How can you measure the knowledge capital of your plant's workforce?

1 Identify the knowledge domains

The first step is to identify the key knowledge domains that are relevant to your plant operations. These are the areas of expertise that your workers need to perform their tasks, solve problems, and create value. For example, some common knowledge domains in plant operations are safety, quality, maintenance, engineering, and management. You can use a knowledge map, a visual representation of the knowledge flows and relationships in your plant, to identify the knowledge domains and their sources, users, and gaps.

3 Compare the knowledge benchmarks

The third step is to compare the knowledge levels of your workers with the knowledge benchmarks that you have set for your plant operations. The knowledge benchmarks are the desired or optimal levels of knowledge that your workers should have in each domain to achieve your plant goals and standards. You can use a knowledge gap analysis, a method of identifying and quantifying the differences between the actual and desired knowledge levels, to compare the knowledge benchmarks and the knowledge levels of your workers. You can also use a knowledge scorecard, a tool that tracks and reports the key indicators of the knowledge performance, to compare the knowledge benchmarks and the knowledge outcomes of your plant.

4 Implement the knowledge actions

The final step is to implement the knowledge actions that can help you improve the knowledge capital of your plant's workforce. The knowledge actions are the strategies and activities that you can use to enhance the knowledge creation, acquisition, sharing, and application in your plant. For example, some common knowledge actions are training, mentoring, coaching, documentation, collaboration, innovation, and feedback. You can use a knowledge plan, a document that outlines the objectives, resources, and timelines of the knowledge actions, to implement them effectively and efficiently.

By measuring the knowledge capital of your plant's workforce, you can gain insights into the strengths and weaknesses of your plant operations, identify the opportunities and challenges for improvement, and leverage the knowledge assets and potentials of your workers. You can also use the knowledge capital as a basis for developing a knowledge culture, a set of values and behaviors that support and encourage the knowledge processes in your plant.