Selecting the Best LMS for Manufacturing Companies

Mar 6, 2025

Training in Manufacturing 

Training is an important part of keeping manufacturing workforces future-ready. Deloitte estimates that U.S. manufacturing may need as many as 3.8 million new employees by 2033 due to increased investment driving growth. However, facilitating that training can be a bigger challenge than anticipated, especially in large workforces with deskless employees that rotate stations or positions. Deloitte also found that as many as 50% of these jobs could remain unfilled due to lack of skilled applicants and skills training, indicating a serious need for dedicated training for manufacturing employees. 

This is where selecting the best LMS for manufacturing companies comes in. Manufacturing faces unique challenges when it comes to training that many learning management systems are not able to adequately address.  

Unique Training Challenges Faced by Manufacturing Companies 

The increasing automation and digitization of manufacturing processes require workers to constantly be on the lookout for upskilling opportunities. This is primarily a workplace training content challenge, over delivery, however, it still contributes to training challenges faced by manufacturing.  

This constant need for upskilling does point to a significant challenge that many LMS providers are not able to solve – the need for training administrators to quickly view their workforces’ existing skills at a glance and identify who needs to move on to the next round of training.  

Manufacturing workforces often operate with tight schedules and high production demands, making it difficult to dedicate time for training. Additionally, there are not typically community resources such as computers available for employees to use for training at the jobsite. Even if there are one or two computers available for training use, it’s possible that there are a dozen or more employees who need training at any given time, so that’s not a scalable solution. For that reason, manufacturing organizations need to select an LMS that’s mobile-friendly so that employees can learn wherever they are. 

Manufacturing is also an industry that has compliance regulations that are enforced by governing authorities, so it’s essential that training administrators can ensure that their workforces are up to date on safety standards training – which is possible if your LMS accepts and tracks certifications.  

While those are just a few of the L&D challenges faced in the manufacturing industry, the right LMS can alleviate some of those struggles. 

Key Features to Look for in a Manufacturing LMS 

To address some of the primary training challenges faced by the manufacturing industry, there are a few key features that decision makers should look for in an LMS.  

Mobile Accessibility 

  • Why it’s important: Manufacturing workers may spend much of their time on the floor and may not always have access to desktop computers. A mobile-friendly LMS allows employees to complete training modules via smartphones or tablets while on the job. 
  • What to look for: Ensure that the LMS has a responsive design or dedicated mobile app to provide employees with easy access to training materials anytime, anywhere. 

Compliance and Certification Tracking 

  • Why it’s important: Manufacturing industries often face strict safety regulations and compliance standards (e.g., OSHA in the U.S., ISO standards). Keeping track of required certifications and ensuring employees stay compliant is crucial. 
  • What to look for: An LMS that can track compliance training, manage certification expiration dates, and generate reports on who has completed mandatory training. 

Blended Learning Capabilities 

  • Why it’s important: Manufacturing training often requires a combination of theoretical (eLearning) and practical (on-the-job) learning. An LMS that supports both types of learning can ensure a comprehensive approach. 
  • What to look for: Look for an LMS that supports blended learning, where employees can take online courses and then apply their learning on the job. It should also support the tracking of both virtual and physical training activities. This information is often found in their learning standards – if their LMS supports SCORM, xAPI, or both.  

Scalability 

  • Why it’s important: Manufacturing companies often have multiple locations, departments, or production lines. Training needs may vary across sites, and the workforce may expand or contract over time. 
  • What to look for: Ensure the LMS can scale to accommodate growth, such as adding new employees, locations, or departments, without requiring significant changes to the system. 

Tracking and Reporting 

  • Why it’s important: Manufacturing companies need to monitor employee progress, completion rates, and identify gaps in knowledge or skills. Detailed reports help assess the effectiveness of training programs. 
  • What to look for: Look for an LMS with robust reporting and analytics features, including real-time tracking of employee progress, completion status, assessment results, and detailed data on training effectiveness. 

Easy Integration with Other Systems 

  • Why it’s important: Manufacturing companies often use various software systems for HR, operations, compliance, and other business functions. An LMS that integrates with existing systems can improve efficiency and data consistency. 
  • What to look for: Ensure the LMS integrates easily with HR management systems (HRMS), enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems, and other tools used for managing employee data, scheduling, and compliance. BizLibrary recently announced BizConnect, a huge expansion to our integrations library.  

Multi-language and Localization Support 

  • Why it’s important: Manufacturing companies often have a diverse workforce, with employees speaking different languages or working in different regions with distinct cultural and regulatory requirements. 
  • What to look for: Choose an LMS that supports multiple languages and can be localized to meet the specific needs of various regions, ensuring the training is accessible to all employees. 

Performance and Skill Gap Tracking 

  • Why it’s important: Manufacturing companies often need to assess the skill levels of their workforce to identify areas for improvement, such as proficiency in operating new machines or mastering new software. 
  • What to look for: An LMS with built-in performance tracking tools can help identify skill gaps and recommend appropriate training programs to upskill employees. 

User-Friendly Interface 

  • Why it’s important: Manufacturing employees, particularly those who may not have much tech experience, need a system that’s easy to navigate. 
  • What to look for: A simple, intuitive interface that makes it easy for employees to access and complete training without requiring extensive technical support. 

Instructor-Led Training (ILT) Capabilities 

  • Why it’s important: While eLearning is beneficial, in-person or instructor-led training (ILT) is still essential for hands-on skills development, particularly for complex machinery. 
  • What to look for: Look for an LMS that can support ILT sessions, allowing you to schedule, track, and manage classroom-based or workshop-based training alongside online learning activities. For example, BizLibrary has a virtual classroom feature that allows training facilitators to both administer training in a virtual classroom or record its progress in a physical classroom.  

Feedback Mechanisms 

  • Why it’s important: Continuous improvement of training programs requires feedback from employees to understand the effectiveness of the training materials. 
  • What to look for: The LMS should have features that allow for employee feedback, either through surveys, ratings, or other means of evaluating training sessions.  

Social Learning and Collaboration 

  • Why it’s important: Collaboration among employees can foster peer-to-peer learning, problem-solving, and sharing of best practices, especially in complex manufacturing environments. 
  • What to look for: Features such as forums, discussion boards, chat functions, or social learning groups can help foster communication and knowledge sharing. 

QR-code Code Integration 

  • Why it’s important: Manufacturing employees are on the facility floor much more often than they are in a classroom, up close and personal with the machinery that they may need training on. QR codes are a quick and easy way to deliver relevant information and training to employees on the subject that is right in front of them. 
  • What to look for: An LMS that generates, reads, and supports custom QR codes for training content.  

Selecting an LMS for Manufacturing 

By searching for these key features, manufacturing companies can effectively select and implement an LMS that addresses the unique challenges of training deskless employees, leverages modern technologies like QR codes, and provides administrators with the tools necessary for efficient training management and auditing. Continuously upskilling manufacturing workers can help keep the industry future-ready and improve their quality of life at work while also safeguarding economic impact.  

Erin Weirrick | Training & Development Industry Researcher | Erin researches, analyzes, and writes about the impacts of employee learning on organizations and individuals. She looks at the industry shifts and trends that matter to L&D and HR professionals, and helps them understand how to create better training programs that grow their employees and their business.