Learning and Development (L&D) practices
are clearly visible across the organization. And almost all of them are having separate
division or sub unit with L&D experts. However, L&D is cross-functional
process. Here it is discussed about importance of having proper L&D processes
in organization.
1. Huge demand from employee end..
Now a days, from employees
end there is huge vacuum for learning opportunities, especially young employees
(millennials) believe that “Learning and Development” is so important for them.
(gallup.com 2016) and from the organization perspective, we know hiring Is more
expensive than employee retention. Hence to attract and retain employees, and to
improve employee engagement L&D is a really helpful tool.
Good to read .. (use below links)
2. Cost benefits …
In Sri Lanka, FMCG
business is highly competitive and managing profit margins is challenging. And most
of them are following one or integrated versions of manufacturing systems to
improve their overall productivity. Main objective is to increase the profit
margins by minimizing wastes. Lean Manufacturing, TPM (Total Productive
Maintenance), Toyota Production
System (TPS), Six Sigma, Integrated Work Systems and 5/6S are common ones and every
system generally focusses on eliminating “skill based losses” (different types
of wastes originated from skill gap/s). The solution is L&D. Then it is clear,
L&D practices give cost benefits to the organization.
Figure 01: 8 wastes in Lean Manufacturing (goleansixsigma.com 2019)
3. Legal compliances…
Not only that L&D
practices link with legal compliances as well. To make aware on regulation
changes or new regulations and to fulfil mandatory skill & qualification
levels (licences & certifications), L&D is a vital process.
4. High customer satisfaction…
Employee skill and
engagement are critical requirements in product and service quality. L&D practices are involved with skills and
knowledge improvement on quality management systems. And to fulfil mandatory skill
& qualification levels (requirement of quality management systems or certifications),
L&D is important for any organization. And evaluating the organization
L&D practices is a main item in any quality system or a certification audit.
(ISO 22000, BRC and SLS)
Training and development is equally important for FMCG sector as well as banking sector. Different is the way they provide training to the employees. I think on the job training is most important for your sector.
ReplyDeleteHi Srimal, thanks for your comment,
DeleteYaa.. totally agree with your in cost optimization & waste elimination process, on the job trainings pay the main role.
Customer caring and satisfaction is the more important area in FMCG sector. please describe action you have taken for customer satisfaction and caring.
ReplyDeleteHi Oshan, thanks for your comment,
DeleteMain interface between company and the customer is their sales team, when they developing training calendars (form their Training Need Analysis & other inputs for trainings), they consider customer satisfaction and caring as a key input.
With the emerging challenges to the industry with the controversial health risks are these employee talents properly being used to overcome those challenges? if so how are they being used?
ReplyDeleteHi Suneth, thanks interesting comment,
DeleteYes, I agree with you, they can use their own talents to create a strong communication platform to react to allegations.
I’ve observed it in few FMCG companies in Sri Lanka, usually they use relevant organization divisional experts to address the issues. Ex. If it is a manufacturing process or food safety issue, Manufacturing & Quality teams will take the lead. (with the support from the marketing team)
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteFMCG is a huge industry which requires much more regulatory guidance and attention from the Government since this has a direct impact on public health. In terms of strengthening the legal compliance standards, organizations must pay attention to the learning and development opportunities of the employees and stipulated guidelines of the relevant authorities.
ReplyDeleteHi Chamara totally agree with your comment,
DeleteRegulatory and Quality skill requirement are mandatory items in each and every Training Need Analysis (TNA) and it is strictly monitored through internal and 3rd party Auditing process as well.
What are the most commonly used L&D practices in your organisation?
ReplyDeleteHi Nisha,
ReplyDeleteI could say, organization always try to adhere to 10:20:70 principle
‒ 70% of learning is experiential. It happens through daily tasks, challenges and practice.
‒ 20% of learning is social. It happens with and through other people, like co-workers.
‒ 10% of learning is formal. It happens through structured training courses and programs
And organization has give their priority to develop in-house Trainers/ Coaches through Train the Trainer(TTT) programmes.