With over 208 million employees worldwide, the manufacturing industry contributes $35 trillion to the global economy. Ensuring that employees are well-trained is crucial to the success of manufacturing companies, especially in light of ever-changing regulations and the importance of safety when working with machinery and equipment.
Learning Management Systems (LMS) provide a solution for manufacturers who are challenged by providing the relevant training for their staff. Whether it is onboarding new employees, sharing updated regulations and compliance information, or upskilling existing employees to take on new roles, it can be difficult to find the time in a busy manufacturing plant to devote to training.
LMS puts learning opportunities online, allowing employees to access the information and complete the modules at their own pace when it’s convenient for them. There is no need to coordinate schedules or pay for repeat live training courses – the information is uploaded one time and can easily be edited when needed and used over and over for as many employees as necessary.
Read on to discover the benefits of LMS in manufacturing settings and how to get started today.
Key Features of Manufacturing-Specific LMS
Like most industries, manufacturing companies have certain areas of focus that are crucial elements of their training programs. The beauty of LMS is the flexibility and ability to be tailored to meet industry-specific needs. Here are some of the essential features that a manufacturing LMS should offer:
- Safety Compliance Tracking – Safety is paramount in manufacturing, especially as employees often work with complex machinery and hazardous materials in high-risk environments. Therefore, a manufacturing LMS should include safety compliance tracking, enabling companies to ensure that every worker completes mandatory safety training. By automating reminders and tracking progress on safety certifications, the LMS can make sure that all employees are equipped with the latest safety knowledge, reducing the number of accidents.
- Regulatory Compliance Management – All around the world, the manufacturing industry is highly regulated, with companies required to meet local, national and international requirements. A manufacturing-specific LMS should facilitate regulatory compliance with training modules designed to focus on all relevant regulations and automated tracking and monitoring to ensure that each employee has completed the required modules.
- Supply Chain Training Modules – Every manufacturing company is part of a larger supply chain that includes suppliers, logistics providers and even customers. Keeping employees up-to-date on best practices, standards and supply chain processes is key to company success. Supply chain training modules may include topics such as inventory management, quality control, and lean manufacturing principles.
- User-Friendly Interface for Diverse Employee Levels – A manufacturing workforce tends to be diverse, including employees with different levels of education, technical expertise and language proficiency. An ideal LMS for this sector must have an intuitive, user-friendly interface that is accessible to all employees, from floor workers to managerial staff. Customizable features like multilingual options and mobile access enable the widest range of employees to use the platform.
Benefits of Bite-Sized Learning in Manufacturing
There are so many topics as skills that manufacturing employees need to cover, and it can be overwhelming and difficult to maintain the motivation needed to stay engaged and properly absorb the material. With LMS, complex topics can be broken down into smaller, “bite-sized” focused modules, making it especially beneficial where time is limited and training must be practical and immediately applicable.
Benefits of bite-sized learning in manufacturing include:
- Improved Knowledge Retention – Traditional training methods tend to overload employees with information, leading to lower retention and less confidence in applying what they’ve learned. With bite-sized learning, employees can learn one concept at a time, allowing them to process and retain information more effectively. For example, rather than covering an entire safety protocol in one session, a bite-sized approach can break it down into individual steps such as machine-handling, emergency procedures, and the use of personal protective equipment. This method reinforces key concepts, leading to improved recall of information and better job performance.
- Enhanced Employee Engagement – Bite-sized learning aligns with modern attention spans and is more engaging. Workers in manufacturing facilities often work long shifts with minimal downtime, making it difficult to dedicate large blocks of time to training. With shorter, more targeted sessions, employees can remain engaged without feeling overwhelmed. Because LMS is accessible on mobile devices, employees can progress through courses at the time and place of their choosing and can revisit lessons as needed. The sense of control over their own learning journey enhances motivation, leading to a more skilled workforce.
- Quick Adaptation to New Processes – Equipment, procedures, and compliance regulations can change rapidly in manufacturing, and bite-sized training allows for agile, flexible training that can adapt to these changes. When new processes are introduced, for example, small learning modules can be developed and rolled out swiftly, providing employees with the training they need without significant disruption to operations.
Implementing an Effective Training Program
The flexibility inherent in LMS means that every manufacturing company can create their own training program that best meets their unique needs. Developing an effective program requires thoughtful planning, from designing training modules that align with the company objectives to integrating the modules into the chosen LMS solution, and evaluating their success.
Here are best practices to keep in mind for manufacturing companies looking to create an implement a successful LMS training program:
Step 1: Create Targeted and Practical Training Modules
The foundation of an effective training program lies in creating modules that are directly relevant to the specific environment. This means developing content that focuses on the skills, processes and safety protocols employees need to perform their jobs.
Start by identifying key areas where training can make the most impact, such as equipment operations, safety compliance, quality control or workflow optimization. Each module should be concise and focused, sharing actionable insights. Incorporating real-life scenarios and practical exercises into the modules can also enhance understanding and retention.
Step 2: Integrate Training Modules into the LMS
Once the modules are designed, the next step is integrating or uploading them to the platform. A manufacturing-focused LMS should allow for flexibility in structuring modules based on different job roles, departments or skill levels, ensuring that each employee receives the relevant training. By setting up learning paths and tracking, companies can monitor employee progress and provide personalized support where needed.
Step 3: Measure Impact on Employee Performance and Company Productivity
To determine the effectiveness of a training program, it’s important to measure its impact on individual performance as well as on overall company productivity. An LMS can provide valuable data on completion rates, quiz scores (if applicable), module engagement and more, allowing managers to see how well employees are absorbing the material.
It’s also essential to track performance metrics on the factory floor, such as production efficiency, error rates and safety incidents in order to see if training outcomes are translating into real-world improvements. Based on findings, companies can refine the training modules and focus on the areas that need improvement.
Success Story: Enhancing Sales Training with Bite-Sized Learning
A Fortune 500 tech manufacturer, known for its production of hardware and software, sought a way to enhance its well-regarded internal LMS, called “Accelerate.” While Accelerate provided in-depth webinars and detailed training materials, the company was looking for a lighter, more agile solution to reinforce learning.
By implementing Bites, they were able to complement Accelerate with bite-sized, mobile-friendly content that recapped key information from longer training sessions. Employees could access these short modules on preferred platforms like WhatsApp or email, making training easy to revisit from anywhere.
The format proved popular, with 82% of employees regularly using the platform and high engagement in discussions. The company was able to fill knowledge gaps, improve retention and empower its workforce, all while keeping costs low by repurposing existing materials into easily-digestible video “bites.”
Challenges and Considerations
While a Learning Management System provides valuable benefits for training and development in manufacturing, its implementation isn’t without challenges. For a successful deployment, it’s essential to recognize potential obstacles and address them proactively where possible. Common challenges include:
- System Integration – Integrating an LMS with other systems and solutions already in place can be complex, especially if the current infrastructure isn’t well-designed for compatibility. To overcome this, it’s important to look for LMS platforms that are designed to integrate seamlessly with a variety of systems.
- User Adoption – Getting employees to embrace a new LMS can be challenging, particularly in manufacturing settings where employees may be less accustomed to digital training tools. To encourage adoption, companies should focus on selecting a user-friendly platform and providing initial guidance and support.
- Maintaining Up-to-Date Content – It can be easy to create content once and then forget about it, but as regulations or processes change this can result in newer employees learning information that is out-of-date. An effective strategy is to appoint a dedicated content manager to track updates in industry standards and company procedures and coordinate timely revisions to all training material.
By acknowledging these potential challenges and implementing solutions for integration, user adoption and content maintenance, companies can set the stage for a smooth LMS implementation.
Future Trends in LMS for Manufacturing
As new technologies and innovative learning methodologies emerge, the future is bright for LMS. These advancements promise to enhance the training process, making it more personalized, efficient and engaging for manufacturing employees. Some of the trends shaping the future of LMS in manufacturing include:
- AI-Driven Learning – Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming LMS platforms with automation and personalization capabilities. AI can analyze employee learning data to provide tailored recommendations, identify skill gaps and suggest relevant modules based on individual progress and needs. In addition, AI-driven insights allow managers to make data-backed decisions about workforce training, improving overall productivity.
- Virtual Reality (VR) Training – VR is gaining traction as a powerful tool for immersive training in manufacturing. VR simulations can replicate complex machinery, safety scenarios and emergency procedures, allowing employees to learn and practice skills in a controlled, risk-free environment. This experiential approach boosts engagement while also reinforcing essential skills through active learning.
- Personalized Learning Paths – As manufacturing roles become more specialized, personalized learning paths are key. Employees will be able to follow tailored learning journeys based on their roles, experience levels and even career aspirations. Each employee will be able to receive the training most relevant to their job and growth goals, enhancing learning efficiency and motivation.
The introduction of AI, VR and personalized learning paths in LMS platforms will mean a dynamic future for manufacturing training. By adopting these trends, companies can build a highly-skilled workforce prepared for whatever comes their way.
Empowering Manufacturing with a Modern LMS
An LMS can be a transformative tool for manufacturers, elevating training programs to strengthen compliance and productivity across the board. By embracing modern, bite-sized learning methods, manufacturing companies can deliver relevant, accessible training to support a skilled and agile workforce. With the right LMS, manufacturing companies are better positioned to adapt swifty to new challenges, maintain a competitive edge and foster continuous improvement.
Bites.io offers an agile, mobile-friendly solution that’s easy to use and powerful in impact. With Bites, manufacturing companies can create engaging, bite-sized training modules for employees to access anywhere, anytime, keeping them informed and prepared. Whether as a standalone tool or a complement to an existing LMS, Bites enables manufacturers to deliver essential knowledge and skill at the moment of need, empowering their teams to reach their full potential.