AEM

Scaled from one toolkit to a three-part resource suite

The Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) represents over 1,000 companies in the equipment manufacturing space and tackles some of the industry’s biggest challenges head-on. One of the most pressing? A workforce gap threatening the future of manufacturing.

Determined to provide real solutions to this growing issue, AEM partnered with Above The Fray to create a modern, digital-first Workforce Development Toolkit. The goal was to create a collection of resources that didn’t just inform, but empowered manufacturers to act. And when that first toolkit proved successful, we didn’t stop there. Together, we expanded the platform to include standalone but interconnected toolkits for Sustainability and Safety, equipping AEM members with a flexible, scalable resource hub designed to move the industry forward.

Website

workforcetoolkit.aem.org

Platform

Custom Build

The Challenge

To bring workforce development materials to the 21st century and make a digital toolkit that was as engaging and exciting as the tech-driven equipment today’s manufacturers are bringing to market. AEM wanted an interactive set of actionable resources that would speak to a variety of audiences including C-suite decision makers, HR professionals, managers, and workforce development teams. The traditional PDF playbooks and static web pages weren’t cutting it anymore.

They wanted a place where workforce development teams could all find resources tailored to their goals and actually take action. That meant creating interactive experiences with assessments, progress tracking, and adaptable content, all backed by the same secure infrastructure.

Once the Workforce Development Toolkit was live, AEM saw the opportunity toa serve their members with additional toolkits. The Sustainability Toolkit would be created to help organizations assess and improve their environmental impact through industry-specific resources and action plans. The Safety Toolkit would focus on strengthening safety culture, offering guidance and tools to proactively identify and mitigate risks in the workplace.

The Solution

We designed and built a modern, modular platform that could host not just a single toolkit, but a whole suite of them, beginning with the Workforce Development Toolkit.

The toolkit was built as an interactive digital experience centered around usability and action. Features included a workforce development assessment, customized action plans, visual progress tracking, and a personalized dashboard for quick access to in-progress work and the latest industry news.

With the Workforce Development Toolkit as the foundation, we expanded the platform to launch two additional toolkits. The Sustainability Toolkit and the Safety Toolkit leveraged the same core components to streamline development and ensure a seamless user experience. Each toolkit and the AEM member directory is unified under a single sign-on system (SSO), enabling users to navigate across topics without losing continuity. While the content and calls-to-action are tailored to the theme of each toolkit, the UX remains consistent and intuitive.

Services

Brand Alignment
Custom Software Ideation
UX / UI Design
Learning Management System (LMS) Development
Custom Software Development

Project Highlights

AEM’s new toolkit is demolishing the structure of traditional workforce development materials with interactive features to help users not only learn, but take action.

Interactive Assessments

A multi-step quiz designed to hammer out and drill into areas for growth. The results from the assessment integrate with Toolkit Action Plans and guide recommendations.

Customizable Action Plans

Action plans have fully customizable nuts and bolts with a toggle for each item that allows users to decide if they plan to skip or complete that specific task.

Digital Dashboard

In progress Action Plans, popular resources, and the cutting edge industry news can all be found on the user dashboard making it easy to take a break and pick up where you left off.

Progress Tracking

Step by step instructions and visual progress tracker allow users to gauge how much training material they have completed and what they need to do to get to the next level.