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Re-training Older Operators

As older and simpler machines are replaced by newer and more complex ones, many employers find themselves facing operator re-training challenges. And unlike new trainees who may have never operated heavy equipment before, operators here are typically older men who may find it difficult to adjust, especially when moving to machines with articulated booms and joystick-based controls.

Recently, one of Simlog's products was used to help deal with this very problem at a sawmill in Ontario. After one month of seat-time at the controls of a new and more complex machine which replaced an older and simpler one, it was apparent that the performance of one particular operator was unsatisfactory. The pressure was on to improve, and questions were even raised about the operator's "aptitude".

That's when Simlog's product came into the picture. At first, the simulator was used to evaluate the operator's "mechanical aptitude". First, nine new training candidates along with the operator, were pre-screened, Simlog style. As measured by the simulator's key performance indicators, the operator ranked favorably when compared to other training candidates evaluated at the same time, much to everyone's surprise.

After that, the operator and the three new training candidates (who together had the four top scores) then received simulator-based training. Once again, when the simulator-based training ended, the operator ranked favorably, as measured by the simulator, when compared to other operators.

The final result ? Thanks to the the preparation provided by the simulator and especially the confidence he gained, the operator was able to return to the machine and make dramatic improvements to his previous performance. Today, everyone is smiling!

There's a moral to this story: the right simulation technology combined with the right instruction design really can make training better by helping operators gain confidence in their own abilities, and by making the transition to newer and more complex machines easier.

Questions? Just contact Simlog!