Upskilling for sustainability

Transforming your people and processes isn't just about new tools or ways of working. It's about making sure your team knows how to use these eco-friendly methods. Training your team right is key. Here's a simple guide to help leaders get their teams up to speed.

1. What training is needed?

a. Finding out where skills are lacking

What this means: Check what your team knows now and what they need to learn for green manufacturing. You can use surveys, chats, or look at what different roles need.

Example: One company found they were wasting a lot. Turns out, the team didn't know how to reduce waste.

b. Keeping up with the latest green methods

What this means: Green ways of working keep changing. Make sure you're always learning about the newest methods from around the world.

Example: One company joined groups and read magazines about sustainability. This helped them learn about new green techniques.

c. Asking your team for ideas

What this means: Your team knows the daily challenges. Ask them what they need to be trained on.

Example: One company learned from their team that they didn’t know how to handle a new eco-friendly material.

2. Choosing the right training

a. Ready-made vs tailor-made training

What this means: Decide if you want training that’s already made or if you need something special for your company. Ready-made is quick and might save money, but tailor-made can be more specific.

Example: One company used an online course for basic green knowledge but made their own training for their special green tech.

b. Learning by doing

What this means: It’s good to know the theory, but for green manufacturing, your team needs to practise.

Example: A company made a fake production line. This let the team practise reducing waste without messing up the real work.

c. Keep the learning going

What this means: Green manufacturing keeps changing. Make sure there are regular updates or sessions to keep the team's knowledge fresh.

Example: One company had workshops twice a year with experts talking about the newest green methods.

3. Checking if the training worked

a. Measuring success

What this means: Decide what you want to see after the training, like less waste or better-quality work.

Example: After learning about energy-saving machines, one company checked how much energy they were saving.

b. Asking the team how it went

What this means: Talk to the team to see if they found the training useful and if they have any suggestions.

Example: One company had a place online where the team could say what they thought of the training, helping make it better.

c. Regular skill checks

What this means: Keep checking if the team remembers what they learnt and if they need more training.

Example: A company tested the team’s skills every few months to see how they were doing.

To finish up

For sustainable manufacturing to work and be scaled, the team needs the right skills. By figuring out what they need, giving them the right training, and checking it’s working, companies can be sure they're doing green manufacturing right.