The role of an Expatriate Maintenance Trainer
The role of an Expatriate Maintenance Trainer
Introduction
When you are interviewed for a role as an Expatriate Trainer a question is asked: “What do you bring to the table?” A more appropriate question would be “what will you leave on the table?” As an expatriate, it is your job to train the nationals of the country you are working in. The goal is for them to have the skills to perform their role in time. You now see expatriate roles advertised with an emphasis on formal training qualifications.
Papua New Guinea
I first was
employed by Ok Tedi Mining Ltd in PNG as a Mechanical Fixed Plant Maintenance
Trainer. I had 32 years’ experience in plant maintenance, but no formal
training qualifications. I was given the job on the promise of taking CertV1 in
Training and Assessment by distant learning, which I completed. I thought it
would be easy because of my maintenance experience, but I had a lot to learn.
This was my
first experience of realizing people have different education levels and
people prefer different ways of learning. Education teaching techniques have
changed worldwide.
I eventually
moved into the Reliability Department as a Condition Monitoring Technical
Specialist. The role is the same, to train the nationals to the best of your
ability.
Mali West Africa –Somisy Gold Mine
Mali is
French-speaking, but the workforce wanted to learn and picked up English very
quickly. In the training department, I had two Malian assistants, who could
speak English and were very good translators. As well there were different
dialects in Mali but the translators were familiar and this aspect was covered.
Safety training
for instance did take some development, due to the education level of the
workforce. It was all achieved, but the training had to be broken down into
simple steps with a high emphasis on pictorial presentation. The employees who
could not write were assessed verbally through translators. This was a good
learning experience for me.
The trade
training went well and skill levels improved over the years. Again I was
offered a new role as Reliability Supervisor. This time the lubrication crew
came under my supervision I utilized my training skills to develop the team.
Egypt
My next role
was Reliability Superintendent at Sukari Gold Mine in Egypt. I had 2 national
engineers under my supervision as well as the lubrication crew. With the
Engineers, the training was straight forward. Members of the lubrication crew
had different education levels but again it was a matter of developing training
material that could be understood and fairly assessed. I was not employed as a
trainer but it was my role to train team members to perform their roles
correctly and effectively.
I found the
training skills I had developed over the years not only make my job easier but
helped to progress the careers of team members.
What has training taught me!
In relation to
maintenance training, all people can learn, no matter what the level of
education. All that is needed is the ability to produce learning material that
can be understood at that level, and have fair assessment tools in place”.
I still keep in
contact with many people I have trained in different parts of the world. It
makes one feel good to see these individual careers progress. This progression
is a result of their own efforts and continual learning. I personally regard
this as a privilege to be part of the process.
To be
successful as an expatriate maintenance trainer is not just a job but a
commitment. I go back to an earlier statement in this article. ‘It is not so
much what you bring to the table, it is what you leave on the table when you
return to your home country!’
Introduction to Robert Smith
I can develop
Training Packages tailored to needs, Safe Work Procedures, Job Instruction
for Preventative Maintenance Works Orders, for Mining and other industries. I
have over 40 years in industrial maintenance with a proven track record.
I have extensive experience in developing countries.
This is a hobby at this time as still permanently employed.
Contact: robbieccs@gmail.com
Alternative
email: robertmva@yahoo.com.au
Stay safe
Robert Smith
Comments
Post a Comment