How Online Training Simulations Improve Manufacturing

Please note this blog was updated on 1/14/2021.

Try to remember the first time you learned how to swim or how to drive. How did you learn? By doing it, of course. It is common sense that you learn best by doing it hands-on. However, in the corporate sector, it is not always possible to learn on-the-job. There are certain jobs where one simple mistake can have grave consequences.

You can roll out training programs for employees, but you are not sure whether your employees are actually learning anything. Just because they have completed the modules, it does not mean that they have enhanced their skills. A good option in such a scenario is to use the simulation for training.

Here is why simulation training is gaining popularity in the training community.

With simulation, your employees can freely practice high-risk activities that they may not do in the real world for fear of the damage they may cause.
Users get instant feedback in a simulated environment and it is highly beneficial to learning.
Simulations are highly interactive. The learners do not need to sit and listen to the lectures passively.
A simulated environment tries to emulate the real-life as much as possible. It uses imagery closest to the real environment of the employee.
There is no time or location limitation with online simulations. Learners can access it from anywhere, anytime.
You can customize the training based on skill levels.

Simulations in the manufacturing sector

The manufacturing industry is fast-paced and diversified, and each dollar manufacturers invest in safety programs can provide a payback of $4-$6 in reduced costs, according to the Safety Management Group. Employees need to continually upgrade themselves if they want to stay relevant. The Manufacturer’s Institute predicted that there would be a production worker shortage of around 63% by 2020. This was a huge number, and the gap will keep increasing if not addressed. There may be several reasons for this shortage. The manufacturing sector needs to work together to portray manufacturing careers as more appealing. They need to make the training curricula and programs exciting. And, it’s not just about attracting outside talent. It is also about retaining the existing workforce and upskilling them.

Each dollar manufacturers invest in safety programs can provide a payback of $4-$6 in reduced costs.

This is where simulations prove to be a reliable solution. Manufacturers can use simulations to train the employees and close the skill gap faster. A production line career can be stressful, especially when there are large-scale productions and there is zero-tolerance for any error. A production job can be really complicated and dangerous. If your employees are not at the top of their tasks, then there can be huge damages on both life and property.

You can build a simulated environment that replicates the real-life production job scenario. You can get into intricate details about the job. The idea is to provide an opportunity for the employees to be able to practice their jobs without the fear of being penalized for their mistakes. In a virtual environment, they are allowed to make as many mistakes and learn from them. The more they practice, the better they get at their jobs and decrease the mistakes made.

There may be times when your employees need to learn a new manufacturing skill immediately. Online simulations are best suited for such situations as they help reduce the seat time and offer employees an engaging experience. When they are engaged, they learn faster and remember better.

At Designing Digitally, Inc. we understand that learning by doing is the most effective way to gain knowledge. We have technology that makes it feasible to simulate a true-to-life environment that is safe, non-threatening, and affordable.

Live chat with our team or book a free consultation today to learn more about how your company’s training could be improved with simulated learning experiences!