What is Connected Worker Technology?

Connected worker technology is a class of technology applications that brings together plant operators, maintenance teams, and other workers with the critical information and applications they need to do their jobs more efficiently and productively.

Digital work procedures, wearable technologies, remote operator assistance, video training resources, mobile apps are all examples of connected worker technologies.

This technology has been increasing in importance over the past few years as manufacturers contend with an aging and soon-to-retire workforce.

This has meant that manufacturers must capture the knowledge that these experienced employees have built up over decades of work; new recruits are harder to come by and tend to move jobs more often.

Connected worker technology can digitize the accumulated tribal knowledge of outgoing workers and provide a way for companies to more effectively train and connect less experienced staff with the information they need to do their jobs.

The pandemic further fuelled the interest in connected worker technology as the need for social distancing and remote operations meant that digital technology was essential to keep team cohesion and continuity of business operations.

One example of connected worker in action is at Georgia-Pacific, a pulp, paper and packaging manufacturer. The company has developed a special training program called Quest. It incorporates a series of videos and podcasts that uses knowledge and insights gathered from tenured employees. It also blends AR and VR elements to give new recruits a more immersive learning experience.

New trainees can access videos and PowerPoint slide decks, 360-degree virtual tours of facilities, along with podcasts with knowledge and insights from long-time employees and subject matter experts.

If digital work instructions and resources aren’t enough (for instance to help a new recruit troubleshoot a piece of equipment), Georgia-Pacific has set up a unit called the Collaboration Support Center (CSC) where workers can get in touch with a subject matter expert who will help them troubleshoot the problem.

Interested in Learning More About this Topic?

If you want to optimize the performance of your people and drastically improve productivity across your operations, then you must attend this year’s Connected Worker Summit. Taking place November 15-17 in Chicago, the program has been designed to help you understand how to leverage connected worker technologies to improve operational efficiency, training, asset management, quality and safety.  Download the agenda to find out more.