SHRM highlights why you need to rethink workforce training—modern workers need visual, personalized learning that drives growth, retention, and engagement.
SHRM’s Aaron Teitelbaum nailed it in his recent article, “Why the Future of Manufacturing Hinges on Rethinking L&D.”
He makes a powerful point: if manufacturing leaders want to close the talent gap, they must start by reinventing how their people learn. Traditional, one-size-fits-all training isn’t keeping pace with the modern workforce. Employees want—and need—learning that’s engaging, accessible, and clearly connected to their career growth.
Teitelbaum lays it out plainly: training can no longer be done to employees. It has to be something done for them—designed around how they actually learn, think, and thrive.
And he’s absolutely right.
Everyone Knows the Problem. Few Have Solved It.
Walk through any plant today, and you’ll see the challenge firsthand.
You have seasoned employees who learned by doing—hands-on, repetitive, long-form training that built mastery over years.
They’re visual. They’re mobile. They’re used to content that’s short, personal, and instantly useful and available.
But when we hand them 50-page manuals or sit them through day-long PowerPoints, you lose them before the training even starts, and they quit before they ever hit the floor. You can’t train today’s 20-year-old the same way you trained a 20-year-old in 2000.
Training That Fits How People Actually Learn
The next generation doesn’t want another compliance checklist—they want connection, growth, and relevance. They want a career.
That means rethinking what training looks like inside the plant. Here’s what works now:
- Micro-Modules – short, focused lessons that deliver high-impact learning in minutes, not hours.
- Interactive Learning – video-based, scenario-driven modules that mirror real-world tasks and challenges.
- Career Pathways – structured, transparent progressions that help employees see their future inside your company.
When learning feels personal, visual, and achievable, employees don’t just retain it—they apply it, talk about it, and grow from it.
The Workforce Has Changed. Training Finally Can, Too.
For too long, manufacturers have recognized this gap but lacked the right tools to bridge it.
The message from SHRM is clear: if you want to attract and retain talent, training can’t be an afterthought. It has to be a strategic advantage.
That’s where WorkForge comes in. We exist to help manufacturers modernize workforce training—from onboarding to upskilling to leadership development.
Our platform delivers visual, bite-sized, and customizable training that fits the way people actually learn today.
Because when employees feel invested in, they stay. When they see a path forward, they build careers, and you build your business. Read how four WorkForge customers have engaged in modern solutions and driven incredible bottom line results.
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