case study
would have struggled to effectively convey a concept.
Fun interaction: In the ‘Introduction to Lean’ module eCom employed some clever use of interactivity that started off by getting the learner to draw a pig. The idea of this was to represent that everyone has a different idea of how to draw a pig, and that you should employ some sort of ‘Standard Operating Procedure’ (SOP) to ensure conformity in your engineering product.
Assessment: An important part of every module was to include an assessment. Engineers as a type are keen to be precise and like to be offered an assessment to verify their knowledge.
Multiple benefits The learning benefits that have been realised by Howden Academy have been great. Evaluation feedback from line managers has been very positive, with over 90% stating that their new engineers had become more effective more quickly. Howden also measured the engineers’ knowledge and performance before and after attending each cohort. It revealed a 44% improvement in knowledge and a 23% improvement in performance. But the business benefits that have been realised by Howden Academy have been truly impressive. Howden discovered that new graduate engineers reached job competence three months faster than using its traditional graduate recruitment programme. The e-learning has also contributed to a significant reduction in staff turnover rates, from 7% to 2.5%. The new-style training also freed up 30% of students’ time while 79% of line managers agreed that student performance had increased following the Academy.
Impacting company culture For many students, Howden Academy was the experience of a lifetime, helping them to realise that they are part of the global ‘Howden family’ and inspiring some to develop and deliver spin-off training projects in their local business unit. The e-learning modules have been able to encapsulate Howden’s engineering expertise and as a result ensure that it will be passed on to the next generation of Howden engineers. There have been two other beneficial outcomes to the e-learning at Howden:
The Howden Academy helps the company to satisfy ISO requirements that engineers are given technical training to make sure they are competent at their job. Also copies of Academy training certificates are placed in each student’s personnel file.
The culture of global communication across Howden’s business units has been enriched. The Howden Academy has established strong professional networks and has encouraged more effective collaboration among Howden engineers and cemented close working relationships between colleagues from around the world. For instance, an engineer specialising in cooling fans from the Netherlands is now better able to discuss issues and problems with his or her Howden Academy colleague in India.
This award-winning project shows that great design can deliver lasting results for both the individuals and the business.
Laura Overton is managing director of Towards Maturity
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