There is huge demand for skilled construction equipment operators in the industry.

Williams R.J, Managing Director, Hailstone Innovations

How do you look at the 10-year journey of Infrastructure Equipment Skill Council (IESC) as an apex skilling body for construction equipment?

Infrastructure Equipment Skill Council (IESC) has been doing commendable work in the last decade.  Detailed planning and fantastic execution are IESC’s strengths. Excavator Operator Trainers upskilling programme was conducted by industry experts during Bauma Conexpo India. This is just an example. Their meaningful events and collaborations run round the year. The body strives hard to realise their vision to create a sustainable industry aligned ecosystem for robust skill and entrepreneurship development in Infrastructure Equipment Sector. Team Hailstone wishes IESC all the very best for many more years to come!

How do you assess the current skill level of construction equipment operators in the industry?

There is huge demand for skilled construction equipment operators in the industry. Though there are many, we still need more of them. Companies have taken upon themselves to fully train the operators with spaced out training programmes through the year.

What inspired your company to develop training and skilling initiatives for construction equipment operators?

We are developing at a face pace and it is a must to keep our customers happy and going. Training initiatives for the operators will ensure that the equipment does not face frequent downtime and it gets maintained well. When the equipment performs well, the customer is happy. We have a customized training and skilling initiative for our operators.

What challenges or gaps have you identified in their skill sets?

Operators need to be constantly upgrading themselves which is a challenge. Not just about the upgrading in the machines but also in their sphere of work.  So, constant training programmes must be conducted. On-the-job training, workshops, online courses and mentoring programmes will help them address the challenge.

What specific skills and competencies do these programs aim to develop in operators?

Our programs aim to educate the operator about our equipment completely, teach them how to handle different terrains and also to handle any emergency situation that may arise. We also teach them about maintenance and the importance that must be given to it.

How important do you think certification is for CE operators in today’s industry? How do you evaluate the effectiveness of your training programs?

Certification is important but that alone would not do. We will have to test the operators on the field and evaluate. Our evaluation is done in that matter and that is how we decide on how effective our training program is.

How do you stay updated with industry trends and best practices in operator training?

Team Hailstone keeps the ears to the ground and are equipped with industry trends and best practices. We do an internal evaluation and find out what is required for our operations and customize the training accordingly.

What are your plans for the future of your training and skilling initiatives? Do you anticipate
any changes or advancements in your approach to operator training?

Our training and skilling initiatives are scheduled keeping the latest technological advancements in mind. Our approach will be to have well-spaced out trainings and also give them refresher courses, at regular intervals. We also look at improving the industry knowledge of the operators and we will work towards the same.