Before the rise of technology and automation, nearly every task in the workplace was manual—time-consuming, repetitive, and inefficient. In the world of manufacturing, this extended to HR, where professionals were often referred to as “paper pushers.” From employment contracts and tax forms to benefit elections and compliance checklists, onboarding was a heavily paper-based process. Once the documents were signed and filed away, new hires typically received a brief orientation that included shift schedules, break policies, and a high-level overview of operations.
As for job-specific training? That responsibility often fell to peers or managers, relying on the classic “this is how we’ve always done it” approach. Unfortunately, this informal method frequently led to inconsistent practices, undocumented knowledge, and even avoidable workplace accidents due to improper training.
If that sounds like an HR and compliance nightmare, it’s because it was.
Fortunately, the introduction of learning management systems (LMS) has transformed the landscape. Today, HR and L&D teams have the tools to streamline onboarding, ensure consistency in training, and track compliance with far greater ease. LMS platforms have elevated the strategic role of learning and development—especially in manufacturing, where the stakes are high, and the environments are dynamic.
What are the key programs every manufacturing organization should have?
Within each category, we’ve outlined the topics and subtopics that are key to creating world-class programs that keep employees informed, safe, and ready for their next role.
To easily keep track of what your program includes, and perhaps what it still needs to include, we’ve created this checklist so you can quickly at a glance know where the wins and gaps are.
| Compliance Training Topics | Description | Subtopics Included |
|---|---|---|
| Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) | Agency of the United States Department of Labor. OSHA establishes workplace standards, conducts inspections and investigations, and enforces compliance. | 1. OSHA standards 2. Employee rights and employer responsibilities 3. OSHA reporting and recordkeeping |
| Hazard Communication (HazCom) | OSHA standard designed to ensure that workers are fully informed about the chemical hazards they may encounter on the job and how to protect themselves from these risks. | 1. Understanding Safety Data Sheets (SDS) 2. Labeling of hazardous materials 3. Chemical inventory management |
| Environmental Regulations | Regulations that aim to reduce pollution, manage waste, conserve resources, and protect air, water, and soil quality—ensuring that industrial activities do not cause undue harm to ecosystems or human health. | 1. EPA compliance for waste handling and emissions 2. Spill prevention and control measures 3. Air/water quality standards (if applicable) |
| Workplace Harassment/Discrimination | Training essential to foster a safe, respectful, and legally compliant work environment. While all industries are subject to anti-discrimination laws, the manufacturing sector has unique challenges—such as a predominantly male workforce, shift-based operations, and cultural or language diversity. | 1. Anti-harassment policies 2. Reporting procedures |
| Code of Conduct | Serves as the cultural blueprint and a legal safeguard, helping manufacturers maintain operational integrity, reduce liability, and build a respectful, productive workforce. | 1. Conflict of interest 2. Confidentiality and data privacy 3. Anti-corruption and bribery rules |
| Labor Laws | Understanding labor laws is important because of the complexity and compliance risks in manufacturing that range from shift work and union relations to overtime and safety. This training helps avoid legal issues, promotes ethical practices, and improves workforce relations. | 1. Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) basics 2. Union-related training (if applicable) 3. Disciplinary procedures and documentation |
| Industry-Specific Regulations | Training addresses the unique processes, risks, and legal obligations of manufacturing operations. | 1. FDA (for food/pharma manufacturing) 2. ISO 9001 / ISO 14001 standards 3. DOT or FAA regulations (for transportation or logistics) |
| Safety Training Topics | Description | Subtopics Included |
| Personal Protective Equipment | Covers the essentials for protecting workers from injuries and illnesses caused by exposure to physical, chemical, electrical, mechanical, or other workplace hazards. | 1. Selection and proper use 2. Maintenance and storage 3. When PPE is required |
| Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) | This training is critical for protecting employees from serious injuries or fatalities caused by the unexpected startup of machinery or the release of hazardous energy. | 1 .Energy control procedures 2. Authorized vs. affected employees 3. Equipment isolation techniques |
| Machine Guarding | This is crucial training as it can help prevent amputations, crush injuries, lacerations, and fatalities caused by unsafe contact with moving machinery parts. | 1. Types of guards and safety devices 2. Operator responsibilities 3. Safe operating procedures |
| Fire Safety and Emergency Response | These are important to know because the presence of flammable materials, high-voltage equipment, and complex facility layouts and therefore employees need to know the effective prevention, swift response, and post-incident recovery. | 1. Evacuation plans and fire extinguisher use 2. First aid/CPR basics 3. Incident reporting and communication protocols |
| Ergonomics | Can help employees understand proper techniques when it comes to repetitive motions, heavy lifting, awkward postures, and prolonged standing, ergonomics is vital for preventing musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) and improving operational efficiency. | 1. Safe lifting techniques 2. Workstation setup and repetitive motion risks 3. Preventing musculoskeletal injuries |
| Forklift & Powered Industrial Truck Safety | Incredibly important in a safety program because not only do they help with operational efficiency, if not properly operated, forklifts and PIT accidents can lead to fatalities and serious injuries. | 1. Certification requirements 2. Load handling, stability, and pre-shift inspections 3. Pedestrian safety awareness |
| Slips, Trips, and Falls | The leading cause of injuries in the manufacturing industry, which is why training on them to avoid these accidents is of the utmost importance. | 1. Housekeeping best practices 2. Ladder and scaffolding safety 3. Walking/working surface hazards |
| Soft Skills Training Topics | Components for Each Training Topic: | |
| Communication | 1. Active Listening: Helps workers better understand instructions, feedback, and safety alerts. 2. Clear & Concise Communication: Focuses on speaking up during shift changes, team huddles, or when issues arise. 3. Non-Verbal Communication: Covers body language and tone—especially important in noisy environments. 4. Communicating Upward: Teaches how to share concerns or ideas with supervisors confidently and respectfully. | |
| Teamwork and Collaboration | 1. Working across departments: Encourages collaboration with maintenance, quality, logistics, etc. 2. Conflict Resolution: Provides tools for resolving disagreements calmly and productively. 3. Accountability & Dependability: Reinforces ownership of tasks, schedules, and team outcomes. | |
| Critical Thinking | 1. Root Cause Analysis Basics: Trains employees to go beyond symptoms and identify real problems (often tied to lean/Kaizen). 2. Decision-Making Under Pressure: Simulates urgent or high-stakes scenarios to improve quick thinking. 3. Adaptability & Flexibility: Prepares workers to adjust to machine changes, new schedules, or process shifts. 4. Situational Awareness: Improves perception of surroundings and proactive risk identification. | |
| Workplace Productivity | 1. Time Management: Covers prioritization, shift planning, and reducing idle time. 2. Reliability & Punctuality: Reinforces consistent attendance and preparedness. 3. Work Ethic & Attitude: Promotes ownership, initiative, and a positive mindset. 4. Digital Literacy (basic): Helps workers get comfortable with kiosks, tablets, and online training platforms. | |
| Leadership Refinement and Readiness Training Topics | Description | |
| Giving and Receiving Feedback | For peer-to-peer and peer-to-supervisor interactions. | |
| Coaching and Mentoring | Helps experienced workers support new hires. | |
| Leading by Example | Emphasizes safety, attitude, and professional conduct. | |
| Delegation & Task Ownership | Trains future leads on how to guide others without micromanaging. |
Access the FREE PDF Version of this list here!
4 Key Features Your LMS Needs to Have
Mapping out the contents of what each type of program should include is half the battle. Then comes the setup and rollout which requires an expansive content library and an LMS that assists in program distribution and progress towards completion. Between planning and ensuring you have the right HR tech suite available, it can all be overwhelming. This is where BizLibrary can help. We’ve outlined features of our robust content offering and BizLMS, all designed with our manufacturing clients in mind.
- QR code scanner + Mobile Friendly: In manufacturing, not all employees have access to a dedicated computer. QR codes provide a practical solution to promote training across varied worksites—warehouses, breakrooms, and offices. Posting QR codes in high-traffic areas allows mobile-first learners to easily access mandatory or recommended training directly from their phones. It’s an effective way to reach employees where they are, without disrupting workflow.
- Playlists + Learning Initiatives: Time is limited on the floor, so consolidating training into structured, accessible playlists is critical. Learning Initiatives allow us to group related content—whether off-the-shelf or custom—into a single, trackable program. This saves learners from having to search for required content and enables us to pull unified reports across the initiative, streamlining both the learning and admin experience.
- Virtual Classroom: Space and schedules can be tight in manufacturing. Virtual Classrooms offer flexibility — sessions can be delivered live, hybrid, or recorded for on-demand access via mobile or desktop. This ensures consistent training delivery without interrupting operations. Recordings can be saved in a custom library for future use, and attendance is easily tracked, helping us maintain compliance and reduce admin overhead.
- Manufacturing-specific content: Generic corporate training doesn’t reflect the realities of our work environment. That’s why BizLibrary Productions offers versions of its generic content tailored to manufacturing — from safety and compliance to job-specific skills like machinery operation and food safety. With partners like Vector, Marcom, and Tooling U, we offer additional access to relevant, scenario-based training that speaks directly to teams on the floor. Looking for a sneak peek at what content within each of these categories could include? Check out our manufacturing content playlist!
3 Measures of Success Your Organization Should Track
Demonstrating the Impact of HR and L&D in Manufacturing
Being able to clearly show the impact of HR and L&D efforts can lead to greater visibility with senior leadership, as well as increased support in the form of budget and staffing. Below are a few ways manufacturing administrators use BizLMS to stay organized, efficient, and focused on workforce development.
1. Streamlining Compliance During Audit Season
For HR and L&D administrators in manufacturing, audit season often brings added pressure. Auditors from agencies like OSHA or the EPA typically require detailed documentation proving employees have completed required training. Failure to provide this information can result in serious compliance issues.
With BizLMS, the Administrator Dashboard makes it easy to generate reports that include:
- Employee name, role, and department
- Date of training completion
- Course or module title
- Trainer credentials or vendor information (available through BizLibrary’s Content Concierge)
- Completion status (pass/fail, quiz scores, etc.)
This reporting functionality simplifies the audit process and ensures you’re always ready with the documentation needed to maintain compliance.
2. Upskilling and Reskilling with Custom Content
Administrators can also use BizLMS to create custom internal training for specific machinery, job functions, or certification programs. By uploading demonstration videos and allowing employees to submit proof of skill acquisition—such as a recorded task performance—organizations can scale reskilling and upskilling efforts with full visibility into employee progress. It also lays the foundation for transparent, skills-based promotion paths that are trackable and easy to manage.
3. Identifying and Preparing Future Leaders
Having a pipeline of high-potential employees prepared for leadership is critical. BizLMS allows administrators to build leadership development playlists and track who engages with the content. Reports can show which employees are completing leadership modules or showing initiative, helping you identify future supervisors, and team leads before a role opens.
In manufacturing, transitioning from the production floor to a leadership role can be challenging. Supporting employees who are already investing in their development helps ease that transition and contributes to long-term retention.
How Do I Use BizLibrary to Implement These Programs?
During implementation and beyond, BizLibrary provides dedicated support to ensure a smooth setup and successful partnership. Our team will assist in exporting an organization’s learners, organizing them into the appropriate teams or departments, and assigning the right roles to streamline management. For example, giving shift leads the Facilitator role so that they can launch a content Learning Initiative during a break and have multiple employees watch it and then mark it complete on their behalf.
This structured approach to implementation helps our clients launch their training programs efficiently and ensures your admins and team leads have the access and tools they need to support the learners’ success from day one.
Post-implementation, a handoff meeting is scheduled to introduce the Client Success Manager, who will help clients brainstorm and execute programs, offer guidance on product capabilities, and deliver executive reviews to talk through program wins and areas of improvement.
Ready to Get Started? Schedule a demo with BizLibrary and start building impactful training programs designed specifically for your frontline workforce. From compliance and safety to soft skills and leadership, we help world-class manufacturing organizations deliver training that keeps operations running smoothly.
