March 31, 2026
The Airtec division of Atlas Copco Group in Wilrijk has won the Audience Award at the Learning & Development (L&D) Awards. The award recognizes an innovative learning architecture that makes learning on the production floor concrete, structured, and accessible to everyone.
A learning model built around the workstation
At the heart of the project is a clearly structured learning architecture developed specifically for Airtec’s production environment. Airtec designs and produces core components for compressors and vacuum pumps.
The learning model consists of four consecutive steps:
- Seeing
- Doing with guidance
- Doing independently
- Independent problem-solving
Thanks to this clear structure, learning becomes concrete, measurable, and meaningful. Employees grow in their technical expertise and understand the “why” behind processes, quality, and standards. This deeper process knowledge supports more efficient work and strengthens ownership.
Because each training path is fully tailored to the workstation, it aligns closely with real-life situations on the factory floor. The result is a practical and future‑proof learning model.
Digital support at every step
Digital instructions, on‑the‑job training, and regular evaluations support each phase of the learning path. This makes progress visible and creates a shared language within teams. Supervisors gain insights into employee development, while employees experience their own growth.
Equal digital access for all employees
Another key pillar is the decision to provide every shop‑floor employee with a full Office 365 account — an uncommon step in a production environment.
With this access, employees find:
- Up‑to‑date learning content
- Digital instructions
- Process and quality information
- Tools directly applicable to their daily tasks
This ensures equal digital opportunities and makes learning more accessible, autonomous, and sustainable throughout the organization.
A model ready for the future
By combining clear learning paths with broad digital accessibility, Airtec has created a powerful and future‑oriented model. Employees learn at their own pace, with clear expectations and a strong digital foundation supporting them.
Winning the L&D Audience Award shows that this approach is also externally recognized as inspiring, innovative, and impactful. It is a wonderful acknowledgment of the work the L&D team at Airtec delivers every day.
Dimitri Soebert – Competence and Development Manager and Jens Verhooghe – Training Coordinator