TRAINING CONCEPTS A well-educated workforce provides for reliable and economical operation. Qualified personnel safeguard the availability and economic efficiency 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 effect. 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 global global cement cement MAGAZINE MAGAZINE March 2010 Blended Learning Concept at Loesche Blended Learning Concept at Loesche N owadays, 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 different levels and topics are increasing. erefore, a Loesche specialist team had to find 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 sufficient flexibility in the learning process, while also considering individual requirements and living circumstances of the trainees? To find 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. 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 Centre e Training Centre is an integral part of customer service at Loesche in Germany. It offers 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 qualified training courses and training material. e enormous amount of Loesche know-how is collected, adapted and implemented in a database. e database enables central administration, periodic updating and provision of this know-how from one source. Out of this collected information, the Training Centre defines 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 draſts 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
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.
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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