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Modernize Investment in Training and Development in Manufacturing

When most people think about workplace training, they think about onboarding training for new employees, or the sort of annual “check the box” training that most people (including even sometimes the people who give the training) don’t take very seriously. 

In short, many companies, and even the employees the training is meant to help, don’t see much value in corporate training.

But this is a point of view that needs to change.

As someone who works in manufacturing, you know all about the seismic shift that is about to occur in your industry. When the Baby Boomer generation begins to retire en masse, many industries will be affected, but the manufacturing industry will be particularly hard hit. At least, that will be the case if we can’t find a way to hire more young employees to take the place of the retirees.

People talk about a lot of ways to engage young workers and help them find an interest in manufacturing, but a method that is not always discussed is by investment in training and development. Improving or even changing the way the manufacturing industry approaches corporate training can do a lot to improve its image and retain workers.

Investment in Training and Development: The Benefits

nullWhen you train people properly (meaning that care, dedication, and genuine interest are put into the training process) or make the training about professional development rather than just checking boxes, great things can happen.

Employees feel valued when training helps their career development. They feel invested in, rather than ignored, which helps a company retain its workforce. By offering better onboarding and career development training you ensure that more young people will be interested in working for your manufacturing company and that you’ll also be able to retain them longer when you get new hires.

Changes in Employment Will Dictate How Training Evolves

The other reason better manufacturing training is needed is that the workforce is changing quickly. Technological advancements mean creative thinking and professional development will be important skills going forward. Lifelong learning will become more necessary as employees try to stay current when whole careers become obsolete and new ones take their place.

Maintaining an evolving skills development program will help your employees prepare for the jobs of the future, and will once again prove that you value their employment. This value breeds loyalty. Employees will be more likely to stay with your company because your company’s benefits empower them to develop skills they need to not be left behind.

Adaptive Learning: An Example of a Different Approach

Adaptive Learning is a training methodology that focuses on reducing redundant learning and decreasing the level of employee unconscious incompetence (not knowing that you don’t know how to do something). It’s a platform that can be used to enhance lifelong learning and to complete training whenever is convenient for the learner. Area9 Lyceum is one Adaptive Learning training company that you could look into to learn more about adaptive learning.

Read This Literature for More Information on Manufacturing Training

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