These are very busy days in the PLM community. The longstanding Oracle Agile PLM is near its retirement. And companies are looking for modern PLM solutions to transition their setup.
But PLM migration is a real challenge, both technically and culturally. Getting your employees to adapt to new PLM software is usually a slow and tiring process. Particularly, traditional PLM systems require custom solutions to handle all the training records.
Propel PLM, however, is a Salesforce-native PLM system that provides an out-of-the-box Training Module that simplifies the entire process of managing employee training and certification.
In this blog, we’ll look at this Training Module in detail and see how it improves employee training.
Why PLM training is difficult
Training employees on controlled documents is rarely simple. The material is often dense, technical, and tied to strict compliance requirements. Employees are not just expected to read it, but they must understand it, apply it correctly, and prove completion.
The difficulty increases when organizations shift to a new PLM platform. Familiar processes change. Interfaces look different. Even routine tasks, such as finding a document or marking training complete, require relearning. This creates friction at the exact moment when accuracy matters most.
Controlled documents also change often. New revisions replace old ones. Employees must stay current, yet they may not know what has changed or why it matters. Without clear guidance, they risk relying on outdated knowledge.
Time pressure adds another layer. Training competes with daily responsibilities. Employees may rush through material or delay completion, especially if the system feels complex or unintuitive.
Finally, compliance raises the stakes. In regulated industries, incomplete or misunderstood training is not a minor issue. It can lead to audit findings, quality problems, or safety risks.
Key features of Propel’s training module
Propel’s training management module centralizes the planning, administration, and enforcement of training programs across employees and suppliers. This feature integrates training requirements into the quality workflow and supports online quizzes and testing to streamline global training.
Training plans
Propel’s Training Module begins with the Training Plan, a fundamental object that binds Training Documents to Trainees. Each Training Plan assigns specific training assignments to individual users, ensuring that all relevant training material is effectively linked to the right employee.
Due to various issues in traditional PLM systems, businesses often need to develop custom solutions to keep track of employee training, but Propel’s OOTB Training Plan automatically takes care of this with minimal setup required.
Auto-assignments for new document revisions
As training materials evolve and new revisions of training documents are created, Propel’s system handles auto-assignments seamlessly. Whenever a training document gets updated with a new revision, the system automatically generates a new training assignment for each trainee.
This helps ensure that they are always working with the most current training materials. Therefore, OOTB features save time and eliminate the risk of employees using outdated training documents.
Quizzes and assessments
For businesses that require testing and certification as part of the training process, Propel offers built-in Quizzes. These quizzes can be created and associated with any training document, ensuring that trainees are assessed on the material they are learning. The system enforces completion before a trainee can mark the training as complete, further guaranteeing compliance.
Notification and dashboard management
Propel’s Training Module ensures that trainees never miss a step by sending automated notifications to alert them of new training assignments, upcoming deadlines, or required completions.
Trainers and managers can also monitor progress via training dashboards, which offer a clear view of training statuses across the organization. This feature ensures a streamlined process for both trainees and training managers.
Training flow and attachment validation
Propel ensures that the training process is comprehensive and well-structured. The training flow is configured OOTB to guide trainees through each required step, ensuring that they don’t miss important information. In addition, validation is built in, such as the requirement to review and complete any attachments that are associated with a training document.
Reporting and tracking
Propel PLM also offers reporting and tracking features that help managers and administrators keep an eye on employee progress. Customizable reports can be generated to track training completion, missing training, or performance on quizzes. These insights are invaluable for ensuring compliance and making informed decisions about future training initiatives.
Trainer approval and document revision control
In addition to auto-assignments, trainers have the ability to approve training completions on behalf of their trainees. This feature is particularly useful when trainees are unable to mark their training as complete on their own.
Moreover, document revision control ensures that only the most up-to-date training materials are being used, providing full traceability and ensuring compliance with industry standards.
User-friendly interface
Propel’s user-friendly interface ensures that both trainees and training administrators can easily navigate the system. The intuitive layout makes it simple to assign training, track progress, and complete training documents, even for those who are not technical users.
Integration with other Propel modules
Propel’s Training Module integrates seamlessly with other Propel PLM modules, such as Compliance, Quality Management, and Change Management. This integration ensures that training records are part of a unified system, streamlining processes across the organization and allowing for easy access to training-related data when needed for audits or compliance purposes.
Why Propel’s training module stands out
With out-of-the-box functionality, Propel’s Training Module eliminates the need for costly custom development that is often required in traditional PLM systems.
Key benefits include:
- Efficiency and Automation: Auto assignments, revision tracking, and notifications reduce manual effort and ensure consistency across all training programs.
- Seamless Integration: Integration with other Propel modules enhances collaboration across departments and ensures data quality and consistency.
- Comprehensive Tracking and Reporting: Track training progress and generate reports for compliance and performance assessments.
- User-Centric Design: The intuitive, easy-to-navigate interface makes it simple for both trainees and administrators to use the system effectively.
A closer look at companies using Propel
Propel PLM has been propelling since 2018. More and more companies have adapted Propel for their workflows, including some big names like Abbott, Zoetis, Masco Corporation, Steris USA, and Roku.
The MedTech industry remains the biggest user of Propel. There are around 14 big MedTech companies using the PLM platform in the United States. And regarding enterprise size, SMEs (Small and Medium Enterprises) form nearly 50% of Propel PLM users.
Overall, Propel’s share in the global PLM market is still small. And that will likely remain the case even with the platform’s steady rise. But Propel has already proved itself to be one of the top 5 cloud-based PLM solutions that is poised to be one of the successors to Agile PLM.
Conclusion
Propel PLM’s Training Module offers a comprehensive, efficient, and user-friendly solution for managing employee training programs. Unlike other PLMs like Oracle Agile PLM, which require custom-built solutions, Propel provides OOTB functionality that saves time, reduces costs, and ensures that employees are always up-to-date with the latest training materials.
Propel’s system not only increases productivity but also ensures compliance with industry regulations. It streamlines the entire training process from the very start of assignment to completion.
Let Propel take the burden out of your training management, so you can focus on what really matters: the growth and development of your workforce.
Xavor is a leading PLM services provider that has been in the industry for over 15 years. We have certified PLM experts in Propel, Agile, and Aras. Our PLM team can devise solutions according to your specific needs.
Contact us at [email protected] to book a free consultation session.
FAQs
Yes, Propel is part of the Salesforce ecosystem, but it is not owned by Salesforce. It is a third-party application built natively on the Salesforce platform, designed for product lifecycle management (PLM), quality, and product data management.
Propel PLM enables real-time collaboration across teams, faster product development cycles, and improved data visibility. Because it runs on Salesforce, it also integrates seamlessly with CRM, service, and other business processes.
Propel PLM is commonly used in industries like manufacturing, medical devices, high-tech, and consumer goods. It is especially valuable for companies that need strong product data management, compliance, and quality control processes.