Is your crew just not getting it when you show them how to disassemble a shake machine or filter a fryer? New interactive training modules on CD-ROM or DVD make your job easier.

If you've ever assembled a bike at 11 p.m. Christmas eve, you've probably been thankful for the illustrations. Half the time, the written instructions are poorly translated; they're pretty much useless to the mechanically challenged.

Pictures are good. But a streaming video and animation of the process would be even better.

Transfer that idea to the world of equipment training and the concept begins to look even more interesting. And now it's here: The M3 Group, Marengo, Ill., is breaking new ground with its Interactive Crew Training Modules, or ICTMs, available in CD- ROM or DVD formats, or, if you' ve got the bandwidth, through the Internet.

ICTMs are an offshoot of the company' s Interactive Service Training Modules (ISTMs, see sidebar), which in turn are an offshoot of the company's 20 years of experience in creating print foodservice equipment manuals, including versions for installation and operation, parts and service.

You should note, too, that The M3 Group is a well- known provider of technical documentation services to the foodservice equipment industry. Its writers and illustrators all come from foodservice equipment engineering and service backgrounds and many are accomplished linguists who can translate your modules into virtually any language in the world.

“Creating these training modules is a natural extension of our core competencies designing and developing equipment users' manuals,” says George Nicholson, M3 Group president. For years, he explains, his company has been taking apart and videotaping foodservice equipment to provide his writers and illustrators with reference points as they produce equipment manuals for manufacturers.

“We've discovered that language and literacy barriers can make traditional installation and operation manuals tough to understand,” Nicholson says. “The growing trend we see from manufacturers and restaurant operators are requests for us to develop what we like to call 'illustruction' or 'wordless' manuals. In essence, we break down procedural steps and information into step-by-step illustration form. This basically eliminates the literacy issue and reduces the language barrier.”

Since the company was already recording videos, it was a relatively small leap to sharpen production values, create and animate sophisticated solid- rendered models and illustrations, add in some multiple-choice reviews, and incorporate the processes into interactive, digital formats.

The Sky' s The Limit
Pick any piece of equipment in your concept. How about the soft-serve machine or conveyor oven? Some of these units have a lot of separate parts that require, ideally, disassembly, cleaning and reassembly every day.

Once The M3 Group develops the “script” for the module, it shoots video to capture all of the procedures. The video, which is used in the training module, captures a live crew member performing the procedures and also serves as the basis for illustrations in still and 3D-animated renderings.

The M3 Group boasts some amazing computer capabilities. The company actually uses the same kind of digital illustration/effects software used by the motion picture special effects industry. Employees can pop in the CD-ROM or DVD, go through the module to learn the steps, review what they don' t understand, and then try it out for real.

How many modules you might need is really up to you. On average, creating a module takes about four to six weeks. You can pick and choose to contract for modules on a couple of training- intensive pieces or go full-out with a module for every piece in your unit. Modules, customized completely to your operation, cost an average of $ 15,000 each, but might be less or more depending on the equipment you choose and the level of technicality involved.

A Breakthrough In Equipment Training
So, what exactly can these modules do for you? A lot. According to People Report, Dallas, the average industry turnover rate for hourlies is 130%, though some of you might quote a higher figure. In a recent conversation with a full-service chain manager, Nicholson was told that out of 21 employees, 10 had turned over in a six- week time frame. You can guess what's eating the majority of that manager's time.

And if we can assume that a lion' s share of your managers' time is spent hiring and training a revolving stream of employees on your foodservice equipment, we can make a couple of other good guesses. First, equipment training is less thorough than it should be and, second, new employees are being taught all the operation and maintenance “shortcuts” employees and managers have discovered along the way, jeopardizing not only equipment operation, but, more importantly, food and crew safety. Sobering thoughts.

Truth be told, the equipment you' re using in your concepts is pretty good stuff, but it can die a premature death if your employees don' t know how to use and maintain it. Consider, too, that the kids coming to work for you now, Gen Y-ers, grew up on PlayStation 2, Xbox, computers and other high- tech devices and are completely comfortable with learning through interactive formats—in fact, they prefer them.

With Interactive Crew Training Modules, you have thorough, intuitive and reusable equipment training resources on site—but not on the shelf—all the time. You' ll also realize cost savings in reduced training time, reduced equipment downtime, fewer warranty issues and improved customer service. If ICTMs catch your fancy, we imagine your training departments might be interested as well.

Wanna Find Out More?
Call George Nicholson at The M3 Group, 815/276- 3598, or e- mail him at gnicholson@m3com.us.