Overcoming the Manufacturing Skills Gap with Online Training

The manufacturing industry finds itself at a pivotal moment. With technological advancements and evolving processes, the need for skilled workers is on the rise. Yet, the supply of skilled talent isn’t growing to meet this demand. In this article, we’ll explore the reality of the manufacturing skills gap, why it exists, how it can be addressed through comprehensive online training programs, and how choosing the right Learning Management System (LMS) can enhance manufacturing training to drive business results.

Is there a manufacturing skills gap?

The manufacturing industry is at a critical inflection point when it comes to workforce skills. According to a recent Deloitte report, manufacturers will need to recruit 3.8 million new workers between 2024 and 2033. But, without intervention, an estimated 1.9 million of those jobs could go unfilled due a gap between the skills needed for these roles, and the skills currently available amongst job seekers.

Several factors are expected to widen the skills gap in the coming years. A primary concern is the aging workforce. As baby boomers retire, they take with them a wealth of knowledge and experience. This means that, while the manufacturing sector’s growth demands more and more skilled workers, the number of workers currently trained to meet that demand are aging out of the workforce.

Despite popular belief, the incorporation of advanced technologies such as AI, the Internet of Things (IoT), and robotics hasn’t led to a mass exodus of jobs. On the contrary, such innovations have opened up more employment opportunities. However, such job opportunities require certain cutting-edge skills that not everyone in the workforce has yet. Many manufacturers need workers proficient in areas like robotics, smart factory management, digital twin engineering, and smart quality assurance management to stay competitive in the global market.

The impact of the manufacturing skills gap

The repercussions of the manufacturing skills gap, if unaddressed, extend beyond the manufacturing sector to the economy at large. Critical vacancies can lead to production lags, reduced efficiency, and increased operational costs. Conversely, investment in comprehensive training initiatives and the adoption of suitable learning management systems (LMS) for manufacturing can serve to bridge this gap, securing the industry’s ongoing success.

To stay competitive, companies must not only hire new people with the right skills, but also train current workers to improve their technology and operations knowledge. This not only helps workers meet modern manufacturing challenges, but will also provide them with career development opportunities. By providing continuous, effective manufacturing training, employers can mitigate the risks associated with the skills gap, while keeping their workforce on top of the latest technological advancements. The internal mobility that learning and development (L&D) facilitates can also result in lower employee turnover, improved employee morale, and higher levels of productivity.

Training to attract and retain skilled talent

The manufacturing skills gap is more than a challenge: it’s an opportunity to attract, train, and retain top manufacturing talent. Investing in company-wide L&D initiatives not only helps current employees feel invested in their work, but can also attract competitive candidates who want to join companies that offer training as a perk. Attracting candidates who actively seek on-the-job training opportunities could result in a more adaptive and agile workforce, while giving manufacturers broader opportunities for hiring candidates who are ready to learn newer, harder-to-find skills.

This all sounds amazing. But how can an organization actually build this kind of high-impact manufacturing training program? The key is developing a training strategy, finding the right technology, and following through to optimize training initiatives:

Strategy: work with leadership across departments to determine which core skills and competencies your organization needs to compete in the global manufacturing market, then work backwards from those needs to create a list of learning objectives that your employees can work toward.
Technology: evaluate which learning tools and technologies would best help your organization integrate learning into your existing workflow, deliver learning to everyone in your organization, and measure the impact of the training you deliver.
Follow through: don’t stop at a single training session. Build training opportunities into every part of your company’s culture. Make or curate learning modules relevant and easy to find for new employees, rising leaders, front-line managers, and everyone in between. Solicit feedback from key stakeholders and learners within your organization to see how your learning initiatives are being received. Pair this feedback with continuous analysis of your learning objectives to measure whether your business has met its training goals.

Choosing the right LMS for manufacturing

Gone are the days of expensive in-person training workshops, unwieldy spreadsheets filled with employee learning data, and countless PDFs of outdated training information. Modern manufacturers are integrating technology into their onboarding, upskilling, and compliance training to bring their training out of the dark ages.

For manufacturing companies with limited L&D resources, choosing the right LMS for manufacturing training is critical. More manufacturers are turning to all-in-one learning solutions to avoid the disorganization and administrative strain associated with traditional manufacturing training. If you’re not sure what to look for in a manufacturing LMS, here are a few pointers:

Look for an LMS with pre-built training courses that address common manufacturing needs such as compliance and safety training. While some manufacturers may opt to create training courses from scratch, finding an LMS with a wide variety of pre-built courses and modules can cut down on instructional design time.
Look for an LMS that makes courses accessible and easy to access for learners on the go. This is critical for manufacturing companies that want employees to access training resources on the factory floor.
Look for an LMS that drives employee engagement. Workplace learners are more likely to participate in and complete training that feels relevant to their duties, meets a training need, or helps them achieve a career goal. To make sure the knowledge and skills they learn actually stick, give employees the power to customize their learning. Find an LMS that allows managers to assign customized learning paths, and that lets learners find the learning content they need with integrated AI capabilities.
Look for an LMS that integrates seamlessly into your existing tools and systems. This can help ensure that implementation and the ongoing training process is both efficient and effective. The right LMS should work with your existing Human Resource Management (HRM) system, Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system, and other operational or business productivity software.
Look for an LMS with an intuitive user interface. A platform that is easy to navigate and intuitive is important for both learners and administrators. A user-friendly design ensures that employees can quickly access and engage with the training materials, making the learning program more impactful. Administrators need a simple interface to manage courses, track progress, and generate reports without unnecessary complexity. A well-designed LMS will improve the overall training experience and encourage greater participation.

Building a modern approach to training programs and finding the right tools to execute them is not only a necessity, but a strategic advantage for manufacturers seeking to close the skills gap. Identifying the kinds of training your organization needs, and selecting the right LMS for the job, can help manufacturers bridge the manufacturing skills gap to drive innovation and productivity.

Leverage the latest learning technology to close the skills gaps in your manufacturing organization. Book a free trial of Litmos today to see how.