Whether small and medium-sized enterprises or large corporations, many companies in the industry face the same challenge: How do we train (many!) specialists in a practical and cost-efficient way on complex topics? Right – the simplest way is digitally! Learn in the article how e-learning and industry go together, how to solve the biggest challenges, and for which topics e-learning is worthwhile in production.
In Germany, about 5.7 million employees work in the industry. This also means: 5.7 million people must regularly participate in training.
Especially in light of the strong digitalization, ongoing training in the industry is becoming increasingly important: production workers must be well-trained to work efficiently with new procedures, processes, and machines. On-site training is cumbersome, expensive, and disrupts high productivity goals right at the workplace. Therefore, the aim should be to make further education fast, standardized, and flexible. E-learning offers these possibilities.
E-learning and Industry – How do they fit together?
When it comes to the word "Digital", the industry in Germany does not rank among the top sectors: With a digitalization index of 60 out of 100 points, it lags far behind other sectors such as logistics and information. Digital offerings (for customers as well as employees) perform particularly poorly. This is shown in the following graphic:
However, the current digitalization study (summary see infographic) also shows: Trend rising – The industry is becoming increasingly digital! Especially in digital tools and mobile devices, investments have been made during the coronavirus crisis. This also opens up opportunities to conduct further education digitally – thereby increasing employee productivity.
Human resources developers and trainers in the industry should utilize these advantages early so that industrial companies remain competitive in the long term!
Advantages of E-Learning in Industry and Production
E-learning allows for standardization of knowledge. All employees access uniform online resources, quickly obtaining unified and up-to-date knowledge for their respective work routines.
E-learning enables up-to-date information. Traditional manuals and training materials also guarantee uniform knowledge, but not timeliness: "Printed today, outdated tomorrow!" – In contrast, digital learning content can be quickly adapted, replaced, or supplemented.
Reading tip: 5 quick ways to create content for online training
E-learning saves time. By learning directly or nearby the workplace, on-site training can be replaced or shortened with online support (blended learning). Employees can learn flexibly at their workplace and during working hours, without delays or absences.
Reading tip: Info page "Blended Learning in Practice"
E-learning is scalable. Unlike training rooms, online courses are also suitable for large groups of participants. This makes e-learning an effective solution for SMEs with 10 production employees up to large companies with several thousand employees.
Diverse advantages – yet e-learning is still rarely used in the industry today. So what speaks against digital solutions to understand practical processes?
Challenges for E-Learning in Industry & Production
The advantages are clear. But how can you start with e-learning in the area of industry? We summarize typical challenges – and how to solve them!
Challenge 1: No access to online-enabled devices at the workplace
In an interview with blink.it, SME digitalization expert Stefan Enzler reports challenges that apply to the production sector of all company sizes:
"Often, there is a computer in the companies, but the location lacks a suitable learning environment and overall, there are too few devices for the employees. There is often insufficient infrastructure to facilitate digital learning smoothly."
Solution: Devices and/or learning rooms for production workers
To fully leverage the opportunities of e-learning, companies must upgrade technically. Tablets can be a good solution, allowing employees to flexibly use them directly at the workplace. Some companies have also successfully set up learning rooms with multiple computers, shared by employees during shifts.
Solution for poor access to computers: With tablets, production workers can learn directly at the workplace.
Challenge 2: Old learning culture causes resistance among employees
It is primarily a cultural problem that keeps employees away from e-learning, according to digitalization expert Stefan Enzler (link to the interview above):
"Often, the mindset prevails that 'if I only look at the computer, I am not productive!'… At the level of shift leaders or production workers, this represents a strong cultural break to leave the workplace to learn during working hours."
Solution: New learning culture in industrial companies
The lack of or incorrect learning culture is not just a problem in the industry but a challenge in almost all sectors. The first step ideally comes from the management: leaders such as shift leaders or foremen should act as role models, clearly communicate learning times, and promote learning as part of work.
Reading tip: Personnel development: Learning culture begins at the management level!
Challenge 3: (Lack of) IT affinity among production workers
The third major issue: Digital media do not belong to the work routine for most production employees. Stefan Enzler states:
"In private situations, employees navigate this digital world with their smartphones, watch videos, and actively seek information. But at work, they wait for information and do not use the digital world as independently as at home."
Solution: Increase motivation, minimize barriers
To ensure that employees accept e-learning as a new digital method, two steps help:
You must clearly convey the advantages, ideally directly and personally. Employees need to understand why it is important and helpful for them and their work to participate in e-learning. This raises the motivation to engage with the digital tools.
Choose a simple e-learning tool like blink.it, which has proven itself in many SMEs and production companies. Focus on simple, intuitive operation to avoid confusing less IT-savvy employees. This keeps the barrier low.
Summary: Challenges & Solutions in the Industry
| Challenge in E-Learning | Solution for E-Learning || --------------------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- || No access to online-enabled devices at the workplace | Provision of tablets or learning rooms with multiple computers || Negative attitude of employees towards learning | Establish a new learning culture, leaders serve as role models, set learning times || Lack of IT affinity among employees | Clearly convey advantages of e-learning, choose a simple e-learning tool to lower the barrier |
These Topics Are Suitable for E-Learning in Production
In principle, e-learning is suitable for almost all work-related topics. However, three major focuses from the industry can be communicated particularly easily or effectively digitally: occupational safety, machine handling, and onboarding.
Occupational safety as e-learning
With e-learning, you can suddenly make "dry" safety instructions exciting and realistic! For example, with videos shot directly at the workplace that show potential hazardous situations. Changes or additions to safety regulations can be easily updated in an online course rather than in a manual or handout. Today, most LMS (Learning Management Systems) can automatically issue certificates that allow employees to prove their regular participation in safety training.Operating Machines as E-Learning
For technical instruction, video creation is particularly simple and inexpensive: Experienced colleagues can shoot short videos showing the correct hand movements. New employees can “look over the shoulder” and directly apply what they have seen. Detailed instructions or videos also support employees in everyday life: When employees can access learning videos directly at the workplace, they can resolve arising questions or problems themselves (“I’ll check the video again”). This minimizes interruptions and prevents operational errors.Onboarding New Production Employees as E-Learning
Even in the onboarding of new employees, learning videos save time and effort: A course can also incorporate many pieces of information that would otherwise be distributed orally or in paper form (and often quickly get lost): General regulations, IT training, duty and room plans, and so on – simply everything that new employees need in their first days. This information is always flexibly available as e-learning, does not get lost, and can be reused for each new employee. Win-win: This also saves time in the HR department and for those responsible at the workplace.
Reading tip: Blended Onboarding – Quick onboarding thanks to the combination of online course and personal support
Conclusion: Why Investing in E-Learning is Worth It for the Industry
E-learning offers great opportunities for industry and production: Through standardization and flexibility, both time savings and higher employee productivity can be achieved. The most common problems, such as lack of devices, can be easily resolved. This pays off in the long run for companies that now exploit the possibilities of e-learning in industry and production.
A crucial basis for any successful e-learning in the industry is an e-learning tool that is easy for both training managers and employees to use. In practice, blink.it has proven itself in production companies, from SMEs to large corporations. Just try it out for yourself!
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