Process management of any scale, requires a certain level of consistent competency in order to maintain standard performance and productivity levels. Variances in competencies can have a dynamic effect on the performance ratio and productivity levels eventually causing a ripple effect in the overall process. Elimination of these variances by using tailored, structured and specifically designed courseware to maintain competencies has multiple benefits beyond a simple rate of return.
Can Identify and Address Deficiencies
Not all of an operations’ deficiencies in competency or in process training are typical or publicly known. Often times, standardized materials have not addressed specifics in a particular segment of the process that is being employed. Furthermore, enhancements to any processes may not have been compensated for in the standardized materials and therefore have to be covered under supplementary guidelines and training that may not directly correspond to any previous training and in fact could contradict previous versions leading to confusion and on the fly procedures that have an adverse effect on performance and productivity. Custom courseware can identify and address these types of deficiencies.
Provides Competency Feedback and Correction
Beyond identifying and addressing deficiencies in both training and competencies, custom designed courseware can provide an avenue for immediate and real time feedback. This can in turn be used to generate benchmark results for which standards and new competencies can be developed, ensuring the overall quality of the coursework and the results provided. This enhances the overall utility of the custom courseware beyond establishing basic competencies.
Allows the Inclusion of Technological Enhancements
There is little to no debate on the effectiveness of adding technological enhancements to competency training. Technological enhancements such as real time modeling, 3D plant outlines, interactive simulations and more, further increase the results from custom designed courseware in ways that standardized generic off-the-shelf courseware does not. In addition, these technological enhancements can compensate for specific applications on a per location basis that might not correspond to other processes in other facilities.
Reduces the Training Footprint
Disruption of processes because trainees are required or tied to a specific location for training can be compensated for by using custom courseware. By allowing the training to take place remotely or on demand, the training impact on processes and time are lessened. This allows trainees to increase their competencies on their schedules without impacting the current process management.
Can Include Site Specific Procedures
Standardized generic off-the-shelf courseware is generally modeled on optimal situations and procedures. Custom courseware can account for changes that are specific to a plants’ operations. This is critical in process intense environments where process upsets can result in loss of life, production and sometimes even an organizations’ License-to-Operate. Standardized generic off-the-shelf competency courseware can only provide a general basis however, with custom courseware the learning can be site specific.
Enhances Individual Productivity and Performance
Custom courseware provides a pathway to competency that increases individual efficiency and performance. These in turn provide improved retention and an overall morale increase. It’s an ongoing process of building competency, building confidence, performance improvement, and retention. All of these are positive elements that improve not only process performance and productivity, but also increases safety and reduces downtime. All of which have an effect on the overall process management of mitigating risk, ensuring reliability and integrity of equipment and processes, and improving productivity.
It is clear that using custom courseware provides definitive and accountable results that will improve process and system productivity and performance. It further provides positive outcomes for personnel.