Skillsoft: The Power of Training in Manufacturing

Please introduce yourself and your role

I am Mark Onisk, the Chief Content Officer at Skillsoft where I work with our enterprise customers to develop innovative talent development solutions.

What inspired the creation of Skillsoft? 

Our purpose is to propel organizations and their people to grow together through transformative learning solutions.

Our vision is to be the number one talent development partner for both organizations and learners.

Skillsoft supports continuous growth and performance for employees and their organisations by addressing critical skill gaps and unlocking human potential, through a portfolio of top-tier content, a personalised platform aligned with customer needs, world-class technology and an extensive network of partners.

Why is training of paramount importance to today's manufacturing sector? 

In an environment where innovation, precision, productivity and safety are paramount, learning is essential for equipping employees with the skills and knowledge to adapt, grow and succeed. We also believe that the nature of manufacturing is being redefined through rapid advancements in AI, cloud, IoT and other digital technologies.

Macroeconomic factors, including global conflict, supply chain issues and the aftermath of Brexit, have made it harder for the UK manufacturing industry to thrive, leading to a decline in productivity.

In 2023, UK productivity was 24% lower than it would have been if it had continued to grow at pre-financial crisis rates.

Additionally, in the manufacturing sector, 80% of employers say they are struggling to find people with the right skills to fill their job openings.

The industry also struggles to keep pace with technological advancements and current educational programmes often do not meet industry needs, especially in areas like AI, robotics and data analytics.

According to the ECITB, nearly 20% of the current manufacturing and engineering workforce in the UK will retire by 2026.

To fill this gap, the government estimates that 186,000 skilled workers need to be recruited every year. This presents a significant challenge for manufacturers to find and upskill the talent required for the current market.

Manufacturing environments are hazardous, making it crucial for employees to have the necessary training to maintain high safety standards on the factory floor and respond effectively to emergencies.

Training also ensures that employees are continuously learning and adapting, ultimately improving outputs and enhancing businesses' competitiveness in the marketplace. 

How is Skillsoft working with manufacturing companies globally to enhance training on the factory floor? 

The biggest challenge in supporting factory floor workers is their limited access to computers, as they are focused on manual tasks. This means training must be versatile, succinct and engaging to fit around their work schedules.

Our training focuses on compliance, ensuring factory workers are always up to date with the latest regulations and safety standards.

We partner with a global leader in polymer engineering and manufacturing to address this challenge, implementing compliance training for their teams across 10 locations in the US, as well as in Belgium, Germany, Singapore and China.

The company previously relied on group, in-person training sessions.

However, keeping up with ongoing changes and ensuring consistent messaging became difficult and ineffective. We identified that automated global training, deliverable in multiple languages and adaptable to frontline employees' schedules, was exactly what the business needed.

Can you expand on the technical training that Skillsoft offers to manufacturers?

Skillsoft offers a variety of solutions tailored for the modern manufacturing environment:

1. Compliance Training: Essential for meeting industry-specific regulations and standards, including safety protocols, environmental regulations and quality management systems.

2. Technical and Engineering Training: Courses to enhance technical skills in areas such as machinery operation, maintenance, engineering principles and advanced manufacturing technologies.

3. Leadership and Management Training: Programs to develop leadership skills among supervisors and managers, focusing on effective team management, problem-solving and decision-making.

4. Power Skills Training: Courses to improve communication, teamwork and other interpersonal skills crucial in a manufacturing environment.

5. Professional Development: A wide range of courses for continuous professional development, including project management and other methodologies relevant to manufacturing.

How are the above solutions tailored to specific industry verticals?

All our training programmes stay up to date with relevant legislation, technical skills and leadership and management training applicable across various industry verticals.

Our AI-driven learning experience platform, Skillsoft’s Percipio, allows us to develop tailored training for specific sectors, enabling us to create programmes for a range of industries, from manufacturing to finance.

You offer courses on leadership, power skills and professional development. Can you expand on how these courses help develop these skills and why these skills are so critical to manufacturing? 

In the manufacturing sector, leadership skills are crucial for several reasons. Effective leaders streamline processes, reduce waste and increase productivity. Most importantly, leaders establish and set the standards for a performance-driven culture.

They foster a culture of innovation, vital for staying competitive.

Good leadership improves employee morale, leading to higher job satisfaction and reduced turnover, thus maintaining a stable workforce. Additionally, strong leadership ensures quick responses to crises, minimising downtime and financial loss.

Power skills, often referred to as soft skills, are also essential.

Emotional intelligence helps individuals understand and manage their emotions while empathising with others. Adaptability enables quick adjustments to new processes, technologies and market demands.

Enhanced problem-solving skills foster critical thinking and effective solutions. These courses also improve collaboration, fostering a cooperative work environment. Power skills are indispensable in manufacturing, contributing to workplace harmony, reducing conflicts and improving teamwork.

They enhance customer relations, leading to better service and retention. Improved problem-solving and adaptability result in continuous product quality improvement. Strong communication and emotional intelligence also contribute to a safer working environment.

Professional development is another key area covered by Skillsoft.

Continuous learning helps individuals keep up with industry trends and technologies, opening up new career opportunities and promotions. Analytical and problem-solving skills are honed, enabling efficient task prioritisation and meeting deadlines.

Ongoing professional development ensures employees stay up to date with industry regulations and standards, reducing errors and improving efficiency.

What do manufacturers often overlook when it comes to building skills? What are the pitfalls of Industry 4.0 implementations that don't consider staff impact? 

Manufacturers often overlook the importance of power skills, such as communication, teamwork and problem-solving, focusing primarily on technical training. This neglect can hinder overall productivity and adaptability.

Additionally, there is sometimes insufficient investment in continuous learning and professional development, leading to skill stagnation and reduced ability to adapt to new technologies and processes.

Employee engagement in the skill-building process is also frequently undervalued, resulting in training programs that lack relevance and buy-in.

When implementing Industry 4.0 technologies, several pitfalls can arise if the impact on staff is not properly considered.

Employees may be reluctant to embrace new technologies due to their comfort with legacy toolsets or a fear of the unknown, slowing down the adoption process. A significant skills gap can emerge if adequate training is not provided, leading to underutilisation of new technologies and reduced productivity.

Moreover, concerns about job displacement can decrease morale and job satisfaction, increasing turnover rates. Without robust support systems, employees may feel overwhelmed and new safety hazards can arise if proper training is not given.

Misalignment with the organisational culture can further complicate the integration of new technologies, making it difficult to achieve strategic goals.

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