Reflection - Learning Launch

Challenge:

I was tasked to set up a new revenue generation vertical in our organisation. We are in the business  of providing Industrial automation solutions to manufacturing industries in the automotive, FMCG and  general machineries sectors. The challenge was to create a new business vertical, which, obviously  would not compete with the current business processes and operations. Also, the goal was not to  develop a centre of excellence for a dedication application. We had to come up with a totally new  process/activity/service which will eventually contribute organisation’s revenues. Over the years we  have been hearing customers say that there aren’t adequately trained fresh graduates in the field of  manufacturing automation. These graduates lacked the exposure and hand on training on automation  equipment’s. Customers face difficulty in getting these freshers skilled up as the expensive  production (capital) equipment’s cannot be freed up for training and on the job trainings failed to  deliver desired results. To address this customer problem we decided to start a training academy.

Selection:

We wanted to test this idea of training academy and hence used the learning launch tool. We had to  create a practice set-up where the trainees would be trained thoroughly. The necessary resources  like spare machinery, space and budget was allocated.

Application:

We started out by laying out the equipment in way it would be in the factory rather than it would be  set up in a training lab. To enhance the learning and understanding experience graphical user  interfaces were set up which give additional information to the learner. We then invited team leaders  from the manufacturing units to check if the facility was able to provide training in a way which would  enable the trainees to perform and function at efficiencies which were desired by the industries.  Feedback was collected from representatives of different industries and the training modules and  equipment were tweaked so that we could meet at least 70% of the requirements.

With the modified modules, equipment, layouts, etc., we invited fresh hires from those manufacturing  industries who had participated in the earlier learning launch exercise. These trainees were trained  on the equipment and processes and also tested on the same. By practising the learning launch tool  we have tested our idea of a training academy in a quick and economical way. We did not have to  invest on new machinery or (capital) equipment. Now, the trained new hires were now deployed back  to their jobs. An assessment was carried out on their delivery post training and the feedback was very  positive. We were successful in delivering what the customer wanted. Their burning issues were  addressed to a great extent. A dedicated and holistic training for 2 weeks, time-lapsed the efficiency  of the trainees by 6 months!

Insight:

By applying the learning launch tool we could understand how successful our design was, we could  estimate the extent to which we could achieve our customer’s expectations and we also learned that  there is a market for this business vertical to scale up. Additionally, we also discovered new avenues  for growth in this segment. We could deliver better results if we grouped trainees from a particular  industry and provided them training. We could achieve 2X satisfaction levels!

Approach:

Learning launch is an appropriate tool for validating before deployment. The team will use this tool to  expand portfolio of training provided (like covering more industries) or approach schools to participate  in the training programs to make the students ready to be absorbed by the industries and for  validating any modification to the content and delivery mechanisms. Learning launch can also be

used to test the concept in new geographic locations. Based on the outcome the business model can  be duplicated or tweaked and the final roll out could happen.


Reflection - Learning Launch Challenge : I was tasked to set up a new revenue generation vertical in our organisation . We are in the business of providing Industrial automation solutions to manufacturing industries in the automotive , FMCG and general machineries sectors . The challenge was to create a new business vertical , which , obviously would not compete with the current business processes and operations . Also , the goal was not to develop a centre of excellence for a dedication application . We had to come up with a totally new process / activity / service which will eventually contribute organisation ’s revenues . Over the years we have been hearing customers say that there are n’t adequately trained fresh graduates in the field of manufacturing automation . These graduates lacked the exposure and hand on training on automation equipment ’s . Customers face difficulty in getting these freshers skilled up as the expensive production ( capital ) equipment ’s can not be freed up for training and on the job trainings failed to deliver desired results . To address this customer problem we decided to start a training academy . Selection : We wanted to test this idea of training academy and hence used the learning launch tool . We had to create a practice set - up where the trainees would be trained thoroughly . The necessary resources like spare machinery , space and budget was allocated . Application : We started out by laying out the equipment in way it would be in the factory rather than it would be set up in a training lab . To enhance the learning and understanding experience graphical user interfaces were set up which give additional information to the learner . We then invited team leaders from the manufacturing units to check if the facility was able to provide training in a way which would enable the trainees to perform and function at efficiencies which were desired by the industries . Feedback was collected from representatives of different industries and the training modules and equipment were tweaked so that we could meet at least 70 % of the requirements . With the modified modules , equipment , layouts , etc . , we invited fresh hires from those manufacturing industries who had participated in the earlier learning launch exercise . These trainees were trained on the equipment and processes and also tested on the same . By practising the learning launch tool we have tested our idea of a training academy in a quick and economical way . We did not have to invest on new machinery or ( capital ) equipment . Now , the trained new hires were now deployed back to their jobs . An assessment was carried out on their delivery post training and the feedback was very positive . We were successful in delivering what the customer wanted . Their burning issues were addressed to a great extent . A dedicated and holistic training for 2 weeks , time - lapsed the efficiency of the trainees by 6 months ! Insight : By applying the learning launch tool we could understand how successful our design was , we could estimate the extent to which we could achieve our customer ’s expectations and we also learned that there is a market for this business vertical to scale up . Additionally , we also discovered new avenues for growth in this segment . We could deliver better results if we grouped trainees from a particular industry and provided them training . We could achieve 2X satisfaction levels ! Approach : Learning launch is an appropriate tool for validating before deployment . The team will use this tool to expand portfolio of training provided ( like covering more industries ) or approach schools to participate in the training programs to make the students ready to be absorbed by the industries and for validating any modification to the content and delivery mechanisms . Learning launch can also be used to test the concept in new geographic locations . Based on the outcome the business model can be duplicated or tweaked and the final roll out could happen .