Press Release: Spin-off of iBL from Allied Reliability Group to Eruditio, LLC

We are excited to announce this great news: Spin-off of iBL from Allied Reliability Group to Eruditio, LLC

Charleston, South Carolina – March 27, 2014 – Allied Reliability Group (ARG) is pleased to introduce Eruditio, LLC as their newest partner company and provider of the inspired Blended Learning (iBL) offering.  Allied Reliability Group’s iBL offering has redefined active learning in the maintenance and reliability space and proven that project based experiences can have greater than a 10 to 1 return on investment.  Unfortunately, ARG’s ability to focus resources on this dynamic product has been limited.

“The iBL applied learning process and the real world examples from over one hundred students will continue to build an unrivaled educational experience fostered by a fully dedicated focus from the Eruditio Team.”  Explains Shon Isenhour, Partner at Eruditio, of the iBL development process.

As a result, ARG has resolved to spin off iBL as an independent business – outside of the Allied Reliability Group structure.   ARG leadership have worked hand-in-hand with Shon Isenhour and Darrin Wikoff (formerly of ARG) to license the iBL brand and continue to deliver iBL as part of their own company, Eruditio, LLC.

“We are extremely excited about the spin off.” Comments John Schultz, Partner at Allied Reliability Group.  “ARG was founded on an entrepreneurial spirit- now we can continue that history by allowing those most passionate and invested in iBL to pursue their entrepreneurial dreams.”

The framework of this transition creates distinct advantages for ARG, Eruditio and our clients. “The partnership with Eruditio allows us to continue to offer iBL to our customers with continuing confidence that they will deliver ever increasing value which is aligned to our Mission Statement.”  Adds Schultz.

“Eruditio is looking forwad to continuing the focus on application based learning and generating  documented return on investment for our clients. Having the depth of ARG to support our clients when needed delivers a one stop solution.” said Darrin Wikoff of the partnership’s future.

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About Eruditio, LLC
Eruditio, LLC is made up of a team educators with over 40 years of experience in adult education and training in corporate America as well as globally. Our team is focused on helping you solve your company’s issues through project-based learning. www.eruditioLLC.com.

About Allied Reliability Group
Allied Reliability Group offers best-in-industry maintenance, reliability, and operational consulting and services, training, staffing, and integrated software solutions servicing the industrial and manufacturing sector. www.alliedreliabilitygroup.com

Education Without Application Is Just Entertainment: 3 things that can help create a return on education.

Having spent the better part of the last 15 years educating people from all over the world in topics like reliability, problem solving, software, and leadership, there is one thing that I have noticed. Many companies are buying a lot of expensive entertainment. Why? Ask yourself this simple question: Of the last three training sessions you attended, did you actually use what you learned to make a difference in the way your business performs? If you did not use what you learned then I can not see how that class was anything more than two... three.... or five days of entertainment.
How many Planner Schedulers have attended a class only to go back and function as a parts chaser and relief supervisor?
How many root cause analysis classes have been sold where the attendee never once performs and documents a root cause solution?
So here are three ways to help your organization create a return on your educational expenses.
Retention: To increase the amount of new knowledge your learner bring back to your facility make sure that the instructor is familiar with your process. Work to ensure the material is tailored for your processes, business situation and most importantly your audience. That off the shelf class may be part of your entertainment problem. If a person is attending software training don't send them through 5 days of training when they only need a day. This lead to a tuned out non-learner who will more than likely miss the parts that they need to know just out of sheer boredom. Take the time to map out the skills you need the person to have and the learning objectives associated with those skills. Then the training can be customized to only provide the points and topics they need to be successful. This will limit boredom and increase retention.
Application: Once a student has seen a new way to do something in the training environment they must apply the skills nearly immediately. This helps with the previous topic of retention but it also creates success and real world examples that can be used to continue the change process. We use project based learning where each student has a charter with goals and metrics that they drive by applying what they have learned and generating success and a return on our training effort. They also have a coach that works with them virtually to help with that tough transition from learner to practitioner.
Culture manipulation: As the student create success this will breed a desire to have more success. This is one way to help with cultural change.  The second is to ensure the leadership both understand the goal of the training and what process and behaviors that the training should change. This allows them to ask the right questions of the student to propel the implementation forward. "What is important to my boss is important to me." We again use the learning project charter to facilitate the discussion with the manager and the student and their project coach who is helping them along the way. With a pull from leadership and the success of quick application you can begin to manipulate the culture into the the target state.

Here are my three ideas. What other things are you doing to make your education something more than entertainment.