Mining and earthmoving equipment supplier Komatsu has established the Komatsu Training Academy (KTA) to deliver vocational educational courses through its Technical Education Centre in Brisbane.
Komatsu’s Technical Education Centre (KTEC) already provides training for mining, earthmoving and utility products, as well as in equipment used in other sectors, including transport, warehousing and logistics.
The KTA – a nationally registered training organisation – will expand those established training services and offer a range of technical, operator and management courses to the Australian, New Zealand and New Caledonian market.
Courses available through KTA cover a variety of mining, construction and utility machine types, including backhoe/loaders, dozers, crushers, dump trucks, excavators (conventional and hybrid), graders and wheel loaders, as well as general systems and technologies.
According to the KTA’s National Business Manager, Janine Temple, the KTA has been specifically developed to deliver nationally recognised and customised training where customers needs it, including training online, on-site, at a customer’s premises or at Komatsu facilities.
“Our course offerings include a mix of fully accredited, nationally recognised courses and modules, along with purpose-designed training developed to meet customers’ specific needs,” she said.
“Through our team of specialist industry-qualified trainers, we can deliver a broad range of customisable courses, including leadership and management training, operator proficiency development, and specialised technical training and skills development.”
Ms. Temple said a major focus of KTA’s courses would be moving beyond basic competency training, and into more advanced proficiency development.
“All too often today, training is merely focused on churning out numbers of trainees.
“In contrast, at KTA, we are focusing on what is really needed: up-skilling for increased production, improved fuel efficiency, reduced wear and tear, lower operating costs, better preventive maintenance, and greater safety,” she said.
“There is a major difference between a key technician or operator who is merely competent, compared with one who is truly proficient at their job – and these differences can translate into significant benefits to a company’s bottom line.
“Our vision is to see KTEC recognised as a centre of excellence in heavy equipment training throughout the Asia-Pacific, from which KTA delivers training to customers and sites in the region.”