Supply chains face a variety of training challenges when it comes to management, processes, production, and more. Now more than ever, it’s critical that supply chain employees receive training that prepares them for the job and equips them with the skills needed to succeed.
Common topics for supply chain training include:
- Safety Training
- Compliance Training
- Technical Training
- Leadership Training
Executing and managing your supply chain is delicate work that defines the success of your organization. So, how can you set your employees and organization up for successful supply chain operations?
At Roundtable, our experts know what it takes to create custom training programs that address supply chain training topics to drive measurable results. We work with our clients to ensure their employees are prepared for the job, kept safe, and equipped with the skills needed to work confidently in their roles.
This article will explain why supply chain training is important, 4 training topics for supply chain training, and 5 benefits of supply chain training.
Why Is Supply Chain Training Important?
As supply chains continue to recover from shortages, shutdowns, demand changes, and excess inventory from 2020, it’s never been more critical to provide employees with comprehensive training. Through innovative training solutions, supply chains can ensure their employees are efficient while on the job and meet the expectations of customers.
Supply chain training is critical to the success of an organization for several reasons:
- Leads to more efficient processes
- Ensures products arrive on time
- Maintains safety among employees
The goal of supply chain training is to yield proficient supply chain management and execution. Throughout each phase of the supply chain, from sourcing raw materials to reaching the customer, it’s critical that the personnel involved receive comprehensive training to ensure processing is efficient.
4 Common Training Topics for Supply Chain Employees
Safety Training
Safety training teaches your employees best practices to keep themselves and others safe while on the job. Safety training could address any of the following topics:
- Basic Hazard Recognition — Employees must evaluate whether a particular situation, item, process, etc. has the potential to cause harm or not.
- Slips, Trips, and Falls — Employees learn how to stay safe in their work environment by preventing slips if they lose their footing, trips if they accidentally hit something, or falls onto objects or off equipment.
- See Something, Say Something — Employees gain awareness surrounding violations of workplace safety to prevent worse behaviors or activities from occurring.
Safety training is critical to creating a workforce that’s knowledgeable of protocols and prepared when safety incidents arise.
Compliance Training
Compliance training keeps employees up to date with regulations and ensures that they’re adhering to industry laws. This creates a workforce that understands expectations regarding their organization’s policies, laws, and regulations.
When employees complete compliance training, they reduce violations and are knowledgeable of industry regulations, creating a safer work environment for everyone that abides by industry standards.
Read More: How To Use Technology For Warehouse Training: 5 Examples
Technical Training
Technical training addresses the hard skills your employees need to know to perform their tasks accurately on a day-to-day basis. Technical training topics include:
- Pallet Stacking — Employees learn the proper stacking technique with the correct orientation and a stable base.
- Maintenance and Repair — Workers know how to complete functional checks and repairs for equipment and machinery.
- Industrial Vehicle Operation — To ensure safe operations on the job, employees are trained on operating large machinery, such as electric pallet trucks, forklifts, and aerial platforms.
- Loading and Unloading Trucks — To fulfill shipping requests, supply chain employees need to understand how to load and unload trucks efficiently.
When employees are equipment and process experts, they can more efficiently complete required tasks of their role.
Leadership Training
Leadership training equips learners with the skills needed to manage their teams. Leadership training can take a variety of forms and could cover the following topics:
- Conflict Resolution — Team leaders learn how to resolve conflict by de-escalating tense situations among their employees.
- Employee Coaching — Leaders understand how to coach employees in various topics, including work performance, career development, and personal goals.
When organizations invest in the development of their leaders, they help them become more refined and resourceful, leading to higher performing teams.
Read More: How To Effectively Use XR Training In High-Risk Industries: 4 Examples
5 Benefits Of Supply Chain Training
- Reduction in safety incidents — Protect your property, assets, and employees by allowing learners to practice their job functions without real-world risk. This leads to a decrease in safety incidents, which lowers workers’ compensation claims.
- Increase employee efficiencies — Both learners and facilitators can catch common mistakes and correct them before working on the job, leading to increased efficiencies in performance and production.
- Increase employee retention — With a better understanding of their role, employees will be more confident on the job and remain at their organization longer.
- Boost employee productivity — Training boosts morale and engagement, which leads to more productive teams. In fact, happy employees are 13% more productive.
- Increase time to proficiency for new hires — New employees that complete training tasks at a pace that’s comfortable for them will become proficient faster.
Read More: The importance of Supply Chain training to improve your business’ bottom line
Conduct Supply Chain Training With Blended Learning
For supply chain training, we recommend utilizing a blended learning program. Blended learning brings together multiple learning techniques to create a fully comprehensive program.
A blended learning program for supply chain training allows employees to practice complex technical tasks at any point in the supply chain from a safe environment. Whether learners prefer in-person instructor-led training (ILT) or more futuristic learning with virtual reality (VR), blended learning offers something for everyone.
Ultimately, technology-enhanced supply chain training — when powered by your subject matter experts (SMEs), modern learning technology, and instructional design — can shorten the time to learn and reduce on-the-job mistakes.
Read More: Why You Should Consider A Blended Learning Program
Are You Ready To Supply Your Employees With The Best Training?
With something as vast as supply chain management, your organization needs training that leads to efficient employees and processes. When learners are given a space to practice, learn from mistakes, and refine their skills, they’ll help take your organization’s supply chain operations to new heights.
Whether you’re looking to improve your existing training or implement a new program, Roundtable Learning has the resources you need. Schedule a meeting with one of our experts or get started designing your custom supply chain training program today!
