Companies Shift Focus To Web-based Training

The idea that machines will one day take the place of humans in the workforce may still be futuristic folly, but in the training and learning fields, computers have become an essential tool to companies.

No longer do large companies have to go through a monotonous training course where one person trains a group of people who then go back to the plants and train others. With Web-based training, companies can save on the expenses of traveling and not take employees away from their work by having them train at their own pace.

Ken Milbrodt, director of training and education for Tyson Foods Inc. in Springdale, said implementing e-learning in the company has saved them “a significant amount” of money, although he wouldn’t elaborate.

Milbrodt and his team has implemented six different programs, such as safety awareness and job training. Called Core Values training, the company wanted a way to design and deliver Web-based training to its employers who are based throughout the nation.

As big as the company is, the old traditional model cost much more than e-learning.

“It’s cost effective, and you know you have a learning solution … that is consistent and standardized,” Milbrodt said. “And it lets you track who has participated in the training.”

The company is doing the training through Microsoft’s E-learning program. It allows employees to take training courses on-line at their own leisure, which keeps productivity in check.

Milbrodt said Tyson Foods plan to design an in-house Web-based training program at some point.

But employees wouldn’t just have to rely on computers. The company will implement blended learning, where a trainer/instructor is used along with the Web-based training.

“The buzz word in this industry is blended learning,” Milbrodt said.

He said 65 percent of the training done today in the food industry is instructor led, and the other 35 percent is blended learning.

Training Gap

Wendy MacColl, director of instructional design at the University of Arkansas’ Walton College of Business, said many corporations have education and training departments that assess training needs. Once they determine what their employees are doing and determine what they want them to be doing, they’ll close that gap by training.

The type of training that would be used depends on the size and structure of a company.

“Stand-up training certainly has its place, but I think it depends on the size and structure of the organization,” MacColl said.

Besides Tyson, Wal-Mart Stores Inc. of Bentonville started Wal-Mart University to provide in-house training courses for its employees. Big corporations with locations throughout the world benefit by using the system.

Smaller companies might benefit by having their employees take the courses on the Web or for other non-specific company training.

The UA Small Business Development Center started an e-training program in January to address the needs of entrepreneurs on-line. But the program has had a slow start, with only seven people taking it so far. Statewide, the program has attracted only 150 people.

“I think it’s still so new that a lot of people aren’t yet aware of that offering,” said Tracey Jeffers, the ASBDC’s director.

The program offers 20 different courses revolved around teaching entrepreneurs about money, marketing and management.