Learning to do a job requiring a forklift is a lot like ****!
You can SIMULATE it.
Talk about it.
Ask questions about it.
Read about it.
Write about it.
Watch videos about it.
Discuss the various protections needed, and
take pencil & paper or digital tests about it.
But, if the operator of it can NOT actually accomplish the full job intended, then there is NO WAY they can move the human race, or anything else of value, forward.
Simulator or not, how do YOUR operators stack-up?
Best wishes,
Joe :-)
I was lucky to have a go on a FLT simulator just a few weeks ago. I don't think if I was lucky enough to own one I would use it as a training aid. Quote from my wife
"You cant beat the real thing"
Dear Yomero,
It seems that the idea of "simulators" is getting a lot of press. lately!
In answer to your first question, "Yes", the most notable and successful simulators have long been known to train military or commercial airline pilots. Yet, even with this well-known use, the "simulators" did not stand alone as the only training experience for users. With forklifts, effective training might rely on a simulator, but, as in the aviation case, it would be nearly impossible to stand alone AND be effective (transfer to the job).
Earlier posts in other Training discussions make a case that is compelling. If you "read between the lines", no one came out to say the "idea"of a simulator is a bad one. Clearly though,none believe the state-of-the-art in forklift simulators warrants an endorsement for the purpose of effectively training operators.
With forklift operator training, I would expect that the romantic notion of placing someone in a simulator for a while, and expecting them to "pop -out" with substantive job skills is just that. Why? Because no forklift simulator manufacturer, designer, human factors expert, or government agency has demonstrated otherwise with any empirical evidence. When I see the evidence that a simulator improves "training transfer" to the job held by the trainee, I'll become an advocate! So, I'm far from being able to recommend a best brand.
Finally, whatever your methods of helping someone to learn their job better, the training is effective if it transfers. If it does not achieve transfer, it is not effective. So, for now, I'll stick with a good old-fashion standardized SIMULATION to achieve this...and ignore the simulator collecting dust in the corner of the room
Best wishes,
Joe