Training Plans Made Easy

Just in time for 2011, here are the ten steps to follow when laying out your annual training plan. Keep in mind the underlying precepts for any plan: to have the right resources, at the right time, in the right place for the right purpose.

The training plan is more than just a course catalog; it should be the annual business plan for the training function.

Step 1. Identify requirements
• What are your regulatory requirements?
• Does OSHA mandate specific training for your industry?

Step 2. Determine needs
• Has operations / production determined a gap in performance that technical training can address?

Step 3. Establish goals
• Has management set higher or different goals that require increased education or different skills?

Step 4. Determine source
• Internal sources, external sources, or on-the job?

Step 5. Identify who
• Which personnel or facility area need a particular course?

Step 6. Establish the time frame
• Yearly, quarterly, monthly?
• On-shift or overtime?

Step 7. Identify and reserve the location
• Make sure it can accommodate the number of personnel attending comfortably.

Step 8. Determine how the training will be delivered
• Competency Development Plan, lecture, self-paced workbook?

Step 9. Analyze the cost of doing business
• Balance against the efficiency of the process.
o Training is a business, and if costs are not taken into account, we may find ourselves downsized or out of business

Step 10. Document, document, document.
• The training function must communicate what and how it will accomplish its task.

Tip Provided by: Chris Davis, Senior Reliability Consultant
ABB
Chris.l.davis@us.abb.com

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