Welcome to the continuation of Return on Your Training Dollar. When we left off we were discussing the importance of training, particularly the independent training agency approach. Independent training is usually focused on the technology, not a particular instrument. A Level I training course in any technology with an independent training organization generally addresses the theory related to the technology in question, discusses the theory of operation of the instrument, and the various applications of the technology. Ordinarily with an independent, attendees can bring instruments from various manufacturers and vendors without restriction. This is especially valuable if end users from one facility have instruments of different types they’d like to include in their training.
Of course each approach has downsides also. With equipment vendor training the downside should be pretty obvious. You’re locked in to their brand. If you attend Brand X’s vibration training, they’re going to focus on the features of the Brand X instrument. Those features will limit the depth of the training, and often the representative conducting the training has in mind a goal of repeat sales of their product line. Not necessarily a deeper understanding of the technology. While the representative conducting the vendor training is probably an expert of their own instrument, he/she can be the best source for idiosyncrasies of their product.
With an independent training provider the most obvious downside is cost. Training companies train for profit, so “free” isn’t an option for them. The additional expense of training is a hard sell within an organization. Whether the initial equipment investment was low, for example a purchase of a lower end thermal imager for $2,000, or high like a $40K electric motor tester, the additional cost of a training course may seem like a waste when comparing the vendor’s free product. When you add in the cost of travel for the equipment, the user to attend training, and lost production time while they’re away, a Level I course may be a pretty jagged pill to swallow.
The question of whether to invest in training is not one to be taken lightly. In the world of reliability, the deliverable for the technology is the discovery of discontinuities. Whether it’s vibration analysis, lube, oil, or IR the ROI comes from monitoring the condition of assets and discovering failure modes in their infancy to help reduce unscheduled downtime. It makes perfect sense that the process of discovery will be enhanced with deeper understanding of the technology being used. The question then becomes the depth and breadth of the training required, and where best to receive. There are equipment vendors who undoubtedly provide an adequate training product. Conversely, there are vendor-training offerings that serve no other purpose than locking customers in to a brand.
If there’s a requirement within a reliability program to adhere to certification guidelines, the best choice might be an independent training organization. Both the American Society of Nondestructive Testing (ASNT) and the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) have certification guidelines for reliability technologies. When choosing an independent training organization, your organization’s policy for certification might be the guide for deciding which provider to use. When shopping around for training, ask questions about certification guidelines, course content and proficiency testing. These components make a big difference when it comes to compliance with certification guidelines.
Take a broad look at your needs, the goals of your program and finally at the question of certification. Then choose wisely. Whichever route you take, your commitment to learning is the key to the amount of return you realize for your training dollar.