Maintenance Technology April 2015 - (Page 40)

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SPOTLIGHT CONTINUING EDUCATION: Beneficial for Employee and Employer Investing in the development of equipmentreliability professionals is a win-win proposition and a key element in sustainable operations. viewed as strategic planners in a fluid and THE LATE INTERNATIONALLY unstable world, and employee-focused. acclaimed self-help guru and best-selling author Stephen Covey listed a compulBy Jane Alexander sion to "sharpen the saw"-meaning a Doing what it takes Managing Editor drive to improve oneself-as one of the Readers of this magazine know that seven habits of highly effective people. maintenance workers are constantly "Sharpening the saw," however, is becoming a challenge adapting to meet the demands of a more globalized and for many people across industry today, given the cuts in technology-driven workplace. Yet many are still challenged discretionary spending on training/education, fact-finding to justify and increase their worth to their organizations, and benchmarking that countless companies have made. and survive future downsizings by adapting to new jobs John Ross and Rinnette Lowder of Marshall Institute, and positions. Multitasking and taking on additional Inc., assert that those types of cuts-which might have responsibilities, though, exposes knowledge and skill gaps. seemed fiscally responsible at some point-have begun to While furthering his/her education may reflect a worker's dull senses, stunt intellectual growth and reduce worker adaptability, work ethic and eagerness to grow, learning, by potential. They say that the practice of building knowledge itself, isn't enough. Learning must bear fruit through the and skills of industry personnel is losing ground as a core demonstrated competency of the new knowledge gained. competency. That's bad news for companies wanting to Organizations that invest in continuing education often achieve and/or maintain world-class status. have higher employee retention-and by retaining what Ross and Lowder believe that one of the best ways to can become higher-caliber employees, businesses can grow the talent and knowledge of a professional workforce become more competitive. According to the American is through continuing education. Organizations that Council on Education, continuing education and oppordedicate resources to continuing education form a mututunities are cited as the second most significant reason ally beneficial relationship with their employees. Employees employees stay with their current jobs. view it as an opportunity to boost income potential, With the growing industrial sector-and too few increase feelings of self-worth, become more engaged in workers to fill too many critical roles-the value of the bigger purpose of the organization and present themdeveloping skilled trades has become painfully clear. As a selves as ready to learn and grow. Employers, in turn, are result, continuing skills-based training has become more 40 | MAINTENANCE TECHNOLOGY APRIL 2015

Maintenance Technology April 2015

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Maintenance Technology April 2015