BNSF RAILWAY: TIER IV LOCOMOTIVE VR TRAINING
BNSF Railway has 7,500 locomotives in its fleet. A “Tier IV” engine refers to a category set by the Environmental Protection Agency to define specific emission standards for locomotive engines. These locomotives are part of BNSF’s sustainability equation as they’re among the most fuel-efficient in the world.
Tier IV Locomotive Virtual Reality (VR) Training is BNSF’s first VR course in support of Tier IV locomotives—and a first in the railway industry. It aims to teach BNSF locomotive mechanics removal and installation of high-pressure fuel pumps and injectors, and the proper utilization of tensioning/de-tensioning tools. Approximately 15 BNSF mechanical facilities are currently servicing Tier IV engines; BNSF’s mechanical department includes more than 6,000 employees, and about a third of them will experience this training.
The program heightens awareness of various workplace exposures to risk and provides comprehensive guidance to mitigate or eliminate those risks, while working toward achieving BNSF’s goal of zero injuries.
Program Details
Given the Tier IV engine design is new, there were no modeling assets to work from, purchase, or otherwise expedite—everything had to be built from scratch. Over a period of approximately two years, BNSF’s training managers and subject matter experts collaborated closely with a VR development vendor (which did not have rail industry experience). There are eight modules; tasks for each of them were derived from the locomotive manufacturer’s repair manual. BNSF’s team currently is expanding the existing VR modules to incorporate a secondary level of immersion leveraging haptic glove technology and giving learners physical/tactile feedback on their performance to complement the VR experience.
The resulting virtual reality training can be accessed remotely. It is a prerequisite for an instructor-led training (ILT) that goes into more detail about the mechanical systems and theory of operation of Tier IV locomotives.
The VR training aims to significantly contribute to locomotive reliability by offering precise education that reduces the potential for injury and workmanship failure, minimizes service interruptions, and decreases repair times. It also enhances a comprehensive understanding of locomotive maintenance tasks. An additional advantage is that Tier IV locomotives need not be removed from service for training purposes. Moreover, supervisors and managers can engage with the VR modules, allowing them to better coach their craft employees.
Results
- Employees learn in-depth, step-by-step processes built to expand their knowledge base, while emphasizing critical safety-related aspects of performing technical processes.
- Employees first receive technical training in a controlled environment. They then move on to hands-on practical training, which they can repeat as needed until they reach a level of confidence sufficient to perform their tasks safely, thereby reducing the risk of injury.
- The VR hardware platform is affordable and portable, allowing the students to receive training at their home location.
- There is an increased reliability associated with adherence to correct maintenance/repair procedures to OEM Standards.
BOOZ ALLEN HAMILTON: AI READY TRAINING PROGRAM
Booz Allen Hamilton’s AI Ready Training Program is sponsored by its Artificial Intelligence (AI) Growth Platform in partnership with Talent Development. It is designed to equip employees with the necessary skills to support the firm’s growing business in the AI space. This program provides employees with a common lexicon around AI concepts and methodologies, preparing them to engage with clients to identify opportunities where AI can accelerate mission outcomes.
Program Details
This program provides a multi-tiered learning experience for all employees. It uses the firm’s Digital Badging Program, enabling learners to choose their own “AI Ready” journey to progressively build AI knowledge and skills. The AI Ready Training Program has four components that are self-paced and delivered on demand:
- AI Aware
- AI Foundational
- AI Practitioner
- AI Expert
AI Aware is a starting point for those new to AI and helps employees gain knowledge of basic AI concepts and identify key considerations around AI implementation. The course also increases awareness of the firm’s AI Business, educating on how Booz Allen develops and delivers AI solutions and informs employees about client engagement and tactical sales opportunities within existing projects. The firm recently began offering AI Aware in-person in collaboration with existing internal conferences, all-hands, and Technology Experience Groups (TXGs). TXGs are firm-sponsored, member-led technical communities open to all employees that facilitate networking and professional development and help them stay abreast of technological advances.
AI Foundational is a series of four courses housed on the Udemy Business Pro platform; individuals gain baseline knowledge of data literacy, machine learning, and AI algorithms. Employees also gain a high-level understanding of MLOps and aiSSEMBLE, Booz Allen’s internal AI Ops platform.
As employees advance to AI Practitioner and Expert, they can choose role-based training: consultant or engineer. The AI Consultant track is targeted toward those in program or project management roles, product managers, and management consultants. AI Consultants focus on demonstrating their ability to communicate about AI and execute AI projects.
The AI Engineer track is targeted toward those already in technical roles, such as data analysts, advanced data scientists, and software engineers. AI Engineers learn a wide variety of AI model-building techniques.
For practitioner and expert content, Booz Allen partnered with Workera to utilize its platform to provide granular skill assessments and customized curated learning plans for AI Consultants and Engineers.
All AI Ready trainings have an associated digital badge that learners can earn to validate their skills. To earn the badges at the Aware and Foundational levels, employees must pass an internally developed assessment. To earn a badge at the Practitioner and Expert levels, employees must reach a cut score in the certified range. Workera uses the “bookmark” method to set cut scores between performance-level descriptors for the assessment. Booz Allen has adjusted those scores against industry benchmarking scores, along with reviewing scoring trends of the pilot population.
Results
Since launch on May 20, 2023, some 13,165 employees have completed AI Aware; of those employees, 2,203 continued their AI upskilling journey to complete AI Foundational.
The AI Ready program contributed to achieving a portfolio of 200 active AI projects across Defense, Intelligence, and Civil agencies, and achieving a target of 36 percent in contracts greater than $100 million, including AI.
