Review of simulator training practices for industrial operators: How can individual simulator training be enabled?

Abstract

The aim of simulator training is to improve the safety and integrity of operations. Effective simulator training involves relevant feedback and sound assessment of the operator’s performance. Operators need proper feedback to be able to identify and fill gaps in their competency or learn new practices. Appropriate feedback and assessment are of great importance to ensure that process operators have the competences required to ensure smooth and safe plant operation. Consequently, delivering effective training and evaluation represents a very significant challenge for the process industry. Further, the availability of on-site simulator training is often very limited and the costs related to it are high. Therefore, individual simulator training, in addition to team training, can be a practical option to be considered. This article presents a thematic analysis of simulator training practices in different industries. The findings suggest that individual training can be implemented as a supplement to on-site training, that effective feedback and assessment are necessary, and that the training should be based on a human-centric perspective.