Why do training programs fail? All too often, well-intentioned training programs don’t deliver results. Here’s how to ensure your robotics training is effective.
We invest in training because we want to produce a change in our business. Whether we want to increase manufacturing output, improve customer satisfaction, or develop more innovative products, we usually choose training with an end goal in mind.
Why might a training program fail to deliver results? While some reasons may be beyond our control, most of them can be traced back to the initial implementation of the training program.
Related: 6 Tips for Balancing the Robotics and Humans on Your Team
Developing a proper training program is essential for the growth of your employees.
Five Reasons why Training Programs Fail
There are many factors that cause training to fall short, but the five most common reasons come up time and again:
- Lack of alignment with business needs—Your robotics training program should be aligned with the long-term goals of your business. Training fails when there is no clear connection between training outcomes and business growth—in other words, avoid training for training’s sake.
- Lack of specific direction and focus—Each individual training activity should have a specific focus. For example, in robotics it can be more effective to train with a particular application or process in mind. Without this focus, it is harder for employees to apply the knowledge directly to their day-to-day job, which makes for less effective learning.
- Lack of monitoring—As we discussed recently, “what gets measured gets done.” Monitoring is an active process, especially because the effects of training are often intangible. It’s important to implement metrics from the start and monitor them throughout the training program.
- Lack of accountability—The success of a training program is as much the responsibility of employees as it is of management. Training programs often fail to deliver results when trainees do not personally commit to making a change. This can happen when the goals or content of the training program are not aligned with their own needs or jobs.
- Failure to gather and use feedback—Two-way feedback is the key to making both learning and training more effective. Training is not a “set it and forget it” activity. Training programs can fail to deliver when trainees don’t receive adequate feedback from instructors. Plus, feedback from trainees is essential for improving the program over time.
Of the five reasons, the final one is probably the most important. You can iron out any problems in a training program as long as you gather feedback effectively and work on continuous improvement.
But let’s say you’re just getting started. How can you implement your robotics training program correctly from the start?
The Simple Process for Ensuring Effective Training
Here at Robotiq, we want to make it as easy as possible for you to start training your own team of in-house robotics experts.