Siemens … Taking Training to the Next Level
As I heard at the recent NAED Eastern, electrical distributors and manufacturers are expecting a “slow” 2024 faced with macro-economic uncertainty in many markets. The year is shaping up to be a “knife fight” where companies are fighting for market share, being aggressive on selected local projects and attempting vertical marketing strategies. Some will seek to further take advantage of opportunities presented by EVs, renewables, and local infrastructure funding.
All this while fighting what are systemic challenges.
These systemic, industry-wide challenges, relate to:
- Hiring “qualified” talent (for distributors and manufacturers.)
- Training new, and existing, staff (within the channel.)
- Industry recruitment of talent, especially electricians, and the ongoing need to train them.
This leads to the need for the industry to promote the opportunity but to also find new ways to train.
In a recent conversation with David Quatela, North American Marketing Manager for Siemens Electrical Products, David shared an initiative that Siemens is undertaking that utilizes cutting edge technology that is engaging, immersive, and delivers the application and product knowledge one needs to excel in the industry.
For a Siemens distributor, as well as electricians availing themselves of this training platform, the opportunity can be very beneficial.
Graciously, David, and Siemens, offered to give us a snapshot. I encourage Siemens distributors to reach out to David, or their salesperson, for more information if they are not taking advantage of this offering.
Navigating the Electrical Industry’s Challenges: Digital Training and Innovation
The electrical industry is currently facing a confluence of challenges that demand innovative solutions. From a shortage of skilled electricians to the retirement turnover of the existing workforce, the industry is at a critical juncture. However, amidst these challenges, there lies an opportunity for transformation through the integration of digital training technologies, such as Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR), Extended Reality (XR), and 3D environments. By leveraging these immersive experiential training methods, the electrical industry can not only address the shortage of electricians but also significantly impact safety, skill development, and employee retention.
The Electrician Shortage
One of the most pressing issues in the electrical industry today is the shortage of skilled electricians. As experienced professionals retire, there’s a noticeable gap that traditional training methods struggle to fill. The demand for electricity is steadily increasing with the rise of renewable energy, electric vehicles, and smart infrastructure, further exacerbating the shortage. Digital training can bridge this gap by providing a scalable and efficient way to train the next generation of electricians.
The shortage is also occurring at the distributor/wholesale level. From inside and outside sales to project takeoff teams the talent pool is becoming shallow. Training aides such as VR can assist with the inside sales team at a distributorship. Helping an inside salesperson understand the nuance of a panel or switchboard will greatly increase their level of advisement to a customer. Learning this way enables them to see the project in its entirety versus a line item on a bill of material.
Retirement and Turnover of Electrical Workforce
The aging workforce in the electrical industry is a significant concern. With many experienced professionals retiring, the loss of institutional knowledge poses a challenge for maintaining the industry’s high standards. Digital training can help capture and preserve this knowledge by creating interactive modules that document best practices, troubleshooting techniques, and real-world scenarios. These modules can serve as a valuable resource for both current and future electricians, ensuring a seamless transfer of knowledge.
Digital Training for the Next Generation
The integration of VR, AR, XR, and 3D environments into training programs heralds a new era for the electrical industry. These technologies offer immersive and interactive experiences that can replicate the challenges electricians face in their day-to-day work. Virtual Reality, for instance, allows trainees to engage in lifelike scenarios, from installing electrical systems to troubleshooting faults, all within a safe and controlled environment.
Augmented Reality overlays digital information onto the real world, providing on-the-job guidance and enhancing learning in real-world settings. Extended Reality incorporates both virtual and augmented reality, offering a comprehensive training experience. By utilizing these technologies, aspiring electricians can gain hands-on experience, develop their skills, and build confidence in a risk-free environment.
Impact on Safety and Skill Development
The immersive nature of digital training translates into enhanced safety protocols. Electricians can practice responding to emergency situations, learn to identify potential hazards, and refine their safety procedures without exposing themselves to real-world risks. Additionally, the iterative nature of digital training allows for continuous skill development, ensuring that electricians are well-prepared for the dynamic challenges of the electrical industry.
Retention of Employees through Innovation
Investing in digital training not only attracts tech-savvy individuals to the electrical industry but also contributes to higher employee retention. The interactive and engaging nature of VR, AR, XR, and 3D environments creates a stimulating learning experience that keeps trainees motivated. Feeling adequately prepared for the demands of the job contributes to greater job satisfaction and a stronger sense of loyalty to the employing organization.
Conclusion
As the electrical industry grapples with a shortage of skilled labor, the consolidation of distribution networks, and the retirement turnover of its workforce, embracing digital training is imperative. The integration of Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality, Extended Reality, and 3D environments can revolutionize the way electricians are trained, enhancing safety, skill development, and employee retention. By investing in these innovative technologies, the electrical industry can ensure a steady supply of well-trained professionals ready to meet the challenges of a rapidly evolving landscape.”
David Quatela is the North American Marketing Manager for Siemens Electrical Products business. David’s focus is on creative services and creating meaningful and engaging experiences for industry. David has been with Siemens for 17 years and has held roles in sales and marketing. His team’s mission is to create immersive experiences for the next generation electrician and continue to support channel through experiential training initiatives.
Takeaways
I asked David what Siemens is specifically doing (as he wanted to write about the concept, rather than being boastful) and he shared “Siemens is committed to and investing in workforce development in the electrical trades. Through XR enablement tools Siemens’ goal is to reach and teach the next generation electricians, current electrical contractors, and the distribution network. Siemens wants to create an environment of learning where the user can be device agnostic and regardless of how you learn Siemens will provide a solution.”
And here’s a link to an overview of Siemens’ training offering (SITRAIN) and I recommend checking out their video (and then reaching out to David for more information.)
I don’t know of other manufacturers investing in this technology, let alone a platform. David shared that, while Siemens has invested much due to the number of topics, the technology is not budget breaking. It then begs ideas of:
- Could content be co-branded for distributors to offer to their customers?
- Could content be added to a distributor’s training curriculum, or platform, or a distributor create their own platform?
- Could distributors develop their own content?
- Could there be an “industry” collaborative platform with applicable authorization levels but some topics being “open”?
- Could there be “electrical” content to support all electricians? (a “one-stop-shop”)
Enhanced, creative, engaging training is necessary to properly prepare today’s workers for new products that are launched, seemingly at a dizzying pace given the number of manufacturers that there are in the industry, let alone the need to support Codes and other regulatory requirements. Further, there is an expectation of higher personnel turnover due to generational and societal differences. New, quick, ways of training are needed to get people up to speed and training people want to / are willing to take.
Think about the electronic age we are in today. Does anyone take time to “read” a training manual when they get a new computer, phone, software program, television, or??? And as employers, companies want people to be “plug and play” and productive on day 1. Perhaps VR, AR, XR, and 3D enabled training can shorten the learning curve, be fun, and help people be more productive faster?
If you’ve been exposed to the Siemens training, your thoughts? If you know of other companies with a similar offering, please share.