Training is crucial in all aspects of the marine industry, from shipbuilding and manufacturing environments to safety drills to procedural training. However many of the scenarios that need to be trained for take place in dangerous or remote environments and this can make training costly and risky.
So how to weigh the reality that poorly trained employees can create a dangerous work environment and increase the chances of injury, breakage and downtime versus the challenges of training them properly?
Increasingly, companies are looking to Virtual Reality (VR) to close this gap.
The Reality of Training Today.
The current state of training in the real world environment poses several challenges.
- It can be time-consuming and inefficient. This is especially true when employees need to travel to and from a remote training site, or if training needs to be conducted during specific time windows like planned downtime of a machine. .
- Real-world training can be dangerous. Many of the environments and situations that need to be trained for in the marine industry take place in cramped or hazardous conditions or where mistakes can lead to serious injury to the trainee or others around them.
- Physical training can be costly. Extra trainers and supervisors may be required. There are productivity costs which can mount up quickly. Machines may need to be turned off to conduct training and team members are out of their roles traveling to and participating in training. Specialist equipment, like safety gear may also be required to conduct training increasing the costs.
- Classroom training can be insufficient. Understanding the theory doesn’t really substitute for experiencing an event or situation. There can also be inconsistencies in results based on differences in the experience of trainers.
The Advantages of Virtual Reality Training
VR training addresses all of the costs and risks of real-world training today.
- VR training is faster. Rather than waiting for planned downtime or synchronising calendars, trainees can learn at their own pace, anywhere, anytime. Travel time is also reduced, so trainees can be more productive.
- Virtual Reality training is zero risk. Dangerous activities can be simulated without the worry of injury to the trainee or those around them. There is no impact on physical machines or equipment and no risk of breakage or malfunction.
- VR Training is more effective, as it mimics real-world procedures, activates muscle memory, and is standardized. Multiple scenarios can be tested without having to wait for specific cases to occur. VR training is also built for rapid scaling.
- In more advanced implementations of VR training for the marine industry, trainees can receive personalized feedback based on their performance. In the real world, trainers may not have the time or resources to provide individualized attention to each trainee. This allows for a better understanding of the trainee’s strengths and weaknesses, so can also be used in recruitment scenarios.
Why Now?
Virtual Reality has been around for a while. So why is now a good time to invest in VR Training?
- For some companies, 2023 is the ‘Year of Efficiency,’ and cutting costs is key. These cost reductions don’t have to come from reducing headcount. Technology like VR can save costs elsewhere in the business which may allow for more talent to be retained.
- Building VR training has become more affordable due to the reduction in equipment costs. Fewer staff are required, fewer trainers and supervisors. VR training has also been shown to boost retention and reduce turnover.
- Virtual Reality training can help achieve sustainability goals. Your company’s Climate Footprint can be reduced by eliminating travel, using fewer materials, and reducing energy and waste.
- Implementing VR training offers a competitive edge. Many companies are still doing things the way they have always done and are not taking advantage of the competitive edge VR training can give, especially in competitive markets.
In Conclusion…
Training in the marine and yachting industry is ripe for innovation.
Real-world, physical training is costly, and companies are looking for ways to reduce costs.
A virtual reality platform offers an affordable way to cut costs without cutting performance.
It has never been easier to build a VR training solution for businesses, and now is the right time to get started.