3 Things You Need To Consider In A Knowledge Transfer Process

Adapt Your Digital Transformation Framework To Your Aging Workforce

Your veteran workers are your most valuable resource. With decades of experience managing complex systems, they keep your business running. But what happens when these workers retire?

That’s the challenge facing industries around the world. Approximately 72% of Utilities employers are struggling to fill positions due to retiring workers. The situation for Oil & Gas companies is so dire, they’re calling it The Great Crew Change.

Leading companies are looking to Digital Transformation to make up the difference. But you won’t benefit from Digital Transformation unless you can transfer knowledge from experienced workers to new hires quickly and seamlessly. If you want to stay competitive, you need a knowledge transfer process that accomplishes two things:

1. Preserves the best elements of your business.
2. Paves the way for innovation.

Keep reading for the top three elements you need to include in a knowledge transfer plan.

Meet Them Where They Are

Millennial and Generation Z workers won’t learn much from thick, dusty binders and dense, unwieldy technical manuals. When your new hires want answers, they’re much more likely to turn to YouTube videos. When you design your knowledge transfer process, you need to account for this.

Instead of relying solely on long classroom sessions, supplement their training with bite-sized “snacks” of information that illustrate key topics. Quick video snippets can help new hires get the right information at the right time. And digital workflows and checklists ensure they stay on track. Meanwhile, experienced workers can vet this content for accuracy and share their expertise with the next generation.

But what happens if your new hires run into a problem they’ve never seen before?

Right Place, Right Time

It doesn’t matter which industry you look at. Your knowledge transfer process cannot remain static. Just ask your experienced workers: classroom training alone won’t prepare you for the real world.

Rugged industrial wearables let new hires get advice from experienced workers in real-time, anywhere in the world. These connected worker solutions work best when they allow two-way video calls. That way, if new hires hit a snag they can call experienced workers and get the guidance they need.

That’s what’s happening at Honeywell. They offer the HMT-1Z1™ to their customers as part of their Connected Plant program. With this connected worker solution, frontline workers have instant access to remote experts through live video chat. These “Remote Mentors” can see what the field worker sees and provide advice, share documents, or annotate the live video feed.

“That means workers carry with them decades of relevant expertise that is accessible at any time by simple voice activation. This makes this solution a particularly good fit for industrial workers who have an affinity for technology and who need more physical freedom to efficiently accomplish their work.”

Youssef Mestari, program director, Honeywell Connected Plant

Design your training materials for the way Millennials prefer to learn. And setup your knowledge transfer plan so they can get guidance whenever they need it. These two factors will ensure the next generation learns everything they need to know from your current crew.

But there’s another factor that’s often overlooked. Any technology they use needs to be intuitive.

Make It Intuitive

However you design it, your knowledge transfer process needs to make work easier and safer for everyone on your team, especially new hires. Any new technology you introduce will mean extra training for new workers. And the quicker they learn it, the faster they can focus on their work.

That’s exactly what happened when the US Navy adapted XBox 360 controllers to guide submarine periscopes. They reduced their training time from hours to minutes, because new recruits were already familiar with the technology. But while video-game joysticks have their place, industrial workers need a solution that frees their hands.

Only hands-free, voice-operated industrial wearables give new hires a short learning curve and an intuitive experience. These connected worker solutions are rugged yet flexible, the last step in your knowledge transfer plan. Just put it on and say what you see.

A Knowledge Transfer Plan For Everyone

Experienced workers are retiring from industry in record numbers, and they’re taking their wisdom with them. New hires have a ton to learn, and their work is only getting more complex. Any knowledge transfer process you come up with needs to tap into your experienced workers’ expertise while engaging the next generation.

But if you want long-term results, your training programs can’t be transactional. You need to empower experienced workers and new hires alike. When your new hires have industrial wearables, they can take decades of expertise with them everywhere they go.

That’s how you give them the resources they need to thrive. That’s how you excel at Digital Transformation.