Last Updated Aug 8, 2026
Are you having a hard time getting your operators to complete their training and certification updates on time? Here are 14 tried-and-true methods used by other small and mid-sized manufacturers.
Getting employees to complete required training isn't just about sending more reminders. It's about removing the barriers that make training easy to ignore.
In meetings, show reports to managers that illustrate training completion rates. Or take it further and publish training completion reports and skills gap reports on a bulletin board. MakerComply can give you these reports in minutes.
Let operators and supervisors know that if they haven't completed relevant training or certification, such as LOTO or confined space training, they can't be authorized to perform that work. Managers will care because this can impact production and may have legal consequences.
Reduce workers' daily production quota to make up for the time they are away from the line. Otherwise, training is stealing time from the metric that keeps them employed. That means training can start to feel like punishment.
Chunk training into 5 or 10-minute lessons. For example, use a cellphone to record a video of your most experienced operator setting up a machine. A good training tracker app can link directly to the recording and send it to trainees along with automated reminders.
Make sure your training is built for the device employees are viewing it on. If workers are on mobile, make sure the training experience is mobile friendly.
Don't overload employees with too many training requirements in a single month. Stagger trainings throughout the year so employees can focus on completing what is actually due.
Analyze the training you're assigning. Is everyone getting need-to-know content, or are they being trained on things that aren't relevant to their jobs? Unnecessary training creates overload, which can lead to lower completion rates.
Ask employees what's stopping them from getting training done on time. You may find something that's surprisingly easy to fix. Are training materials confusing? Rework them. Is a course failing to load on their devices? Replace it with something lighter and easier to access.
Send gentle nudges when training is due. Better yet, automate them so you don't lose hours chasing people down or forget to let employees know that a refresher is coming up.
Send reminders directly to workers by text message and link them straight to the specific training or certification required. That way, employees don't have to remember a login or navigate through multiple screens to figure out what they need to complete.
Make sure reminders and training can reach workers where they actually work. Many training apps fail on the shop floor because they assume workers have desktops or work email addresses available to them during the workday.
For group face-to-face training sessions, consider scheduling them during a company-paid pizza lunch. Nothing brings people together quite like free food.
Offer rewards for operators who consistently complete their training on time. That could mean recognition in an app like MakerComply, public acknowledgment, or some type of non-cash bonus.
Give employees a self-service portal like MakerComply that allows them to upload training proof and certifications in less than five minutes, without needing to remember a password. Reduced friction means faster training turnaround.
MakerComply helps manufacturers track training, manage certifications, automate reminders, and give employees a simple way to keep their records up to date.
It's about making training visible, relevant, accessible, and easy to complete. Remove the friction and employees are much more likely to keep their training up to date.
