AMI Meter Installation Training:
A continuing journey
Malcolm Jolly
Team Leader, Innovation GippsTAFE
Noel Sutcliffe
Team Leader, Gas & Telecommunications
“We may run, walk, stumble, drive, or fly, but let us
never lose sight of the reason for the journey”
Background
• AMI meters are known as smart
meters
• They measure usage at regular
intervals
• Provide benefits for customers and
suppliers
Installer Job Profile
• Specialised knowledge and
skills
• Restricted entry requirements
• Entrants often not familiar
with meters
• Pressure
• Cost of getting it wrong can
be fatal
The Existing Situation
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•
•
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Number and time
Media attention
Safety
Added scrutiny
The Existing Situation
Installer training at GippsTAFE’s Chadstone campus
The role of GippsTAFE’s
Innovation Department
If you only have a hammer, you tend to see every
problem as a nail.
- Abraham Maslow
Understanding the challenges
through observation, analysis and
evaluation
• Current course structure
• Classroom & workshop
sessions
• Resources
• Understand the needs of
industry, the trainers and
the students
Understanding the challenges
through observation, analysis and
evaluation
• Understanding current
restrictions
• Identify barriers
• Responding to industry
feedback on materials
Wider consultation
•
•
•
•
•
TAFE management perspective
SMEs and trainers
Industry
Students
Wide ranging engagement
Wider consultation
Structural issues and
responses
• Time poor trainers need more time in the workshop
– Move large sections of the theory to online
• Greater co-ordination of the verification of student entry
qualifications and existing competencies and aptitude
– Collaborative approach with industry
• Poor retention
– Expose potential students to the online training prior to
commencement
Resource issues and
responses
• Existing resources losing currency
– Update existing resources to reflect current practice
• Existing resources static and unsuitable for online
– Enhanced with trainer voice (interim measure)
• Trainers coping with large groups at workshop stage
– Two trainers introduced at this stage
• Online simply place to deposit materials
– Moving to interactive, pre-work delivered
Resource development
issues and responses
• No self testing exercises
• Flash based exercises
• No video of actuality of installation
• Produce location videos
• Limited LMS
• Enhance and develop LMS
Right Response
Overview
• It is essential to get it right.
• GippsTAFE’s Innovation
Department is playing a key
co-ordinating role
Right
Numbers
Right
Direction
Right
Skills
Safe &
Competent
Installer
Right
Place
Right Way
Right
Time
Trainer perspective
The Journey
Ongoing
research
May 2011...we are here
Videos
Build interactive resources
Update existing resources
Meet with industry
Review resources
Widely observe, consult and evaluate
Build training room
Smart Meter Trivia
To date over 300,000 smart
meters have been installed in
Victoria
There has been one serious
safety incident
Installers have identified 3,500+
existing serious electrical faults
at consumer premises
This year 250 Smart
Meter Installers will be
trained at the
GippsTAFE Chadstone
Campus
Time is a great teacher, but
unfortunately it can kill its pupils.
- Hector Berlioz