Ford drives workers to Web for training

Ford Motor Company is driving more of its employees to the Web
for training.

Through a two-year contract with British
Telecom and British interactive multimedia company Futuremedia, Ford's Design
Institute will use a Web-based system to train its engineers scattered
around the globe. The companies did not disclose the contract's worth.

The automaker purchased a total of 20,000 user licenses to use the
Internet-based learning and knowledge-management system, called Solstra.


Through Solstra, Ford engineers will
have access to the same training materials and job support information,
regardless of the time zone or location where they work.

The system also provides Ford with a single point of contact for updating
and distributing learning materials and for tracking training in progress,
executives said.

The move is part of Ford's overall global initiative to move engineering
and quality control training to the Web.

Earlier this year, Ford Motor Company's Education and Training Division
tested Solstra, ordering 500 licenses for employees in Northern Europe.

Solstra has also been used to deliver Ford's quality standard training
course to suppliers.