And, more on Training...Ideas for Stretching the Training Budget

1. Outsource Your Training – Firms that outsource training cut their training costs, increase the number of courses offered to employees, and increase the number of employees trained. ASTD reports one memberc organization saved more than $360,000 by simply outsourcing.6 Nell Nicholas, a HelmsBriscoe regional director who serves the New England area says seminars in particular are “quick and inexpensive and it streamlines the ability for employees to do mulit-tasking. Outsourcing is a great way to go.”
2. Open Enrollment Seminars – The cost of program development, instructors and equipment has already been absorbed. This is the cheapest alternative for a “quick fix” without giving up high quality in most cases.
3. Ask for Discounts – Volume discounts for multiple seminar attendees are sometimes available by simply asking your vendor.
4. On-Site Training - Bringing an outside training program to your facility gives you more bang for the buck. Per student cost is less expensive than open enrollment seminars. The heavy costs of program development and internal salaries are avoided. Equipment-specific, need-specific or otherwise customized training is frequently made possible. More topics or disciplines are available at a lower cost than developing multiple internal programs on your own.
5. Cross Training – It is difficult to take an irresponsible person and make him responsible. It is easier to take a responsible person and teach him to do more and different things. Cut the fat and get the most out of your best employees by cross-training them.
6. Train the Trainer- Send someone to a training program who can bring it back and train others. The transfer will most likely be less than a direct transfer from a seasoned instructor specializing in training workers, but much of the knowledge can still be transferred. In some cases, the vendor may even be willing to sell the curriculum to assist you.
7. Get Help from Equipment Operators – Hold mini-training sessions or bring training on site to teach your operators and other employees to identify, or even troubleshoot and fix the simplest problems on their own. Whenever you can avoid getting maintenance staff involved, you save time and money.
8. Tuition Reimbursement - 89% of employees have access to reimbursed tuition programs, but only 12% take advantage of it. Encourage your employees to use the benefits they have.
And, other Ways to Stretch the Budget - Intra-company email discussions - Peer-to-peer coaching - “Fingertip” knowledge (e.g., Internet) - Join a Social Network (work specific blogs, chat rooms, Facebook) - Job Rotation - Knowledge Bases (searchable reference materials) - Memberships in professional trade associations - Subscribe to technical magazines and newsletters - Set up “self-learning” stations in your facility - Informal mentoring - Open agenda meetings to discuss the day’s or week’s work.