Podcast 98: What Role Does Training Play in Modern Manufacturing- Job at Talente

EPISODE 98: Training in Modern Manufacturing

Gill Williams, National Sales Manager, Propelr

If you follow business headlines, you know the future of U.S. manufacturing looks promising. The upside potential is massive. Yet, significant challenges threaten to overshadow any progress.

What do these dynamics mean for modern manufacturers? And how can well-crafted training solutions help?

Today, I’m exploring these questions with Gill Williams , National Sales Manager at Propelr (previously CD2 Learning). Gill and his company have been leading the way in enterprise learning innovation for over 10 years. And he is passionate about helping manufacturers embrace learning as a strategic advantage.

So, join Gill and me to find out how training can shape the future of manufacturing, as we compare notes on this episode of the Talented Learning Show …

TRAINING IN MODERN MANUFACTURING – KEY TAKEAWAYS

• U.S. manufacturing is poised for growth, but serious hurdles stand in the way. With skilled talent in short supply and older workers retiring at a rapid pace, many companies are struggling to expand their teams ,
• These trends underscore the strategic value of training for manufacturing companies that must expand their teams and build a more productive, stable workforce .
• This urgent need for skilled talent opens the door for learning platforms like Propelr, which is designed to deliver frontline workforce safety, compliance , and development solutions for modern manufacturers.

TRAINING IN MODERN MANUFACTURING – Q&A HIGHLIGHTS

Welcome back, Gill. First, let’s talk about Propelr. It’s a new name, but not a new company. Tell us about that…

Thanks, John. Yes, we’ve been around since 2008, originally as CD2 Learning, and more recently as part of the Nelnet family of companies.

Now, with the Propelr brand, our learning platform serves businesses across multiple sectors that fuel America. One of those areas is training in modern manufacturing, which is one of my favorite markets.

What type of manufacturers do you serve?

We work with organizations across many verticals, from medical devices to mining, fabrication, and true heavy industrial equipment like tractors and rail cars.

Being involved with the diverse needs and problems these organizations face every day is interesting.

It’s especially cool because we’re on the front lines, seeing problems we can help these companies solve. At the same time, we’re helping people who work in these organizations solve day-to-day problems and become great at doing their jobs.

What are some of the biggest learning challenges manufacturing companies are facing right now?

Definitely safety and compliance. We’re talking about people’s livelihoods, as well as their lives, and how to keep them safe.

When you think about productivity, safety is a huge component of that. It’s not only about how people can be highly productive in their function and workflow. But also, how they can do those things safely, in a repeatable way.

So, safety and compliance strategies consider multiple levels, from performing in ways that protect people from getting injured, to reducing hazardous incidents and their related costs, all the way to supporting broader business risk management goals.

In addition, there’s a huge skill gap in the manufacturing space.

But here’s another crazy estimate: More than 2 million manufacturing jobs are likely to remain unfilled over the next five years until 2030. That’s largely because people won’t have sufficient skills.

So, manufacturers are already facing huge issues around succession planning, knowledge gaps, and safety. And that problem is likely to be exacerbated over time.

That’s where our solutions fit in. We help organizations operate safely in highly productive ways now, while also helping them build a pipeline of capable people who can do great work for them in the future.

Find out how companies are achieving more with learning systems that create business value. Get inspiration from dozens of success stories in our free LMS Case Study Directory …

Why are so many jobs open?

Well, in our culture, recent generations haven’t considered manufacturing a cool or promising career choice for younger people. And now, baby boomers are starting to retire. So, fewer new people are ready to replace them.

At the same time, this sector is also anticipating strong growth. Many macro and microeconomic factors are coming together that suggest a manufacturing boom is coming.

What skills do people in manufacturing need? Are they organization-specific?

Some soft skills apply in any organization.

However, each company is unique. So, we help extract what’s special about an organization’s skills and workflows. Then we put it into a form that can be learned and repeated by people who come behind or alongside as the company grows and evolves.

Are manufacturers embracing the extended enterprise? Are they training their distribution networks, their dealers, their customers…?

Absolutely. Some of the best programs recognize that learning is not just for their internal community.

They know they also need to support partner networks and customers who use the equipment they manufacture. And it’s our job to make sure all of them have a great experience when learning from that organization and when using the Propelr learning platform.

If you’re a partner, we do that by providing product education, as well as business education about the manufacturer you represent. And if you’re a customer, we make sure you have access to tips, tricks, and other materials that help you succeed with these products.

We’re also seeing some cool ways to drive customers to a space where you can build the brand from a cultural perspective. So, beyond just learning how to use equipment, companies are getting customers involved with their best practices.

For instance, Bernina does a fantastic job of supporting their dealer network partners who resell their equipment domestically and internationally, as well as directly supporting consumers by giving them tips of the trade, whether it’s about home sewing projects or wherever.

Is it common for modern manufacturing companies to handle various audiences separately? Or do they take a centralized approach, with all customers, partners and employees on the same system?

Both. Typically, I like to see everything within one environment, one tenancy. But again, it’s about an organization’s priorities.

We built our system in a way that lets companies manage learning under one roof. With one data rollup, you can have different branching, whether it’s internal or external.

This means clients can repurpose that education without having to recreate or duplicate. So, managing these systems from one place is easier. It removes a lot of barriers and questions about time and managing programs from different places, because you can repurpose it in one environment.

With a few clicks, you can push and nurture learning from both sides.

Celebrate the best in learning tech innovation! See our latest annual LMS Award recipients, featuring the top 10 solutions in 6 categories. See all the winners…

These days, are manufacturers mostly replacing and consolidating old learning systems? Or are they still struggling with old stuff and considering their first modern system?

Honestly, I see it all.

One of our clients is driving impact by consolidating 6 different systems into one. And I know some high-end manufacturing organizations still track safety across their plants on spreadsheets.

But a lot of mid-market organizations are starting to see training as a strategic tool. They recognize it doesn’t have to be just a check-the-box risk mitigation program. It can help them reach their business goals.

So, they know they’re outgrowing their current check-the-box system. That’s typically a standalone LMS embedded in an HR or payroll system.

And let’s be honest, learning is evergreen. It never stops. These programs are constantly evolving. So, it’s really important to have a system that can evolve easily with you, rather than dragging you back. A good system helps do that.

Let’s shift gears a bit and talk about safety and compliance content. People tend to think it’s boring. What are you seeing?

Organizations still rely on off-the-shelf training content. But many are starting to open their minds. They’re saying, “We can do better than this.” Or “Our people deserve better than this.”

I love talking with companies that want to dabble in creating their own content, but don’t know how to get started, or don’t have the right toolset or experience to do it.

With the right tools and mindset, utilizing the expertise available to you in-house is always a more effective way to create content that is specific to your organization. It means you can be sure you get the right information in the hands of the people who need it.

We are content agnostic. But when clients have in-house subject matter expertise and the ability to develop their own content, we encourage that approach. Your people are likely to find it more valuable because they know it’s meant just for them.

Want a better way to manage the business of learning? Find vendor profiles, reviews, case studies and more in our free Learning Systems Directory …

One problem is that many people in manufacturing aren’t at a desk all day, sitting in front of a computer. How are companies dealing with that challenge?

Kiosks are still common, especially when there are lots of dangerous moving pieces and parts moving around on the front line. It’s simple because the yellow lanes on the manufacturing floor are designated safe areas. It’s part of the safety protocol.

Those kiosks can be old-school computer kiosks. But now, we’re seeing a shift toward iPads or tablet-based kiosks, as well as dedicated spaces for learning.

Also, a lot of organizations pair their kiosks on the floor with education rooms. So, training space is available when they need to pull people off the floor.

In addition, we’re seeing more mobile delivery for people who are on the move – whether it’s via tablet or smartphone. Companies are becoming more open-minded about access to mobile-friendly devices on the floor. Truly mobile. Not stagnant. Because work culture in general is more comfortable with these things.

When building your own training, the low-hanging fruit generally involves proprietary products and services. Are manufacturers turning to AI to help build this kind of content?

Absolutely. AI reduces the noise, cuts through documentation, and removes the paralysis associated with creating content. It is great at using your available resources to help build the structure and outlines for learning programs.

Also, generative AI is a great tool for kickstarting copy from general information, so you can trim down your copy timeline. It’s the same with imagery. And I’m very excited about video, too. I think AI-supported video creation is going to be a game-changer for all sectors, especially manufacturing.

No doubt. So, let’s turn to metrics. How are manufacturing companies measuring training success…?

…For complete answers to this and other questions about training in modern manufacturing environments, listen to the full episode on Apple Podcasts , on Spotify , on Amazon , or right here on our site.

Need an LMS That Supports Modern Manufacturing? Let’s Talk

For independent learning systems advice you can trust, schedule a free 30-minute consult below with me, John Leh …

*NOTE TO SALESPEOPLE: Want to sell us something? Please contact us via standard channels. Thanks!

John Leh is Founder, CEO and Lead Analyst at Talented Learning . He is a fiercely independent consultant, blogger, podcaster, speaker and educator who helps organizations select and implement learning technology strategies, primarily for extended enterprise applications. His advice is based upon 25+ years of learning industry experience, serving as a trusted LMS selection and sales adviser to hundreds of organizations with a total technology spend of $100+ million and growing. John is active on social media and is happy to connect with you on X/Twitter or on LinkedIn .