Training Tracker 2.0 was released in Mid November.  We now have included forecasting capabilities in version 2.1  Contact Blue Tuna for information.  To see a more detailed explanation of Training Tracker go to  http://bluetunadocs.com/blog/pivot/entry.php?id=10

Posted by | 23 12 05 16:21 | 46 W

Every company that has been around awhile has them.  Every time you want to use one you have to hunt down a TV, and a VCR.  VCR Tapes!  There are a few problems associated with using VCR based training materials.  First, set up, tear down and follow up is time consuming - an inefficient use of time.  Also, tape properties degrade over time and use.  A training tape that was once clear and crisp quickly becomes fuzzy and muddled. 

 While your training tapes may still contain information important to your company the information conveyed is antiquated technology that is a pain to use.  One of my customers had two cardboard boxes full of tapes just like what I have described.  They wanted the ability to replicate the tapes and disperse them across all six of their repair stations.  Blue Tuna took it a few steps further!  This is what we did:

1.       Digitized the VCR tape contents.

2.       Burned the digitized training to CD

3.       Attached automated quiz functions, automated grading and automated reporting

 The end product was incredible.  Each training event was burned to its own CD.  This particular company posted the training on their server making it available for all of their repair stations located in the U.S. and Europe to access the training.  With the click of the mouse the student was able to watch the training video.  At the end, Blue Tuna had prepared a quiz that automatically launched when the training was complete.  Once the quiz was taken, it was automatically graded, folded up into a neat email and sent to the attending supervisor with the results. 

 The training event from start to finish was fully automated.  No set up time, no gathering of quiz sheets and grading.  One click training.  While the automated process made the event seamless, even better was the quality of the training material.  The training was digitized . . . no more degradation!

 If you have training tapes that you would like to transform into a more useful training aid contact Blue Tuna. 

Posted by | 16:16 | 388 W

The requirement for Human Factors Training for Technicians is a reality!  For many technicians / mechanics Human Factors training will be a new experience.   It will also be difficult to sell technicians on "soft skills" training initially.  I am sure my experience with technicians is similar to that of other trainers.  Training is initially met with skepticism, which melts away once everyone becomes immersed in the subject. 

Overcoming Skepticism starts at the top.  For Human Factors to be successfully implemented and useful in any repair facility it will be important for management to demonstrate that it has "bought in" to the benefits.  The second step to overcoming skepticism begins with the basics: (1) What is human factors?  (2) Why should I care? See http://bluetunadocs.com/downloads/hanson_doc.pdf  (See Hanson on these two questions.)  The answers here helps to tie the training to the tasks technicans perform everyday.

Error reduction is something everyone in the industry is concerned about.  Human factors gets to the very core of contributing factors.  The information found in the SHEL Model and the Swiss Cheese Model (Reason) offers incredible insight into understanding our roll in error reduction.

Recently I had the opportunity to train mechanics in Human Factors.  For most it was their first blush at the subject.  Initially there was a bit of skepticism, which eventually gave way to interest and then lively participation.  The ice breaker was the study of a real life accident.  The group study and analysis produced some very interesting insight.  The mechanics point of view offered unique insight to set up group discussion.  Connecting the dots between their jobs and human factors was an easy task at that point.  

Overcoming skepticism in the promotion of Human Factors Training is important for the training to be useful and beneficial.   When this occurs training is associated with exercises that are more closely tied to their tasks as mechanics and technicans.

Posted by | 22 12 05 10:58 | 359 W

Blue Tuna conducted a seminar for a Repair Station over the weekend.  15 mechanics, inspectors, and supervisors were attendance for the 8 hour seminar.  Using the Dryden Accident as a case study we began an introduction into this difficult subject.  I thought early on that those in attendance would be a difficult audience because the seminar was being held on a Saturday.  The company has been so busy, this day was the their first choice.  Everyone in attendance participated, and everyone was very gracious and in good spirits.  Thanks guys!

Human Factors is part of the new training requirement.  It was easy to see those in attendance were very interested once the seminar got under way.  In fact, their participation in the discussion was so good, we had to trim back in some areas to fully address their concerns and questions.  See their course evaluation here  http://bluetunadocs.com/downloads/hfassessment.pdf   .

I would highly recommend a seminar approach for your entire company as a way to introduce this difficult and complex subject.

Posted by | 19 12 05 07:19 | 187 W

Training Tracker is an Excel™ program designed to track and schedule training for up to 100 employees and 100 training courses. This program can be used to design new training courses in addition to tracking and scheduling existing courses.   Tracker Tracker includes a section for course design, tracking employee assessment and reporting features.  Unleash the power of Excel through this application to track and schedule employee training, implement course design / development.  Monitor the entire process at a glance.  Buy it today!  http://bluetunadocs.com/traintracker.html

Posted by | 12 12 05 07:21 | 94 W