With its new KnowledgeWorkx Resource Program (www.alcoatraining.com), Alcoa Building Products seeks to remedy an industrywide problem.
"As an industry, we have let training go by the wayside," says Larry Banas, director of training at Alcoa. "We are revitalizing efforts to properly train this industry -- from installation to sales and marketing training to running-a-better-business training."
The 4-month-old KnowledgeWorkx umbrella encompasses various training methodologies:
Additional learning modules are in development, including plans for a mobile classroom via a 53-foot trailer, which Banas says could be extremely effective in reaching distributors and contractors. "Ultimately, we want to take our training to contractors. It's not that they do a bad job, but our mentality is that it doesn't take a whole lot for someone to better themselves just a little bit."
Costs will vary depending on the teaching system. KnowledgeWorkx classes may be incorporated with a builder's own training programs, and plans are to create proprietary training modules for certification purposes.
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