Bespoke training has more to offer companies

A Pilz Automation Technology product story

Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team Jul 26, 2006

Training is all about improving the knowledge and skills of individuals, but therein lies the problem: all individuals are different, and their competencies and needs can therefore be very diverse.

Bespoke training has more to offer individuals and companies.

Training is all about improving the knowledge and skills of individuals, but therein lies the problem: all individuals are different, and their competencies and needs can therefore be very diverse.

While standard training courses remain extremely useful, companies and training managers are increasingly finding that better value can be obtained from bespoke or modified training courses such as those offered by Pilz.

Standard courses from Pilz include programmes approved by City and Guilds (CandG) and IOSH (the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health).

Approximately half of the courses focus on standards and regulations relating to machinery and general workplace health and safety, while the remainder concentrate on the design, operation and maintenance of systems based on machinery safety products from Pilz.

Often companies choose to pick-and-mix topics from the various standard courses in order to assemble a course that meets the needs of the trainees, as this avoids paying for training in subjects that are already well understood.

It also means that additional material can be added to suit the needs of personnel working with specific types of machinery, for example.

Alternatively, Pilz can call in experts to cover specialised topics so that companies can source all of their safety-related training from one supplier, which is more cost-effective than having to arrange multiple training courses.

One company, for instance, recently required training for work in areas where there is a risk of explosions, so Pilz secured the services of a lecturer with the necessary competencies in order to provide this training alongside the machinery safety and workplace health and safety training.

Pilz is also flexible in that courses can be run at its own training facilities in Corby, Northamptonshire, where there are state-of-the-art training rooms for both theoretical and practical sessions, or at customers' premises.

Another option is to run courses at convenient off-site locations, such as hotels close to customers.

If several days' worth of training are required, it may be difficult for a company to release personnel for the necessary duration.

If that should prove to be the case, Pilz can tailor the course so that it is delivered as a series of modules spread over a more convenient timeframe.

Whatever route is taken towards the delivery of a bespoke training course, customers can be confident that the quality will be of the highest standard.

Pilz Automation Technology has been assessed and recognised as a City and Guilds Approved Centre for training.

In order to gain Centre approval, the company underwent a thorough audit by City and Guilds, which was passed comfortably.

This audit covered all aspects of the management of training, such as the quality assurance system, the scheme to ensure consistency of marking, presentation quality and internal auditing procedures.

Pilz applies the same high standards to all of its training courses, whether they are CandG courses, Pilz standard courses or bespoke courses.

Lastly, it has to be remembered that bespoke courses benefit individuals by improving their competencies.

Similarly, companies sending staff on training courses gain from the improved knowledge of their personnel and the increased overall competency of the company.

Furthermore, providing staff with the right knowledge and skills enables operational efficiency to be raised while also helping to ensure compliance with current safety legislation and regulations.