TRAINING CONCEPTS

A well-educated workforce provides for reliable and economical operation. Qualifi ed personnel safeguard the availability and economic effi ciency of plants in the long term. The Loesche Training Centre uses the principle of ‘integrated learning‘ (the Blended Learning Concept) with the aid of the latest learning methods and media. Loesche combines online training courses with traditional attended teaching in order to consolidate the knowledge transferred in the best manner possible and with lasting eff ect. The combination of classroom training and eLearning has already successfully established itself in the advanced vocational training of Loesche personnel and is now also used for customer training.

22 globalglobalcement cement MAGAZINEMAGAZINE March 2010

Blended Learning Concept at LoescheBlended Learning Concept at Loesche

Nowadays, changes in society, working life, and

technical developments happen in a rapid way.

Whoever wants to keep up with this development, has

to train himself regularly. In Loesche’s case, this trend

towards self-education has happened in parallel with

very fast growth of the company within the last years.

An increasing number of new Loesche employees

worldwide as well as all the experienced staff need to

be trained regularly. Additionally, customers’ request

for regular training on diff erent levels and topics are

increasing. Th erefore, a Loesche specialist team had to

fi nd appropriate solutions for the following questions:

• How can Loesche guarantee a stable and high-

quality knowledge transfer to all of its employees

and customers worldwide?

• How can Loesche train its staff and all customers

to keep them up-to-date?

• How can Loesche guarantee a suffi cient fl exibility

in the learning process, while also considering

individual requirements and living circumstances

of the trainees?

To fi nd a solution for these questions, Loesche de-

cided to start up a centralised Training Centre, based

in Düsseldorf, Germany, which was launched in spring

2008. Th is article gives a short overview on the devel-

opment of the most suitable training resource for both

employees and customers of Loesche worldwide.

The Loesche Training CentreTh e Training Centre is an integral part of customer

service at Loesche in Germany. It off ers full service to

internal clients (such as the human resources depart-

ment and subsidiaries of the Loesche Group) as well

as external clients (worldwide customers) in providing

qualifi ed training courses and training material.

Th e enormous amount of Loesche know-how is

collected, adapted and implemented in a database.

Th e database enables central administration, periodic

updating and provision of this know-how from one

source. Out of this collected information, the Training

Centre defi nes and prepares learning content for inter-

nal and external training, in cooperation with experts

as well as external consultants.

A young, innovative team of editors, ‘eLearning’

authors and technical trainers draft s and creates train-

Loesche supplies dry-grinding plants for the

cement, mineral, pulverised coal injection (PCI)

and power generation industries, incineration

systems for decontamination, and thermal plants

for cement factories. Loesche is an independent

and family-owned company with more than 650

employees in more than 20 countries.

Below: The faces behind the Loesche Training Centre (from left to right): Regina Krammer (eLearning author/adminis-trator), Theodora Bruns (head of Training Centre), Sven von Schmid (technical writer), Silke Keshta (technical writer), and Rainer Sandtner (technical trainer).

Theodora Bruns & Dr Regina Krammer Theodora Bruns & Dr Regina Krammer –LOESCHE Gmbh–LOESCHE Gmbh

TRAINING CONCEPTS

globalglobalcement cement MAGAZINEMAGAZINE March 2010 23

ing and eLearning courses, documents and manuals in

accordance with the latest media-didactic principles,

tailored to the needs and requirements of the learners.

Technical writers ensure that the contents of the

course and manuals are appropriate, correct and legal,

to achieve the highest possible benefi t for users and

learners. Knowledge is provided by using the advan-

tages of newest media, e.g. CSCL (‘computer supported

cooperative learning’, e.g. web forums) and eLearning.

The ‘blended learning’ conceptWhen communicating information about Loesche

technology, the Training Centre uses the principle of

‘integrated learning’ - the blended learning concept -

with the aid of the latest learning methods and media.

We combine online training courses, which are not

tied to a specifi c time and

place, with traditional ‘at-

tended teaching’ in order

to consolidate the knowl-

edge imparted in the best

manner possible and with

lasting eff ect.

Th e combination of

attended teaching and

eLearning has already suc-

cessfully established itself

in the advanced vocational

training of Loesche per-

sonnel and is now also used

for customer training. Further

digital training methods (pro-

grams for process simulations) are

already being created. Continuous

expansion of the training package

- in terms of content and teaching

methods - will ensure that the cus-

tomers receive targeted advanced

vocational training.

In general, blended learning

means combining diff erent teach-

ing methods, techniques and

resources and applying them in

an interactively meaningful en-

vironment to create an optimum

training program for a specifi c

audience. Learners should have

easy access to diff erent learning

resources in order to apply the

knowledge and skills they learn

under the supervision and support of the trainer

inside and outside of the classroom. A blended

learning approach combines face-to-face training

with computer-mediated instruction.

Classroom/personal trainingIn the framework of blended learning, the Loesche

Training Centre relies on three main pillars of edu-

cation, which are combined with each other. First of

all, there is the ‘synchronous educational method,’

the well-established classroom training: an engineer

with long-time experience as a Loesche commission-

ing supervisor is tasked with the training of learners in

vertical roller mill technology, as well as with the train-

ing of experienced process engineers and maintenance

personnel. Th e trainer is well versed in Loesche tech-

nology, Loesche customers and worldwide working

conditions. Th erefore, he is able to impart fi rst-hand

knowledge.

eLearning/web based trainingAs a second tool – if a fast and stable internet connec-

tion is provided – the learner can use the online version

of Loesche’s training portfolio, the so-called eLearning,

which is a web-based training (WBT). A personalised

login name and a password ensures data integrity and

security for every single eLearning user. eLearning of-

fers complete self-determination

for each learner, online control

of the learning status for both

the learner and the trainer, and

standardised learning contents

with continuous evaluation.

In June 2009, the Loesche

eLearning project took part in

a benchmarking analysis (see

fi gure above) which focused on

the use of eLearning in German

Left: The concept of ‘blended learning.’

Below: Rainer Sandtner (left), Loesche’s technical trainer, with his learners

during an onsite training at Hercules plant, South Africa.

Left: One result of a benchmarking study: Loesche

belongs to the majority of companies (7 out of 16 companies), who produce

61-100% of their eLearning content internally. (from:

Benchmarking zum Thema eLearning, by Eva Schleinzer,

Hansgrohe AG, Germany.)

No data

TRAINING CONCEPTS

24 globalglobalcement cement MAGAZINEMAGAZINE March 2010

middle-sized businesses. Th e study shows clearly, that

- at all points – the Loesche eLearning platform is in

line with the current trend of computer based training

and web learning.

Computer based training/offl ine learningAs a third possibility, the student can learn offl ine, for

example at a job site, if no stable internet connection is

possible. Th is offl ine solution is called computer-based

training (CBT) and consists of CDs, DVDs, manuals

and/or simulations. Th naks to a special offl ine tool

called Learnbase, the Training Centre is able to off er

an automatic learning status transfer and an auto-

mated update of all eLearning contents, every time the

learner enters the online eLearning platform.

Th e diff erences between the diff erent tools in

blended learning are shown in the table below:

Case study - Loesche’s internal usersLoesche trains its employees regularly. During the fa-

miliarisation phase, colleagues or mentors ensure that

new employees will be introduced to their working en-

vironment and necessary programmes in a sustainable

and careful way. Additionally, numerous internal and

external classroom training sessions are off ered.

In summer 2008, aft er an extensive implementation

phase, the Training Centre introduced eLearning suc-

cessfully to all Loesche employees. Th is was carried out

in agreement with the human resources department, to

make sure that both Loesche employees in Düsseldorf

and all employees in the subsidiaries can be trained

independent of time and location, in addition to class-

room training. Today, 620 Loesche employees all over

the world are registered for Loesche eLearning.

Since the Training Centre has technical writers and

eLearning authors, who are able to design extensive

training documentation as well as eLearning courses

in-house, fast and effi cient creation of the very fi rst

eLearning seminars was possible. Th ese courses con-

tain not only training on Loesche technology, but also

on acute and current topics such as measures in case

of a potential worldwide pandemic (such as swine fl u)

and health & safety at plant sites. Due to the world-

wide presence of Loesche, all eLearning courses are

produced in English.

Case study - Loesche’s worldwide external usersGenerally, the customer’s site personnel are instructed

on practical topics by Loesche supervision engineers

during the installation and commissioning phase.

According to the specifi c requirements, this practical

know-how can be improved and deepened by addi-

tional theoretical classroom training.

To face the increasing demand for intensive in-

struction for fi eld personnel, the Training Centre has

successfully started carrying out additional extended

training courses for customer fi eld personnel since

early 2009.

Th e education is always a combination of classroom

training and plant visits and is executed by a techni-

cal trainer. Th e training takes place either directly at

the customer’s plant site or at the Loesche headquar-

ters in Düsseldorf. Currently, we mainly cover the

demand for training on the subjects of maintenance

Right: Locations where Loesche classroom training sessions took place in 2009.

Web-based training Computer-based training Personal training

Independent (time and location) and asynchronous

Independent (time and location) and asynchronous

Dependent on trainer, synchronous training

Internet access required

No internet access required Appointments required

Automatic updates possible

Automatic updates not possible, unless Learnbase is used

Direct feedback of trainer

Online control of learning status, visible for learner and trainer

No direct learning status, unless Learnbase is used

Trainer gets an impres-sion of progress and learning status

Direct connection between Training Centre and learner possible

No direct connection between Training Centre and learner

Permanent exchange between trainer and learner

TRAINING CONCEPTS

globalglobalcement cement MAGAZINEMAGAZINE March 2010 25

and process/operation. In particular, the maintenance

personnel will be instructed in preventive and correc-

tive maintenance. All know-how which is presented in

classroom training will be repeated and demonstrated

in practice in the course of the plant visits.

All training is adapted to customer requirements

and will be summarised in the extensive training

documentation. On request, an assessment test for all

learners can be implemented at the end of the train-

ing. In this way, a potential lack of understanding can

be revealed, discussed and cleared immediately with

the trainer. Our experiences so far have shown that

classroom training mainly enhances communication

between the learners. Previous attendees of Loesche

training sessions were enthusiastic about the possibility

of addressing actual issues and problems face-to-face

with the trainer.

Mr Rajasekar from Aditya Birla Cement, India,

summarised the two-weeks training, which took

place in November 2009 at Aditya, as follows: “Th e

programmes were well appreciated by the 65 training

participants. Classroom training along with fi eld dem-

onstration was the essence of the training module. Th e

maintenance aspects were covered in detail during the

training. Th e supporting training material, visuals and

drawings were excellent and easy to understand. Based

on feedback from the Aditya Birla Group, Loesche will

include a computer-based simulation of process pa-

rameters in the future training programmes planned.

Overall, the training program met the objectives and

can be considered as success.”

Mr Zbynek Masek, senior project engineer at

HTC Project Engineering Services, Ceskomoravský

Cement, Czech Republic, wanted “to thank for profes-

sionally performed staff training provided by Loesche

from 31 August to 3 September 2009. Th e training

course in an area of maintenance and operation of the

vertical roller mill was perfectly prepared and fully

professionally managed. Th e staff has been trained in

all important areas necessary for proper mill operation

and maintenance. Th e fact that the training course

took place on site also helped to improve practice and

skills of our staff . I highly recommend the training

program as a signifi cant contribution for improvement

of the staff qualifi cation in area of operation and main-

tenance of Loesche’s vertical roller mills.”

Summary and outlookTo improve the adjustment of training to the respective

target audience and to act independently of time and

location, in January 2010 the Training Centre started to

off er the blended learning concept to all its worldwide

customers. Th e experiences that were already gained

with the internal use of eLearning and web forums

have fl owed into the implementation of web-based

training for customers. Our records show that the

blended learning concept is accepted only if suffi cient

information is provided and a contact person (such as

an administrator, tutor or trainer) is available during

the entire training time. A more precise determina-

tion of the learning demand and a stronger interaction

between the target group and the trainer/tutor enables

an optimum, target-oriented and above all sustainable

knowledge transfer.

If you have any questions, please contact the au-

thors via trainingcenter@loesche.de.

Below: A typical training cycle including all diff erent

tools and media types to guarantee a sustainable

knowledge transfer.