August 2009 Vol. 64 No. 8
Features
Simulator Provides Effective – And Fun – Training
John Deere’s Excavator Training Simulator, introduced about in 2008, has proved to be effective and popular, and the innovative training concept has been expanded to cover other machines.
Deere introduced a similar simulator for four wheel drive loaders in July, and a motor grader simulator is scheduled to be released in September.
“John Deere’s Excavator Operator Training Simulator is a cost effective, safe and efficient way to train new operators in a risk free environment,” said Michael Hoeg, senior instructional designer and developer, John Deere Training Center. “Eight highly detailed and realistic lessons will teach proper operator technique, machine controls and safe operation in a virtual job site.”
The Excavator Operator Training Simulator is not specific to John Deere equipment: operators can select from John Deere ISO Backhoe controls or industry standards SAE Excavator controls.
“This flexibility is very important to customers with a large fleet of machines across different manufacturers, and also aids in cross training of operators,” said Hoeg.
Many who have used the excavator simulator say it is the most realistic training tool they have ever seen.
Simulator operation
The Excavator Operator Training Simulator is available as a full simulator including replica joysticks, replica foot pedals, and the simulation software that runs on a personal computer or laptop with graphic capabilities necessary to support simulator software. As a low cost alternative, stimulation software can be purchased individually and used with affordable gaming joysticks that can be purchased from local electronics retailers.
“We’ve received overwhelming response that the John Deere simulator is the most realistic in the market,” said Hoeg. “The excavator simulator permits operators to experience eight real world lessons, including controls familiarization, placement for trenching, end of day parking, truck loading, digging a level trench, setting a trench box, placing a pipe and loading onto a lowboy trailer. Each lesson includes real life situations, job site hazards, safety violations and tasks that the operator will eventually experience daily on the job.”
At the end of each training lesson, operators receive instant feedback based on their performances.
“Each lesson presents the operator with a detailed score sheet,” explained Hoeg. “Depending on the lesson the score sheet will include different expectations of the operator. Time on task, operating costs, profit, equipment damage and other lesson specific details are tracked.”
The operator’s performance is compared to how an experienced operator would perform the same task and evaluates how safe a student was during the lesson. It also documents data such as how much material above and below grade was calculated, how much spillage was recorded, etc.
“All of this is important information that a new operator needs to be aware of when training,” Hoeg explained. “Integrated record keeping provides an operator immediate visibility to their strengths and weaknesses on each task. Information such as average bucket fill, spillage, time on task, material above and below grade, equipment damage, operating costs and safety violations are all factored into the final score. Each operator’s assessment results are tracked in a database and can be reviewed by the operator and/or a training coordinator.”
The Excavator Operator Training Simulator is in Level 2 of John Deere’s 3 level approach to operator training (see sidebar).
Realistic
However, Hoeg said simulators can be purchased and used as stand alone training tools and are in use at locations of customers, union training locations and military bases.
“Using realistic state of the art simulators,” said Hoeg, “operators learn machine controls, operator technique and safe operation without many of the concerns associated with training on an actual machine, including fuel costs, equipment damage, machine ownership and operating costs, emissions, injury, weather and pulling machines out of production.”
He said that in addition to eliminating costs, customers are identifying other advantages and uses for the simulator such as attracting new operators at job fairs, cross training, screening potential employees, rainy day events, job site planning and safety training.
The equipment operator simulators were developed in cooperation with Southwest Research Institute (SwRI), San Antonio, TX, to define realistic tasks, safety hazards and violations and the program’s unique scoring system.
The excavator simulator was introduced in March 2008 at the Conexpo show, where Hoeg said response was “overwhelming.”
“The simulator has been very well accepted,” he said. “Whenever we bring the simulator to any convention or expo, it receives overwhelming response. Now that simulators have been available for more than a year, we are collecting customer feedback and success stories about ways simulators are being used, and the ROI being experienced. The response is that we have hit the mark with this simulator.”
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
John Deere, (309) 748-0114, www.johndeere.com
Three-level approach to training
In response to a well documented industry shortage of skilled equipment operators, John Deere has worked with the company’s customers to establish a comprehensive market leading approach to operator training, says Michael Hoeg, senior instructional designer and developer, John Deere Training Center.
Deere operator training takes a three level approach:
- Level 1 training is the first step to becoming a safe and efficient operator. Through the use of online interactive courses, videos and multimedia, operators will learn John Deere machine specific information at their own pace.
- Level 2 training teaches experience, machine controls, operator technique, and safe operation through the use of simulation technology. John Deere’s Excavator Training Simulator, new 4WD Loader Operator Training Simulator and Motor Grader Operator Training Simulator, now in final stages of development, fit in the Level 2 category.
- Level 3 instructor led training involves skills verification on a real machine led by John Deere expert instructors.
Cal Peters, manager of sales, marketing and support training, said that the company embarked on the comprehensive training program in response to an industry need of attracting, training and retaining operators.
“Deere’s main priorities were to build a solution based upon customer input and sound instructional design,” he explained. “Feedback thus far has been that we have hit the mark, and without a doubt have the leading product in operator training which will address the challenges facing today’s customer.”
John Deere Training sites are located in Sacaton, AZ, and Coal Valley, IL. Customers can send operators to these locations for instructor led training, or instructors can come to customer locations to train a group of operators on all machines and numerous applications.
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