Third Stop - Smart Factory Industry 4.0 Vs E- learning – Challenges of Traditional Training in Manufacturing Industry

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One of the fundamental concepts of Industry 4.0 is “smart factory” (Lasi, et al., 2014). With the use of technological concepts, companies are reaching higher targets. Russmann et al. (Philipp Gerbert, 2015) found that smart factory Industry 4.0 concepts will make production systems as much as 30 percent faster and 25 percent more efficient. With the implementation and usage of smart factory concepts, the manufacturing site is facing with new boundary conditions.

To bypass the limitations of traditional training, computer-aided technologies for training purposes need to be developed and deployed in the existing IT and organizational infrastructures of the manufacturers. Hence, automated learning systems are vital to the smart factory (Kang Hyoung, 2016). In this context, computer-based training is a solution. With the popularization of e-learning systems, many companies have developed computer-based training programs for their employees (Ugljesa Marjanovic, 2016).
  • Widening of Skills Gap
The main issue in the manufacturing sector is that industries are looking for multifaceted employees who can perform different tasks, while many workers in manufacturing are unskilled and not as technically knowledgeable or just trained to make a single work function. The skill gap is a gap between what employers need and what job seekers have (Wagh, 2018).

How E-learning can help: E-learning can change the way workplace training is carried out by offering easier, cheaper and more flexible access to learning resources. Your workforce can take the training to the pace of the specific skills they need to improve. Other employees can focus on their areas of development through online learning (Kong, 2011).


  • High Costs of Training
Based on the skills needed, manufacturing programs in classrooms can be very expensive. It can take a long time and the extensive involvement of trainers and supervisors to teach the employees the necessary skills and processes for a manufacturing job (Wagh, 2018).

How E-learning can help: To keep education costs the least, it is good to provide some of your staff training as e-learning courses. Online education provides a more cost-effective alternative to ILT / classroom training due to reduced travel, boarding, accommodation, and training costs. This approach is also more flexible, making it possible to learn working hours and consistent course content updates based on new systems and industry guidelines (Renée E. Derouin, 2005).
  • Training New Hires
Experienced employees have a high demand in the labor market. So, departure speeds are obviously more. New employees continue to go at different levels and in different places. Training a handful of new jobs when they join is a difficult process (Borden, 2019).

How E-learning can help: Online induction training has enormous benefits as it is time-saving, cost-effective, robust process, easy for students and has high success rates. When an online boarding is in place, you can roll it out to new jobs when and when they join - in places, departments, and levels. You can start online induction training with a video / audio welcome message from your company's CEO, introductory board and other senior employees, through an online learning portal. Give short cracks of microlearning and fusible modules to prevent new jobs from getting lost in the "sea" of information. Plan training activities in such a way that leading employees share their skills and experience with the new jobs. It helps new employees get much-needed skills for their daily tasks at work (Renée E. Derouin, 2005)

References

Borden, T., 2019. Top 5 Challenges Facing the Manufacturing Industry (And What to Do About Them). [Online]
Available at: https://www.weidert.com/whole_brain_marketing_blog/top-challenges-facing-manufacturers
[Accessed 29 April 2019].
Kang Hyoung, L. J., 2016. Smart manufacturing: Past research, present findings, and future directions. [Online]
Available at: https://www.deepdyve.com/lp/springer-journals/smart-manufacturing-past-research-present-findings-and-future-HM1cLSQfWk
[Accessed 29 April 2019].
Kong, S. C., 2011. An evaluation study of the use of a cognitive tool in a one-to-one classroom for promoting classroom-based dialogic interaction. [Online]
Available at: https://www.learntechlib.org/p/50792/
[Accessed 29 April 2019].
Lasi, H. et al., 2014. Business & Information Systems Engineering. [Online]
Available at: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs12599-014-0334-4
[Accessed 29 April 2019].
Philipp Gerbert, M. L. ,. M. R. ,. M. W. ,. J. J. ,. P. E. ,. a. M. H., 2015. Industry 4.0: The Future of Productivity and Growth in Manufacturing Industries. [Online]
Available at: https://www.bcg.com/publications/2015/engineered_products_project_business_industry_4_future_productivity_growth_manufacturing_industries.aspx
[Accessed 1 May 2019].
Renée E. Derouin, B. A. F. E. S., 2005. E-Learning in Organizations. [Online]
Available at: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0149206305279815
[Accessed 29 April 2019].
Ugljesa Marjanovic, M. D. B. L., 2016. Developing a model to assess the success of e-learning systems: evidence from a manufacturing company in transitional economy. [Online]
Available at: https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/Developing-a-model-to-assess-the-success-of-from-a-Marjanovic-Delic/f2d7acc6a4a9fa25093edc816a94544de26853aa
[Accessed 4 May 2019].
Wagh, M., 2018. Top training challenges of the manufacturing industry. [Online]
Available at: https://enggenious.com/2018/12/31/top-training-challenges-of-the-manufacturing-industry/
[Accessed 3 May 2019].


Comments

  1. Razi JalaldeenMay 9, 2019 at 4:31 AM

    Thank you for bringing industry 4.0 for the discussion

    ReplyDelete
  2. RuwanMay 9, 2019 at 9:24 AM

    Nice topic and the future trend of the training and development. y gen willing to gain their knowledge and skills through modern technologies. Time management, maximum out come of the programme can be taken from e learning as well as the youth can be attracted to the smart factory rather than traditional training centres.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Naz Journals May 11, 2019 at 2:52 AM

    Interesting article, I agree with your article but, all the organisations cannot follow this especially organisations like the army where interpersonal skill is much required and has to have the physical training together with the team where e-learning cannot provide.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Apsara WickramarathneJune 2, 2019 at 11:33 PM

      Thank you. Yes i totally agree with you, all the organizations cannot follow the same e-learning processes as like you have mentioned when it comes to your organization it's more required physical training than a computer based training. There fore there can be obstacles when implementing e-learning in organizations like that.

      Delete
  4. RashidMay 11, 2019 at 6:20 AM

    Good article .. new content.
    In my company follow a system generated training need identification . When ever the performance appraisal done .. employee potal system generate and recommend training required individually ..

    ReplyDelete

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