Artisans are receiving training on cyber-physical systems, which are hallmarks of modern industrial systems and are becoming commonplace in the industry, in preparation for employment in Industry 4.0 companies, says industry training college Colliery Training College (CTC) MD Johan Venter.
Virtual reality training is being used to train artisans to use computer-numeric control systems, to weld and safely work in coal mine operations, as examples. These digital and safe training methods help to expose artisans to emerging operational environments.
“Artisans are trained on all the usual skills needed in industries, welding, cutting, diesel and electrical engine mechanics, but modern artisans must also be taught how to connect the items that the artisan installs or maintains to the Internet of Things (IoT). Part of modern artisan training will be the electronics and computer science skills needed for IoT systems,” explains Venter.
“Their training starts with a simple, low-cost IoT application that we developed. It will be expanded to include other technologies commercially available in real-life applications – not training applications,” he says.
The next step for CTC will be to partner with vendors of commercially available technologies so that it teaches those technologies to its artisans as well.
However, the qualifications artisans can attain remain bound to the Quality Council for Trade and Occupations and the National Artisan Moderation Body curricula, meaning that all training providers are still training artisans for older industrial roles, which will not support their long-term career development.
“To counter this, we have taken the decision to identify the emerging technologies and skills that modern artisans will require and make sure he or she gets as much training on these as possible so that their skills will remain relevant. We have started with our IoT basic training module and we want to partner with original equipment manufacturers to incorporate their technologies in our training.”
Further, Venter points to reskilling existing personnel as a key function to ensure artisans develop their skills over their careers and increase the value they provide to companies.
He emphasises that on-the-job training is fundamental to the development of highly skilled artisans and constitutes 75% of an artisan’s training time. The technical and theoretical training provided by the CTC constitutes only 25% of training.
“An artisan’s training is only as good as the on-job part; only then is the artisan ready to qualify. The experiences that is obtained after formally qualifying are more valuable than the qualification,” highlights Venter.
“My message to employers: Be serious about the on-job phase of artisan training; have a formal system in place that ensures log-books are properly interrogated by subject matter experts, not just signed off for the sake of getting to the trade test.”
Employers should also be responsible for determining when a learner is allowed to go for the trade test; not just when all the boxes are ticked, but when the apprentice is viewed by his supervisors as competent enough to run a shift, he adds.
Venter gives an example of an electrician who trained at the CTC, who furthered his learning to gain more knowledge of the emerging technologies and received on job training from his employer to achieve the skills that he needed, which include modern technologies of personnel detection and collision avoidance.
“Employers drive changes. Therefore, the CTC urges employers to liaise with us about the changed training needs of their employees and learners. We work with other companies in dealing with similar situations and we can help you to address your needs.”
Written by Heleen Tshibumbu (2019)
Colliery Training College: Johan Venter
Tel: +27(0)13 692 3121/6 • Fax: +27(0)13 692 8173 • Cell: +27 83 389 3588
