COLLABORATIVE WORKPLACE LEARNING BY USE OF ACTIVITY BASED TRAINING METHODS IN MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY

One of the largest bridges in Europe was recently produced at multiple fabrication sites through an outsourced production process. The surface treatment was clearly specified by the contractor according to given standards. However, the Quality Assurance (QA) humidity requirements were not understood in one of the sites, whereby the expected maintenance and renewal cycle of 30 years, actually was reduced to 5 years. Additional costs: 1.5 mill euro every 5 year.

The MECCA pilot project (05-07) developed the new Activity Based Training (ABT) learning environment. ABT follows always the industrial production process, where the students always produce a final product. ABT facilitates 1) a just-in-time on-the-job production workflow competence and knowledge transfer approach, 2) a pedagogical model where theoretical training is always immediately followed by practical training, 3) coordinated use of advanced video technology, and 4) industrial quality assurance management where students exchange their products during a course.

This paper aims at disseminating and raising the awareness of a brand new product oriented ABT learning and training environment. It offers flexible and sound pedagogical delivery of level specific manufacturing industry Quality Assurance (QA) production process training to VET schools and SME organizations in Romania, Hungary, Sweden and Norway. It disseminates new methods for delivering in-company skills upgrading processes that reduce the costs related to competence and knowledge transfer, and enhances production competence and know-how transfer to VET schools. This includes:

• Education of QA VET instructors as Product Oriented learning environment advisers
• Disseminate an innovative transfer system for in-company QA training of personnel, delivered on a just-in-time basis without distance limitations by utilizing video and brand new mobile learning technologies.

The consortium that is developing these new pedagogical methods, has a strong industrial presence with strong ties to QA companies, distance learning methods, blended learning, video technologies, and manufacturing industry leading to identification of inadequacies in current training systems and standards for effective instructor training delivery.
The new mobile learning environment and the product oriented training model close the traditional gap between VET training and the industrial production process workflow. The methods are generic, whereby they are applicable to European wide manufacturing industry sectors (fabrication industries, VET schools and SME’s). They facilitate a innovative solution for cost- and time effective transfer of industrial production process know-how and technology knowledge to SME at a just-in-time basis.
The article will outline how the deployment of product oriented training, like the ABT learning environment to VET schools and companies that certify QA personnel in Romania, Hungary, Sweden and Norway, has been done. This includes rising awareness and delivery of instructor training to QA trainers, and delivery of training courses to QA specialists.