AI meets video-based learning In gear manufacturing, precision isn’t just for the products—it’s a necessity for the people who make them. Whether it’s a new hire learning the basics or a seasoned operator adapting to new processes, effective training is essential for maintaining quality, safety, and competitiveness. But let’s be honest: training budgets are tight, time is limited, and inefficiency is expensive. Every minute spent on learning must translate into value on the shop floor. As many of you know, delivering high-impact, cost-effective training has been a primary objective of mine since starting Arvin Global Solutions in 2015. But my roots in workforce development go much further—to the early 1980s at Arrow Gear. At that time, video-based training was first becoming a practical option for forward-thinking manufacturers, and we jumped into it wholeheartedly. Over the years, we have developed a robust video training library that proved to be an asset for our entire workforce. By harnessing the power of video, we were able to scale our training efforts across a broad range of key topics. Today, video remains one of the most effective training tools available to manufacturers. It offers consistency, accommodates different learning speeds, and presents complex topics in visual form—often with demonstrations and animation that bring concepts to life. But as effective as it is, video also has its limitations. As a rule of thumb, viewers retain just three to five key concepts before their focus begins to fade.

When a Five-Minute Video Isn’t Enough Imagine giving your employees access to on-demand video training—then pairing it with a tool that allows them to ask follow-up questions, explore related topics, or clarify concepts in real time. That’s not a future scenario. It’s available now. Thanks to advancements in artificial intelligence, particularly custom AI-powered chatbots, companies can now augment traditional video-based learning with interactive, searchable support—available any time, day or night.

At AGS, we’ve recently been involved in the development of AI-integrated training platforms for a very different but equally demanding environment: public education. We partnered with Dr. Kara Coglianese, superintendent of the Crete-Monee School District 201-U in Illinois, to strengthen her district’s professional development systems. After starting to build a library of video training content, we worked with the district to integrate chatbots that allowed staff to access answers to frequently asked questions, navigate district policy, and retrieve HR-related information quickly and easily—all without placing additional demands on administrative staff.

“Our goal was to simulate the individualized experience people expect today,” said Dr. Coglianese. “More than ever, people want specific answers on demand. They’re not reading long documents—and they’re not willing to wait around for emails or returned phone calls. By pairing video-based training with AI chatbots, we’re giving our staff 24/7 access to policy information, HR procedures, and training reinforcement in a format that fits their fast-paced lives. The chatbot doesn’t replace training, but it supplements it—meeting people where they are, on their own time, and in the style they’re most comfortable with.” The success of that initiative made one thing clear: this model could be just as effective in the gear manufacturing sector. You might be thinking, “Hang on, Joe—how am I supposed to afford AI programming for my training?” Here’s the short answer: integrating custom AI chatbots with video-based learning is a lot easier—and more affordable—than you might think. While getting into the technical details is beyond the scope of this article, the ease and accessibility of this approach may soon have you thinking it’s something you can’t afford to ignore.