In the era of Industry 4.0, digitalization is emerging as a necessary step for the growth of a company. Methods of training in operating procedures are moving from traditional approaches (paper, PDF, oral transmission) to digitized, more intuitive and more engaging solutions.
This article explores the various facets of digitalization of training in industry, focusing on its advantages, the challenges encountered during the training of operators in the field, and inspiring examples of companies that have succeeded in digitizing their operating methods.
The digitalization of training in industry offers a multitude of advantages.
First of all, it allows for increased flexibility, allowing operators to access training modules at any time and from anywhere. This flexibility is particularly crucial in an industrial environment where work schedules can be irregular.
In addition, digitalization facilitates the personalization of training according to the individual needs of operators. Programs can be adapted to meet the specific skills required in each role, allowing for more effective and relevant learning.
Traceability of employee progress is also becoming more accessible thanks to skills management functionalities, offering businesses a clear vision of the skills developed by their teams.
Finally, the digitalization of training in operating procedures makes it possible to create more fun and therefore more engaging paths for employees. In particular, the integration of videos can make it possible to illustrate complex manipulations and thus reduce the number of misinterpretation errors.
The digitalization of training brings numerous advantages, however, it is not without challenges, especially when it comes to training operators in the field.
One of the major challenges lies in the need to maintain human interaction, which is essential for the transmission of practical skills. Digital journeys should not be a total substitute for human interaction, quite the contrary. They make interactions richer, allowing the expert to intervene only on complex questions for which his expertise will have the greatest added value.
Some employees may also be unfamiliar with digital tools, requiring additional efforts to ensure a successful adoption of digital training. Today, however, most platforms for digitizing training, such as Komin.io, integrate ultra-intuitive interfaces adapted to a large number of users.
Many companies in the industry are taking advantage of digitalization to gain operational efficiency. General Electric, for example, has integrated virtual simulators to train its engineers on preventive maintenance procedures. This approach has increased efficiency while reducing risks.
Airbus has also adopted digitalization by introducing augmented reality technologies to train its assembly technicians. This has not only simplified training processes, but has also led to a reduction in human errors and an overall improvement in quality.
We can also mention Erard Industrie, which has taken the digital leap by digitizing its operating methods. Digitalization has made it possible to produce operating procedures 10 times faster but above all to reduce the risk of error through the use of video, which was not possible with paper-based guides.
In conclusion, the digitalization of training in industry offers significant advantages for effectively training operators in the field. It can be perceived as a major challenge for manufacturers using a majority of paper guides. However, with strategic planning and appropriate support, projects to digitalize training in industry make it possible to train operators more quickly, improve operational performance, and reduce the risks of error.
“With Komin, we documented our operating procedures 10x faster than with paper”
- J. Cerruti (Methods & Industrialization Manager)
