Just in Time Learning and How it Benefits Corporate Training

The concept of Just-In-Time (JIT) has its origins in Japan. Its first global use started with the Japanese carmaker Toyota. Its background and purpose come from a simple philosophy—when and how you need it. If it is a service, it means getting it when you want it. It means that you don't get it before or after—just in time.

This concept has unlimited usage in management and business. Its first use revolved around the timely acquisition of raw materials and delivery of client orders. It helped the global carmaker deliver what the customers wanted at the time they wanted it. Similarly, just in time learning is an emerging trend in corporate training. It means getting the knowledge and skills when you require them. The concept recommends that you make training on the most relevant skills and expertise available to your team at the time they need it.

For example, a sales team requires training on a new product so that they can competently educate customers. When do they need the training? Exactly when the product is ready for the market. Shortly after the manufacturing team delivers the products in the fulfillment centers, the company has to conduct just in time training. Employees will know know how to answer any customer questions about the new product.

Just in time learning seeks to remedy the lack of communication common in multi-departmental organizations. For example, when one department is ready but the other one is lagging behind. The whole organization can run smoothly with JIT training. There are many benefits of JIT learning, which include:

Employees Can Retain Much of What Is Taught

Employees have to soak in a lot of information from multiple sources. Remembering everything about the company is a big task. Companies don't need to burden their staff with unnecessary content. If the information is outdated, it is better off in the archives. Organizations can impart the most relevant material at the right moment.

Sometimes you can deliver just what is used every season, month, week or even day. Since your team uses the information immediately, the retention rate is always high. Besides, it provides information that is relatable to important learning milestones. Human memory is known to be anchored to specific instances in one's life. Time is an important pillar to give people a chronological order in which to pin information to in order to remember.

Goes Hand In Hand with Reinforcement to Learning

Just in time training of staff is in itself reinforcement to learning. For example, your team might require a refresher course on some of the emerging technologies, tasks, or changes. Interactivity in learning, whether it is online training or on-job training, helps you retain what you have learned for longer. The learning process is fast. The overall cost of manual and online learning solutions will be relatively low.

Staff Can Engage More with the Learning Process

Just in time training occurs while people are on the job. This allows them to immediately implement the material they have learned. In many ways, this is advantageous over theoretical learning, where learners have to generate a mental picture of the process they are learning. You can update the training as often as needed. The overall outcome of this method of practical training is a well-informed employee who is eager to improve his or her workplace. You will have proactive staff who can overcome simple malfunctions in machines or processes by utilizing your company’s library of training material.

It Helps Align Staffing Needs with Departmental Traits

Training on demand can help maximize how people learn. It can also preserve the inner workings of departments in an organization. You can keep the culture intact even in the face of a learning process. For example, some departments prefer manual checks to digital ones. A department can tailor the learning based on their preference. Eventually, the department can keep its identity through a uniform culture.

It Is an Ingredient to Increased Productivity

Learning and training play a key role in enhancing productivity. Employees can do their work effectively without making mistakes. There will be fewer injuries and accidents for people trained to use new machines. Tasks will be completed faster. For example, a person who is shown how to fill out a form using a real situation has a better chance of completing forms accurately, saving the company money in the process. Competent sales teams can deliver on their quotas, too.

It Is Easy To Incorporate Technology into the Learning Process

Today, online learning solutions have revolutionized training. It is possible to conduct all of your training through digital platforms. Smartphones have made it feasible for people to experience interactive learning via various forms of media. In the workplace, such digital platforms can help remind employees how to conduct processes.

For example, departments that carry out different tasks at different times can help employees adapt every time the tasks change. For instance, a meat processing company can have the same employees handling abattoir operations, sorting and packing. A simple demo video can help employees shift from one work to the next, minimizing expenses and mistakes.