How training improves productivity
September 3, 2009 – 4:41 amAn apt response would be that old Chinese proverb which says ‘Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man how to fish and you feed him for a lifetime,” It should continue to say “and make the fishing company he works for, more productive and more profitable”.
In the current fiscal economic climate, training staff empowers organisations by eliminating inaccuracies and skilfully avoiding wasted time and effort. PTC.com is one of the largest and fastest growing software companies in the world reports “A recent study of CAD (Computer Aided Drafting) users productivity shows that designers could complete critical tasks 40% to 75% faster if only they knew how to perform certain operations”. Similar analogies can be drawn to soft skills, such as management, or understanding personality and behavioural patterns. Improve the way team members interact and you improve their ability to solve problems. Better problem solving skills means better efficiency in general. Increased efficiency to boost morale and productivity. It also helps to decrease stress, turnover and operating costs.
From a recently published survey of 217 employers regarding the training of newly hired staff “The Ill-Prepared U.S. Workforce: Exploring the Challenges of Employer-Provided Workforce Readiness Training”. Tony Bingham, ASTD (American Society for Training & Development) President and CEO states, “In any economy, having a knowledgeable, skilled workforce is critical for organisations to grow and be successful”. Mr Bingham continues, “as the skills gap widens among new entrants to the workforce, it’s clear that all stakeholders - employers, education sector, and the public workforce system - must collaborate to effectively prepare workers to be successful on the job.”
At a fundamental level, efficiency can be defined as the ratio of the output to the input of any system. Trained staff, in general, produce better higher quality results and make better choices than untrained staff and they do this in less time. Typically, these metrics equate to improved productivity for organisations. Faster manufacturing times mean more product output is possible, improved quality means fewer errors are realised and better choices mean better outcomes for the organisation.
‘I think, in any economy life cycle, having a knowledgeable, skilled workforce is critical for organizations to grow and be successful’ said Mr Bingham. One of the best ways to gain knowledge, acquire skills, and improve our productivity is to train our staff.
British Printing Industries Federation - have some interesting facts regarding Productivity and Training.
• Research shows training plays a key role in increased job satisfaction. Two-thirds of employees said they worked harder as a result of learning new skills.
• Businesses investing an extra £50 ($97 AUD) a week on training increased profits almost twice as fast as those that failed to raise training budgets
• In the UK only 28% of the population has intermediate skills compared with 51% in France and 65% in Germany, and this has a direct impact on productivity. French and German workers produce between a quarter and a third more in every hour than their British counterparts.
BUSY At Work administers the financial incentives paid to employers to support training programs and initiatives, which lead to national qualifications. We are contracted by the Australian Federal Government to promote employment and training opportunities through Australian Apprenticeships and traineeships. Our services and advice are independent and are offered at no cost to your organisation. Call 13 BUSY (13 2879) for one of our Industry Training Consultants who can easily access your eligibility for this financial support.
