Re-Envisioning Industry Education and Training
A New Era for Education and Training within SBCA
By Ashley Baker and Laura Yasick
The Structural Building Components Association (SBCA) implemented the initial launch of its new SBCA Academy earlier this year in an effort to provide an enhanced, modernized, and simpler platform for its education and training programs. The platform is poised to transform the way industry professionals engage with education and training specific to the component industry. The foundation for SBCA Academy is a more intuitive, customizable, and highly interactive Learning Management System (LMS) designed to provide members with effortless navigation, personalized learning environments, detailed progress tracking, and the flexibility of self-enrollment. Through the continued development of all new education and training tracks, these improvements are aimed at enhancing skills, improving quality, ensuring safety and compliance, and supporting career advancement for industry professionals.
The SBCA Academy stands out for its user-friendly interface, designed with both learners and managers in mind. “Industry education holds significant value when it comes to enhancing skills, improving quality, creating innovation and adaptability, ensuring safety and compliance, and helping with career advancement,” says Joe Noonan, Director of Operations for Cascade Manufacturing Company and SBCA Education Committee member. With the platform’s effortless navigation, users can easily access the modules they need, track their progress, and engage with content in a meaningful way. One of the standout features of the new LMS is the ability to offer customized company portals with manager oversight. These portals provide a personalized learning environment that reflects the unique identity and needs of each organization. Customization options include specific course offerings and tailored user interfaces, both of which contribute to increased engagement and ease of use. By creating a familiar and relevant learning space, companies can ensure that their employees remain motivated and invested in their professional development.
Managers can now view learner progress in more detail along with quiz scores and delve into reporting by course or individual to view overall progress and performance. “The new system provides a fresh look through a consolidated view of all offerings available – especially for an administrator at a company,” continues Joe. Another significant advantage with the new system is the ability for managers to independently add or remove learners. When a new learner is added, they receive login credentials immediately after setup and enrollment in a course.
Another feature in the system is the ability to offer self-enrollment. If your company wants more of a hands-off enrollment experience, simply give your new hires a link to self-enroll into your company portal which will auto-enroll them in all of your company’s courses that are available in the associated portal.
In response to the evolving needs of the industry, SBCA is developing a series of track-based education and training modules. The tracks allow users to follow a structured learning path that aligns with their specific career goals, as well as company and industry requirements. Whether it’s a deep dive into the history of the industry, detailed truss design drawings, or installation techniques, SBCA’s modules provide comprehensive and focused training that builds expertise and confidence.
A key innovation in SBCA’s educational approach is the shift towards interactive and engaging micro-learning modules. These short and focused learning segments are designed to be relevant and quick to complete, making it easier for individuals to fit education and training into their busy schedules. Micro-learning ensures that users can immediately apply new knowledge and skills in their work, driving continuous improvement and professional growth.
In line with SBCA’s re-envisioned approach and revamped modules, content will be available in two tracks: Education and Training. These tracks are designed to better serve the industry’s evolving needs. The Education track focuses on providing foundational, industry-wide content and will be offered free of charge to increase accessibility and awareness among component manufacturers and professionals alike. Courses, such as Truss Manufacturing Orientation, have been redesigned and will be available for consumption, at no cost. Whereas the Training track is more specialized, offering in-depth, skill-based content, such as Truss Technician Training (TTT), and remains available for a fee. This distinction ensures that while general education remains open to all, those seeking more advanced, job-specific training have access to in-depth resources tailored to their professional growth and operational needs.
SBCA is not only committed to serving its members but also aims to extend its future educational offerings to a broader audience within the construction industry. “The investment made by SBCA in the new Academy is a game changer in the way it will create real value for members and a broader audience,” says Joe. This platform is ideal for creating and offering learning opportunities to a wide range of professionals, including fire officials, building inspectors, and other stakeholders. By doing so, it ensures that industry standards are uniformly understood and applied, enhancing safety, efficiency, and collaboration across the sector.
Among the diverse range of education and training offered, two early modules stand out for their foundational importance and practical application. The “Industry History” module provides a comprehensive look at the evolution of the structural building components industry. It covers key milestones, influential figures, and significant technological advancements that have shaped the industry. Understanding this history not only provides context, but also highlights the ongoing innovations and future trends that professionals need to be aware of. The “Truss Design Drawings” module focuses on the technical aspects of truss design, offering detailed guidance on creating accurate design drawings. “In our industry, the availability of high-quality education at your fingertips is invaluable,” explains Joe. “Especially to share with employees, making it invaluable when it comes to developing and retaining talent -- designers, manufacturing associates, drivers, and more.” Through interactive exercises and real-world examples, learners gain practical knowledge and skills that directly translate into improved performance on the job.
Industry education holds significant value when it comes to enhancing skills, improving quality, creating innovation and adaptability, ensuring safety and compliance, and helping with career advancement.”
JOE NOONAN, Director of Operations, Cascade Manufacturing Company, SBCA Education Committee Member
The launch of the new academy represents a significant step forward in SBCA’s commitment to advancing the industry through innovative and engaging content. With the newly formatted Education and Training tracks, available in early 2025, along with corresponding sub tracks, users follow specific learning paths. Each sub track is comprised of modules designed as microlearning segments, ultimately enhancing the user experience and boosting knowledge retention. “The education and training tracks and modules allow learners to easily participate in valuable professional development and certification opportunities, elevating their organization,” exclaims Joe. By leveraging the power of Academy of Mine’s sophisticated LMS – with that of the industry -, and technical insight of those on staff, high-quality, accessible, and relevant modules are sure to meet the needs of SBCA’s diverse membership and beyond to the broader industry.
As the association embarks on this new journey, all are invited to explore the platform, engage with the modules, and take full advantage of the personalized learning experiences available. SBCA is excited to make new education content available early in 2025 that includes the revision of existing content and newly developed modules. Beyond this, SBCA will continue to revisit and produce new and revised Education and Training content throughout 2025. “The transition to the new platform and updated content underscores SBCA’s value by enabling component manufacturers of all sizes to leverage the association’s content in a consolidated, meaningful way,” Joe concludes. Together, we can continue to drive the industry forward, upholding standards, and ensuring that professionals are equipped with the knowledge and skills they need to succeed in a rapidly evolving landscape. SBCA is proud to lead the way in industry education and training, and looks forward to seeing the positive impact that the SBCA Academy will have on its members.