Nashua invests in engineering and support services with training in digital technologies

Nashua, a manufacturer and distributor of office equipment in southern Africa, has implemented a blended-learning programme to update its field service engineers’ skills in the converging technologies of office automation and computing.

Braam Venter, head of the technology division at Nashua South Africa,explained: “Our new range of digital networked printers and copiers and our consultancy-driven approach to customer service and support were imposing new demands on our workforce. Our engineers needed a new set of skills to deal with the convergence in office automation and computing technology, including skills in PC support, networks and print servers. We had to create a ground-up learning plan for our business that met this challenge alongside a wide geographical distribution of our staff.”

The company identified that the CompTIA A+ and Network+ certification programmes would provide the core of its re-skilling project. CompTIA then helped the company to identify suitable partners, including gtslearning, to develop and implement the programme.

In early 2006, gtslearning was appointed to provide the necessary training-content tools for the project. In addition to its instructor-led courseware, its LabSim interactive study tool was used, providing hands-on simulations, video-based multimedia instruction and examination preparation. Nashua’s engineers took part in practical classroom sessions while studying the certification objectives from their homes at their own pace, wherever they were located in the region.

Braam Venter continued: “The results to date are extremely positive. Our engineers are successfully passing certification examinations and, for the first time, we do not have to fly engineers in from remote parts of the region to attend conventional training classes.”