Workforce Training Solutions

As a follow-up from my previous blog in October of 2018 on Training Advisor, let’s take a look at the training solutions that are available. Now that you have Training Advisor set up and employees are taking the assessment exams, you may be wondering: Where do I go from here?

Balancing Training with Productivity

Keeping your workforce up to speed with ever-changing automation technology is a daunting task for any manufacturer in today’s world. Not only do we have to keep equipment producing goods to meet the constant demands of our customers, but we also need to make sure our employees can continually improve their skill set. This alone presents headaches to many managers and supervisors. How can I send my staff away for training when I need them here?

It can certainly feel like a logistical nightmare. However, there are training providers who can help with a variety of training solutions, such as:

• Hands-on, Instructor-Led Training (Open Enrollment)
• Virtual Classroom Training
• Instructor-Led Training at Your Facility
• Computer-Based Learning

Horizon Solutions and Rockwell Automation® feels your pain and offers training to fit your needs and schedules. Let’s take a closer look at each of these to see how they might meet your needs and fit your schedules.

Intimate Training Environments

There is a wide breadth of hands-on, instructor-led training for everything from various automation technologies to trade skills like electrical theory and pneumatics. We offer this type of training at most of our locations. Developed with Rockwell Automation, Horizon Solutions offers these courses in a classroom setting at our local branches based on the needs of our surrounding customers. To keep training interactive and effective, we limit class sizes to around twelve students, and we’ll hold a class for as few as four. And if you don’t see a class you’re looking for, we’ll work with you.

Convenient Remote Training

Virtual classroom solutions enable you to provide valuable training to your employees without sending them away. Virtual training is a great tool for employees who simply can’t be away for an extended period or when training budgets are already tight. Additionally, these make for a great low-cost refresher. Virtual training is delivered live via WebEx and still provide student-instructor interaction.

Custom, On-site Training

Although the virtual classroom option provides great content with a variety of course selections to choose from at reasonable prices, there’s just no replacing that face-to-face interaction and hands-on experience with the physical hardware. Unique challenges demand unique solutions, which leads me to on-site instructor-led training. This training solution allows you to reap the benefits of hands-on instructor-led classes right at your facility. Once you find a capable provider like Horizon Solutions, all you need is a conference room and able students. As a provider, we handle the logistics from scheduling to flying in the instructor to shipment of physical workstations. Though the cost is higher than open enrollment courses, it allows you to save on travel and expenses associated with sending employees off-site for training.

Flexible On-demand Training

The first few solutions we covered do require an employee to be present at a specific time and specific day, whether that’s in their office in front of a computer, in your training or conference room, or away at a training class. Computer-based classes are a more flexible option. These self-paced, self-directed courses are more convenient for workers and affordable for employers. All the student needs is a computer and some extra time to start a course. As they get pulled away to address something more pressing, they can do so and pick up where they left off at a later time or date. The training material is delivered via CD or the Internet, so multiple employees can review together or independently.

An Investment in a Bright Future

At the end of the day, investing in ongoing employee training makes your team more efficient and increases employee retention rates. We offer a variety of training solutions and can help you fill knowledge gaps while improving employee satisfaction. Contact us today!