Building a Skilled Workforce at Huntington Ingalls Industries
1. How does the apprenticeship and augmented reality training described in the case facilitate learning? Transfer of training?
2. What evaluation outcomes should Huntington Ingalls measure to determine the effectiveness of its apprenticeship program? Pre-hire training? Augmented reality training?
3. What challenges do you think that Huntington Ingalls faces in designing apprenticeship programs? Explain your answer.
Final answer:
HII uses apprenticeship and augmented reality training to facilitate hands-on learning and skills application, crucial for shipbuilding excellence. Program effectiveness can be measured through skill proficiency, job performance, and retention. Challenges include maintaining current curricula and skilled instructors, and integrating new technologies.
Explanation:
Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) enhances learning and transfer of training through its comprehensive apprenticeship and augmented reality training programs. The apprenticeship program's combination of classroom instruction and on-the-job training provides apprentices with the practical skills and theoretical knowledge required to excel in specialized shipbuilding trades. The use of augmented reality technology serves as an innovative method for in-situ guidance and education, reinforcing skills while performing actual tasks.
To evaluate the effectiveness of these training programs, HII should measure outcomes such as skill proficiency, retention rates, job performance post-training, and progression within the company, among others. For pre-hire training, factors like pass rates, job placement, and subsequent performance could be assessed. Augmented reality's success might be measured by its impact on learning efficiency, accuracy in task completion, and the speed of onboarding new employees.
Designing apprenticeship programs presents challenges like ensuring the adequate training of instructors, keeping up-to-date with rapidly evolving technologies, and balancing the needs for specific technical skills with broader employability competencies. HII must continuously adapt its programs to maintain alignment with industry standards and prepare a skilled workforce capable of meeting the complex demands of military shipbuilding.