In the age of Industry 4.0, digitalization is becoming a necessary step in a company's growth. Training methods for operating procedures are moving from traditional approaches (paper, PDF, oral transmission) to digitalized solutions that are more intuitive and more engaging.
This article explores the different facets of digitizing training in industry, focusing on its benefits, the challenges encountered when training operators in the field, and inspiring examples of companies that have successfully digitized their operating procedures.
Digitizing training in industry offers a host of advantages.
Firstly, it offers greater flexibility, enabling operators to access training modules at any time and from anywhere. This flexibility is particularly crucial in an industrial environment where working hours can be irregular.
What's more, digitalization makes it easier to tailor training to the individual needs of operators. Programs can be tailored to meet the specific skills required in each role, enabling more effective and relevant learning.
Tracking employee progress also becomes more accessible thanks to skills management functionalities, giving companies a clear view of the skills developed by their teams.
Last but not least, the digitization of operating procedure training makes it possible to create more entertaining and therefore more engaging training courses for employees. In particular, the integration of videos can help illustrate complex manipulations, thus reducing the number of errors due to misinterpretation.
Digitizing training brings many benefits, but it is not without its challenges, especially when it comes to training operators in the field.
One of the major challenges is the need to maintain human interaction, which is essential for the transmission of practical skills. On the contrary, digital pathways do not have to replace human interaction altogether. They do, however, make for richer interactions, enabling the expert to intervene only on the complex issues for which his or her expertise will have the greatest added value.
Some employees may also be unfamiliar with digital tools, requiring extra effort to ensure successful adoption of digitalized training. Today, however, most digital training platforms like Komin.io feature ultra-intuitive interfaces adapted to a wide range of users.
Many companies in the industry are taking advantage of digitalization to improve operational efficiency. General Electric, for example, has integrated virtual simulators to train its engineers in preventive maintenance procedures. This approach has increased efficiency while reducing risks.
Airbus has also embraced digitalization by introducing augmented reality technologies to train its assembly technicians. This has not only simplified training processes, but also led to a reduction in human error and an overall improvement in quality.
Another example is Erard Industrie, which has taken the digital plunge by digitizing its operating procedures. Digitization has made it possible to produce operating manuals 10 times faster, and above all to reduce the risk of error through the use of video, which was not possible with paper manuals.
In conclusion, the digitalization of training in industry offers significant advantages for effectively training operators in the field. It can be seen as a major challenge for manufacturers who rely heavily on paper-based guides. However, with strategic planning and the right support, digital training projects in industry can train operators faster, improve operational performance and reduce the risk of error.
"With Komin, we have documented our operating procedures 10x faster than with paper"
- J. Cerruti (Methods & Industrialization Manager)
