is optimise your training content for delivery on mobile devices, find an industrial & manufacturing LMS that offers mobile device support, and you are good to go.
Conclusion
Delivering training on mobile devices has virtually no downsides, only benefits. We hope that the points in this article will motivate you to implement mobile training in your own organisation.
