Simulation for training means much more than “just” simulation: you need to focus on “core skills” with the right kind of simulated tasks, the right kind of task progression, and the right way of evaluating simulated work based on as many as 65 Performance Indicators that comprehensively measure quality and productivity.
And for each Personal Simulator, our “Instructional Design” takes into account best-in-class practices from leading operator training professionals and the standardized demonstration of skills tests from key “normative” organizations including the Canadian Standards Association, the NCCER, the NCCCO, the National Safety Council, and OSHA in the USA.
And after twenty-five years in business, we are the world-wide standard in cost-effective simulation.
Expose your students to a possible career operating heavy equipment, and set them on the path to high-paying jobs. Our Personal Simulators will provide a learning environment that encourages skills exploration, with students learning in a self-managed way. And having fun along the way will foster a completely new attitude toward learning!
Evaluate operator aptitude
Operating heavy equipment requires a combination of “psycho-motor” ability (manual dexterity), “sensory/perceptual” ability (depth perception), and “cognitive” ability (spatial reasoning). Unfortunately, studies show that up to 30% of training candidates don’t have enough and for that reason, can never become fully proficient.
Our Personal Simulators will let you and your students evaluate this aptitude. This is especially important when training programs are over-subscribed, in order to use your training budget as wisely as you can.
Better prepare students for real seat-time
Training at the controls of real equipment is dangerous, and expensive. Operating costs are high, supervisors must be paid, and mistakes mean equipment that is damaged. And there will always be details that are specific to the particular makes and models that you have.
Instead, our Personal Simulators are “generic” and will teach your students core skills, making it easy to proceed to “hands-on” training on a variety of real equipment
And by preparing your students at the controls of our Personal Simulators, the real seat-time training becomes
Safer, because “accidents” now happen at the simulator
Better, because students learn to do things right at the simulator, and gain confidence in their operating skills
Faster, because your students reach their performance targets sooner
Cheaper, thanks to all of the above
In this way, training costs go down, training quality goes up, and graduates are more employable!
Bring new visibility to your training program
Use your Personal Simulator to promote your training program in your community, and improve your recruiting efforts. Just set things up at local events such as job fairs, or at middle schools as part of “out-reach” efforts, and watch the lineups form!
Join a world-wide community of leading education professionals
Becoming a Simlog customer means joining a growing community of leading educational organizations around the world, all dedicated to improving heavy equipment operator training. Share simulation benchmarks, best practices, and suggestions to help Simlog make our Personal Simulators even better.
The Future Ready Center: Forklift Simulators in a Top Flight Manufacturing Program
Presentation by Paul Freedman and Jon Pine at the at the ACTE CareerTech Vision in San Antonio, Texas, December 5th, 2024.
Accelerating Certification for Students with Forklift Simulators and OSHA at Vancouver Public School
Presentation by Paul Freedman and Mark Wreath at the at the ACTE CareerTech Vision in Las Vegas, Nevada, December 2nd, 2022.
Combining Industry Partners & Heavy Equipment Simulators for Program Success at Ocean County VTS
Presentation by Paul Freedman, Dr. Michael Maschi, and Gary MacDonald at the ACTE CareerTech Vision in Las Vegas, Nevada, December 1st, 2022.
HEO Students from the Ocean County Vocational Technical School on a Field Trip to Master Sponsor, Michael Earle and the Earle Companies
Combining Heavy Equipment Simulators and Standardized Curriculum for Heavy Equipment Operators – Hunterdon Polytech, NJ
Presentation by John Havlik at the ACTE CareerTech Vision in New Orleans, Louisiana, December 3rd 2021.
Floyd County School of Innovation’s Heavy Equipment Pathway Program Featuring Simlog’s Personal Simulators
At Floyd County School of Innovation, there is a Personal Simulator lab for Hydraulic Excavator and Bulldozer operator training. Customer Story and Video, July 8th 2020.
Flagler Technical Institute’s heavy equipment operator program, featuring Simlog’s Hydraulic Excavator Personal Simulator
Shaping Communities: Prologis and Workforce Training
Miami Springs Senior High School’s “Prologis Trade and Logistics Academy” featuring Simlog’s Forklift Personal Simulator. November 8, 2019.
Dorchester County Career and Technology Center – South Carolina, U.S.A
The Personal Simulator lab at Dorchester County Career and Technology Center consists of 7 multi-display simulator stations, 2 with Operator Chairs and 3 with tabletop Replica Controls. All simulator stations are multi-purposed (in alphabetical order): Backhoe Loader, Bulldozer, Forklift, Hydraulic Excavator, and Wheel Loader.
“To be able to learn the fundamentals in this type of controlled environment is a really great opportunity that we have so that we prepare students for next semester, when Banks Construction will be donating their time and resources for us to have our students on the actual pieces of equipment.” August 27, 2018.
— Shelby Wayne, Instructor, Dorchester County Career and Technology Center
Anchorage, Alaska School District Portable Simulation Lab
Learn how Anchorage School District’s portable career exploration strategy paves the way for new certification programs with Simlog’s Personal Simulators. December 6, 2016.
Bryan High School – Omaha Public Schools – Nebraska, U.S.A
At Bryan High School in Nebraska (U.S.A.), there are two stations for Forklift Personal Simulator. Each simulator station uses tabletop mounted simulator controls that include four industrial strength USB-ready Replica Controls Forklift Levers, and a “Logitech G27 Racing Wheel” consisting of a steering wheel, a three -pedal unit and a gear shifter.
“The simulators have been a great instructional tool. They enable me to put the kids on a forklift safely at an early age. Before, I couldn’t put them on a forklift until they were 18, and they still did not have any hands-on experience.” November 3, 2015.
— Joshua Hogrefe, TDL Instructor, Bryan High School
Assiniboine Community College (ACC), Manitoba, Canada
At Assiniboine Community College in Canada uses 20 dedicated and multi-purpose portable simulation stations to support workforce training at municipalities and heavy equipment owner/operators in the Province of Manitoba.
Southern Maine Community College (SMCC), Portland, Maine (U.S.A.)
At the Southern Maine Community College (SMCC) in Portland, Maine (U.S.A.), the simulator lab consists of seven Hydraulic Excavator Personal Simulators equipped with OEM Controls.
“By making simulator time a key part of our program, we can prepare students in the classroom with practical experience that transfers to machine operation in the field. We are making training safer and less costly by limiting machine time and wear-and-tear on the contractor’s equipment, not to mention the $50,000 annual fuel costs experienced by other programs that do not utilize simulation.” December 14, 2009.
In early 2022, Dayton Equity Center, a community-based organization serving Southwestern Ohio, launched the Forklift Power Career Pathway Program especially designed for returning citizens. The program features a simulator lab consisting of 3 Simlog Forklift Personal Simulators with Tabletop Replica Controls. Each setup is equipped with one large 70-inch display in front and a rear display for looking behind when backing up. The Dayton Equity Center owns a real sit-down counterbalance lift truck for their in-house food bank, which is used for operator certification once trainees complete their simulator-based training.
The workforce training program was developed through a unique partnership model with the State of Ohio Office of Reentry and local employers, including Proctor & Gamble. Over the past two years, more than 200 returning citizens have received training, with stellar employment outcomes, thanks to the combination of simulator-based training, OSHA safety training resources, and forklift operator certification.
According to recent statistics, almost 75% of the people in correctional facilities in the United States were previously incarcerated. And studies show that vocational training is the best way to reduce recidivism, especially when inmates leave with skills that open doors to new employment possibilities.
Here’s what one leading criminologist says:
The prison setting can help promote desistance from crime … by offering activities to assist individuals in their transformation process. But training and vocational programs must support the development of skills that will be of value on the outside, instead of “filling up time” until release.
L. Kazemian, John Jay College of Criminal Justice, Positive Growth and Redemption in Prison, Routledge, 2020.
And that’s exactly what our Personal Simulators will help you do.
Alaska Department of Corrections’ (ADOC) Goose Creek Correctional Center (GCCC), Alaska U.S.A.
The simulator lab at Goose Creek Correctional Center in Wasilla, Alaska, U.S.A. consists of four networked simulator stations. Tabletop mounted Replica Controls Joysticks are used to operate the Hydraulic Excavator, Bulldozer and Wheel Loader simulators. Replica Ball-Tip Levers, also tabletop mounted, are used to operate the lab’s Forklift simulator. Each station is also equipped with the required steering wheel, gear shifter and/or foot pedals that best reproduce the functionality of the real heavy equipment. Two out of the four stations are Multi-Purpose stations that can operate the Hydraulic Excavator, Bulldozer and Wheel Loader simulators by taking advantage of the multi-purpose simulator controls.
“Cost-effectiveness of the simulators served as a significant motivator for creating the HEO program. Cost per trainee is very economical with safety for the inmates and convenience for the instructors also playing important roles.”
— Gary Olsen, Criminal Justice Planner of Education, ADOC. September 29, 2021.
Florida DOC Program Experience: Simulator Labs for Heavy Equipment Operations
Presentation by Paul Freedman and Adam Ryalls at the Correctional Education Association’s International Conference in Tampa, Florida, August, 29, 2022.
Forklift Simulator Provides More Than Just Employment Training
Correctional Service Canada’s Okimaw Ohci Healing Lodge’s forklift operator training program featuring Simlog’s Forklift Personal Simulator. Customer Story, November 6, 2020.
Residents at Sojourn High School within the New Jersey State Juvenile Justice System (USA) are now training with Simlog’s Backhoe Loader, Bulldozer, and Forklift Personal Simulators. June 26, 2019.
I’ve seen students released and then cycle right back into the system within months, weeks or even days. But learning a skill through the new program positions more students to avoid another run in with the law.
Expose your students to a possible career operating heavy equipment, and set them on the path to high-paying jobs. Our Personal Simulators will provide a learning environment that encourages skills exploration, with students learning in a self-managed way. And having fun along the way will foster a completely new attitude toward learning!
Evaluate operator aptitude
Operating heavy equipment requires a combination of “psycho-motor” ability (manual dexterity), “sensory/perceptual” ability (depth perception), and “cognitive” ability (spatial reasoning). Unfortunately, studies show that up to 30% of training candidates don’t have enough and for that reason, can never become fully proficient.
Our Personal Simulators will let you and your students evaluate this aptitude. This is especially important when training programs are over-subscribed, in order to use your training budget as wisely as you can.
Better prepare students for real seat-time
Training at the controls of real equipment is dangerous, and expensive. Operating costs are high, supervisors must be paid, and mistakes mean equipment that is damaged. And there will always be details that are specific to the particular makes and models that you have.
Instead, our Personal Simulators are “generic” and will teach your students core skills, making it easy to proceed to “hands-on” training on a variety of real equipment
And by preparing your students at the controls of our Personal Simulators, the real seat-time training becomes
Safer, because “accidents” now happen at the simulator
Better, because students learn to do things right at the simulator, and gain confidence in their operating skills
Faster, because your students reach their performance targets sooner
Cheaper, thanks to all of the above
In this way, training costs go down, training quality goes up, and graduates are more employable!
Bring new visibility to your training program
Use your Personal Simulator to promote your training program in your community, and improve your recruiting efforts. Just set things up at local events such as job fairs, or at middle schools as part of “out-reach” efforts, and watch the lineups form!
Join a world-wide community of leading education professionals
Becoming a Simlog customer means joining a growing community of leading educational organizations around the world, all dedicated to improving heavy equipment operator training. Share simulation benchmarks, best practices, and suggestions to help Simlog make our Personal Simulators even better.