Amid this upheaval, technological advances have resulted in an evolution in the types of roles that need to be filled. With the automation of many lower skill-level factory jobs, there has been an increase in the need for workers who possess the advanced education and training to tackle higher-skilled jobs. Add to this the fact that technology is developing at a rapid pace, making it difficult for a single program to cover each and every new innovation.
Increased Efficiency, Higher Productivity
How maintenance and reliability training can transform the way you do business
The World of Reliability is Changing, Making Specialized Maintenance and Reliability Training More Valuable Than Ever.
Productivity and efficiency have skyrocketed thanks to innovation and the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT). The industry is adjusting to workforce shifts due to an aging population and a labor force participation rate that has plummeted to its lowest since the 1970s.
For many companies, the answer lies in continuing education. By providing the means for your workers to take maintenance and reliability training courses, you are investing in the future of your company. Training is not merely about learning a new skill that has a tangible application—although, of course, that is helpful. Ultimately, the true benefit of training comes from engaging and enlightening workers to give them the confidence and skills they need to enhance your company’s operations.
Common Scenarios Leading to
Productivity & Efficiency Issues
To determine what steps companies should take to improve, it’s necessary to take stock of current struggles with efficiency in maintenance and reliability. While there have been many positive changes over the last few decades, these developments have led to inevitable growing pains.
Some of the most common issues companies are facing include:
Lack of structure
Without a clear hierarchy and structure for maintenance, including a list of roles and responsibilities, chaos can and will ensue. Not having an established process will inevitably lead to inconsistent processes, resulting in multiple maintenance strategies to manage. Training courses can help management understand how to develop and lead a process that will get a company back on track.
Reactive Routines
Reactivity results from a lack of planning and structure—and when a company doesn’t establish a proactive system for maintenance, scrambling will become the default. Improvement starts at the top—it’s up to management to set the guidelines for how a team should handle asset maintenance. With proper training, employees will grow to understand the value of a proactive approach to maintenance and reliability.
Relying too heavily on "how it’s always been done"
Times are changing and companies are embracing modern technology, yet this isn’t stopping many from continuing to do something because “that’s the way it’s always been done.” This could be because people fear change or because the traditional way of doing things is familiar and comfortable. Either way, continuing down the same path simply because it’s the easy one isn’t the way to foster growth and efficiency.
Workforce Reduction & Attrition
The looming retirement of baby boomers is projected to cause a shortage of workers in the manufacturing sector. Aside from the obvious consequence of not having enough people, this loss will also mean that experienced workers will not be able to pass down their knowledge regarding skilled trades—knowledge that they have honed through years of experience. As these workers leave, it will become more important than ever for new employees to take charge of their own education and seek that knowledge through alternative sources.
The Solution
Maintenance & Reliability Training
Maintenance and reliability training has the potential to address many efficiency challenges. With more knowledge comes a better understanding of how things are done and—perhaps more importantly—why. Not only will this help employees feel more competent in their position, but it will also make them more invested in the company. Let’s outline the benefits of training for both the employee and the employer.
How Employees Benefit From Training
When a company makes the effort to provide training for employees, they are sending the message that they care about their workforce. Here are some of the key advantages that employees receive when they take maintenance and reliability training courses.
Better Employment Opportunities
Expanding a skill set will always lead to better opportunities. This is great for employees but can also work to the advantage of employers: imagine being able to promote from within your company rather than having to search high and low for a highly-qualified worker.
Elevated Confidence
Approaching a project with confidence will yield better results. Employees who possess the self-assurance to get a job done and do it well understand that results don’t happen without eort. This surety will translate to smoother task completion from beginning to end.
Improved Performance
Doing a better job is the obvious benefit of training: possessing additional skill sets, an employee’s performance will naturally improve. They will be better able to address the demands of their job, be quicker on their feet, and be more apt to develop innovative solutions. As a result, employees will feel more accomplished, company operations will be streamlined—and everyone will be happier.
How Employers Benefit From Training
When workers don’t possess the skills needed for a project, companies must either scramble to fill roles or spend valuable time explaining or reiterating how to do things. It doesn’t have to be this way! Opening the doors to training and education for your current employees is a much more valuable solution. Here are some of the perks that training will bring companies.
Adherence To Maintenance Programs
When asked to do something, most people respond better when they understand why they’re doing it. With in-depth knowledge of the importance of reliability comes a deeper appreciation for maintenance programs. Ultimately, this will motivate workers to adhere to set standards.
Less Downtime & Higher Customer Satisfaction
With a trained team that is well-equipped to take a proactive approach to maintenance and reliability, the stage will be set for better operations, less downtime, and—most importantly—more satisfied customers.
Putting It Into Context: How Training Could Change the Way You Work
Education and training courses have the potential to revitalize the way you do business. From entry-level employees to upper management, there are opportunities for anyone to improve. Here are a few scenarios in which training could be invaluable to your team.
- When a CBM Technician decides they’d like to add to their skill set to pursue a more advanced role (i.e. Reliability Engineer), they could glean valuable insights from a course such as Reliability Fundamentals.
- When an employee has just been promoted to a newly-created Reliability Engineer role within the company, this course on Leading Reliability Improvement would be invaluable to them starting out on the right foot.
- When management would like to lead and implement reliability initiatives, a course such as a Reliability Improvement Roadmap Workshop could help them map out a successful plan.
- When a company is undergoing a Work Execution Management improvement project and has new Planners and/or Schedulers who need to increase their understanding of the processes involved, they could benefit from a course such as Planning & Scheduling Fundamentals or Intermediate Planning & Scheduling.
- When you have one or two pieces of equipment that are bad actors or a production line that is unreliable, you may decide you need root cause analysis or reliability centered maintenance analysis performed. With a Root Cause Analysis (RCA) course, your team will be better equipped to identify the issues.
Curious about how maintenance and reliability training could impact your organization?
Check out Allied Reliability’s lineup of classes. Whether you're interested in refining specific skills or just want to generally enhance your reliability performance, our experienced instructors can help. Better yet, we have partnered with the University of Tennessee’s Reliability and Maintainability Center (RMC) so that our trainees will receive continuing education credits. Select courses are also approved by SMRP as they align with key subject areas related to reliability and physical asset management.
