Ready to unleash the power of wearable computers in your training program for your enterprise? A few key steps can help you identify areas that need improvement and empower success at scale.
Implement with Ease
“There is no substitute for knowledge. Institute training on the job.”-- Dr. W. Edwards Deming
Identify key stakeholders, starting with IT. Get familiar with your solution and the ways it can be implemented in your workforce with the help of your stakeholders. IT is the best place to start, as it plays an essential role in video training programs’ security and connectivity. You can turn members of your company’s IT team into advocates by involving them as early as possible and getting their buy-in. Other stakeholders may include environment, health and safety, digital transformation or connected worker leaders, plant managers and users of the technology.
Repurpose existing training content. Search through existing training content from internal programs and vendors to find safety and quality videos, step-by-step instructions, manuals, infographics and other data that can be utilized in an initial rollout. If no existing content is available or if new content must be created, have experts capture videos while out on the job.
Consider putting QR codes on your equipment to ensure that participants can easily access the right materials with their wearable computers. Ensure adequate user training Though the devices themselves will be used for training, it’s critical that all employees receive training on how to use them, how to make sure they fit properly and how to interact with them. Training can be as quick as 15 minutes per user. Wearable computers are intuitive by design, but training can prevent missteps, give users a jumpstart and provide an opportunity for employees that need additional assistance to reach out.
Design and evaluate a pilot program
Once users are trained, start testing your wearable computers in a defined setting with a limited number of users, a predetermined set of objectives and measurable KPIs. Identify one application, task, customer, use case or training element that the wearable computers can be tested on, and run your pilot for no more than three months. This effectively applies the scientific method to the pilot to ensure that you are gathering the information needed to report to executives. One option is to have an expert use wearable computer to certify an apprentice or new employee on the job.
Once the program is complete, evaluate its success and any takeaways for a wider rollout. When developing your reports on the pilot, each one should include the name of the wearable computer, number of users, relevant user feedback, time saved with video, safety and compliance considerations, timeframe, problems solved, cost of problem, challenges, projected benefits and opportunities, ROI, security considerations, stakeholders or business units engaged and immediate next steps. Focus on planning and project management. Industrial companies that dedicate more planning and project management resources to their wearable computer training programs achieve greater productivity and safety benefits at a faster rate.
No matter your training goals, taking time during the pilot and throughout your program to focus on management is essential to meeting them. Identify employee evangelists. Employee buy-in is essential to expanding your wearable computer training program. This technology represents a substantial change in how many older workers operate. Their participation is often key to creating training content in a cost-effective manner. However, a top-down approach makes it difficult to garner their support, account for their needs, incorporate their feedback and permanently change the way that they work. Instead, you want to take all users on a journey that transforms how they train younger staff or go through training. If you’ve had a successful pilot, use the initial participants’ feedback to showcase the value of the program as you deploy more broadly.
In an industrial environment, on-the-job training is critical to ensure that employees can share their expertise with each other and that companies can maintain the workforce needed to power their business models. Physical manuals and classroom-based training are no longer an effective way to train up the younger generation, and companies must adapt in order to close the skills gap. Those who leverage hands-free wearable computers that enable AR and video training will overcome the myriad forces contributing to the shortage of trained workers and secure the long-term benefits of a well-trained workforce.
Deploy to a larger group
Once you’ve completed your pilot, it’s time to roll out to a larger group – but not yet to your entire organization. At this stage, you’ll need to work with IT to identify and mitigate any potential security issues. Next, identify a group that will use the devices day in and day out and then conduct full-scale training with the device and how it will be used in the field. Stick to a single application or use case and add more one at a time as you overcome any challenges.
Scale up your program
Build upon your initial deployment and expand the number of employees and programs that use wearable computers for training. Continue growing your digital training content database and increasing the effectiveness of your training program. Communicate internally through video Every step of the way, communication regarding your new video training program should be a priority across the organization. Whenever possible, use videos to communicate about the program to practice the methods you’re instilling in your organization. This works especially well when trying to scale your message. Partner with your internal communications and HR departments to get the word out effectively. Post all training programs on your company intranet and showcase the program through internal newsletters set up for dispersing information and accelerating knowledge transfer.
Empower your training department to overcome the skills gap
“The expert in anything was once a beginner.” Unknown Author
In an industrial environment, on-the-job training is critical to ensure that employees can share their expertise with each other and that companies can maintain the workforce needed to power their business models. Physical manuals and classroom-based training are no longer an effective way to train up the younger generation, and companies must adapt in order to close the skills gap. Those who leverage hands-free wearable computers that enable AR and video training will overcome the myriad forces contributing to the shortage of trained workers and secure the long-term benefits of a well-trained workforce.
Source-The RealWear Blog
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