By the time you have invested in a Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) system, you are ready to overcome the inefficiencies of your current processes, and reap the benefits of improved business operations and profits. The key to maximizing those benefits lies only partially in the program itself. The other part rests firmly in the hands of those who will implement the new program. Making sure your employees know how to use the system to its best advantage will put your company well on its way to achieving its goals.
Employee Training as an Investment
Change, by itself, is often frustrating. Employees using one system for years grow comfortable even with features that do not operate as intended, sometimes designing elaborate work-arounds just to get the job done. Suddenly presented with a new PLM system, these employees may dread the unknown and cling to a subpar system for its familiarity alone. Getting employees involved with the new PLM system early in the process when bringing a new system on board is important in maximizing its efficient use in your company.
When introducing your new system, start with a reminder of what you learned from your employees about the old system: what problems they were having, where there were inefficiencies or delays, and what impact that had on their ability to get their work done. Then invite them to see how the new system will help alleviate those issues. Once they see how they will benefit from your new program, they will be ready for their next step: learning how to use it.
Certified Training Opportunities
Training is available for product design and management programs including Windchill, Creo, Arbortext and more. Options include public or group training events, private training sessions and remote or eLearning opportunities. Web modules offer further employee development.
Whether they breeze through free tutorials and are completely comfortable with the new program, or whether they require more hands-on training, each member of your team will need full access to instruction that will make them experts in using the new PLM program.
You should also consider having a system available for experimentation. Each employee should be able to get the feel for how Creo, other CAD platforms, Microsoft Word, and company procedures work within a system like Windchill. Finally, get feedback from your teams to understand how they feel and what additional assistance they want. Knowing that you want to give them all the tools possible to make the new program work will remind them that they are important players in helping your company achieve its goals.
How Training Your Employees Helps Your Business
Investing in your employees and their training is time well invested. Employees who are happy in their positions and feel appreciated are likely to stay at your company and take it to a higher level of productivity. Employees frustrated by not understanding a new system, on the other hand, may look for greener pastures. Implemented correctly, a new system can enhance not only work efficiency but employee satisfaction as well.
The highest quality, most advanced PLM products on the market are only as good as the employees that use them. Remember to invest in your employees as much as you invest in your technologies. And when you feel thankful for that new program and the efficiencies it has brought, this time of year is a great time to show thanks to your team for ensuring your business success.
