Investing in learning
Volkswagen South Africa is taking the subject of training and individual development exceedingly seriously, with massive sums being invested, as Alan Swaby learns.
There was a good deal of criticism about the South African governmentÔÇÖs early attempts at redressing the countryÔÇÖs economic balance. A handful of black entrepreneurs did very well for themselves but the vast majority of ordinary people were no better off than ever they had been.
The Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment programme (BBBEE) aims to spread the wealth of the country further by increasing the skills and training of individual employees, as well as encouraging the establishment of black-owned businesses. To be truly successful, it needs the commitment of existing companies to engage with new suppliers and to widen the net when recruiting staff at every level within an organisation. These days, many once exclusively white managed and controlled businesses are embracing BBBEE, not least of which is Volkswagen South Africa (VWSA).
VWÔÇÖs manufacturing plant in Uitenhage in the Eastern Cape builds cars for the local market; but many also go to export markets. Consequently, building to international standards of quality, safety and productivity leaves absolutely no room for compromise of any kind. When VW spent R2 billion on upgrading its training facilities and learning materials in 2007, it represented a strong commitment to those standards.
The company promotes black economic empowerment throughout its dealer network; BBBEE dealerships are helped by the channelling of government and parastatal business through them. An early success is that all of VWSAÔÇÖs 13 new commercial vehicle dealerships meet BBBEE requirements.
Just like its counterparts in Europe, VWSA also works closely with potential suppliers, providing coaching and assistance as well as developing a wider supplier base by encouraging non-compliant suppliers to get accredited.
Key to much of this work is the VW Training Centre thatÔÇÖs been in operation for the past four years, backed by a R400 million commitment to invest in buildings, equipment and trainers capable of developing employees for all sectors of the business.
Under the overall leadership of senior manager Dr Lesley Lee, each of the five learning academies are responsible for shaping the learning paths of all individuals attending that academy. ÔÇ£Content is based on VolkswagenÔÇÖs specific requirements, blended with formal learning material and unit standards where applicable. Experts on individual subjects are brought in to develop the courses and prepare some of the learning material,ÔÇØ explains Lee.
ÔÇ£Learning paths include foundational induction, for example, VolkswagenÔÇÖs production systems; technical fundamentals aimed at improving workersÔÇÖ suitability for promotion; and generic business skills, such as the art of negotiation.ÔÇØ
With the introduction of blended learning, training is delivered in various ways to make it as flexible as possible. An essential part of the learner management system calls for accurate assessment of individuals followed by close monitoring and real time records of their progress. Trainees are able to access and keep track of their own learning via the system, which operates on a 24/7 basis. The E-Learning resource room also provides access to world-class material relevant to their specific training from some of the most prestigious teaching institutions in the world.
BBBEE is equally keen to redress the gender imbalance and as such, VW is giving preference to black females when recruiting for the technical training programmes, to open the possibility of technical careers for them. Similarly, the company also supports the training and employment of people with physical disabilities. It has had a total of 86 in training so far, from which 26 have been placed in the production areas while the remainder have gone onto further training in end user computing. ÔÇ£Our future plans are to include suitably qualified disabled candidates on the formal technical learnerships, which lead to qualification at artisan and technician level,ÔÇØ says Lee.
The technical academy is accredited as a Trade Test Centre and as such, plays a major role in the quality assurance of artisan qualifications. Approximately 250 to 300 candidates are tested annually in various trades utilised in the industry. As a service to the community, it offers trade test preparation at discounted rates to candidates who are not supported by employers but who meet the application requirements. ÔÇ£Test officials have made major contributions in terms of the revision of tests and development of new test materials that will be used in the future,ÔÇØ says Lee. ÔÇ£The centre is respected as a benchmark for the sector in terms of quality standards set and implemented.ÔÇØ
The production academy has also proved to be a benchmark within the automotive industry and has put real meaning into lifelong learning and continuous improvement as related to both the processes and the individual. These days, the incidence of illiteracy has been drastically reduced but there are still some people within VW who require help to improve their literacy and numeracy skills. ÔÇ£Help is available to all who want it, on a voluntary basis, as part of the drive to accessible learning,ÔÇØ says Lee.
The production academyÔÇÖs approach is based on research within South Africa and overseas on best practices in developing production personnel to their full potential while at the same time meeting the required level of quality and productivity improvement. To achieve these aims, the environment in which learning takes place needed to simulate the real on-line situation and had to be close to the actual workplace. Learners in the new production academies are able to see the actual production lines from the academy; meanwhile, the workers on-line can also see what is happening inside the academy at all times.
VWSAÔÇÖs commitment to excellence is evidenced by its sustainable approach to equipping employees with the skills they need for coping with the wide-ranging demands of globalisation.
