CASE STUDY

Improving Technical Training with Veolia

Client:

Veolia North America,

Water Technologies Division

Project:

Technical Training Video for Anduritz Decanter Centrifuge Operations

Duration:

A 6-Month Pilot Project, Budgeted for a Full Rollout in 2025

Service:

Innovation Strategy, Full-Service Production & Content Creation by #WEAREMODERNANCIENTS

Contributors

Devon Phaneuf

Subject Matter Expert, Field Operations & Service, Veolia Water Technologies

Alexander Whiteway

Executive Producer, Writer, Director, Producer, Assistant Editor

Granville Carter

Director of Photography, DIT, Lead Editor

Jason Marshall

Complex Startup Project Management, Veolia North America

Stephen Simmons

Technical Learning and Development Leader, Global Services Expert Operations, Veolia North America

Michael McCarthy

Training Execution Manager, Veolia North America

The Project

Inside a warehouse or industrial facility, a worker is standing near large machinery with a blue frame. There is a yellow overhead crane above, and a person in the foreground working at a desk with a laptop, a soda can, and various electronic items.

Challenge

Veolia Water Technologies faced a critical challenge in training new operators for its wastewater treatment facilities. Traditional Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) were dense and time-consuming to digest, which resulted in inefficiencies in preparing operators for real-time, in-field operations.

The need for a streamlined training solution was paramount to ensure that operators could quickly understand and apply the necessary procedures for technologies like the Anduritz Decanter Centrifuge.

Two people working in an industrial or laboratory setting with equipment, tools, and piping, with one person using a smartphone and the other working near machinery and a camera setup.

Person taking a selfie in an office using a tripod-mounted camera, with computer monitors, a phone, walkie-talkie, and motivational posters on a bulletin board in the background.

Solution

Modern Ancients partnered with Veolia Water Technologies and Veolia North America to develop a video-based training solution for a pilot project, to expand the project to deliver a comprehensive educational content library for Just-In-Time training, a field operators’ visual handbook.

The objective was to condense the complex SOPs into competency matrices for alignment with an easy-to-follow, 8-minute video that captured the essential steps and real-time procedures operators need when working with an Anduritz Decanter Centrifuge.

The pilot video was structured around four key categories of operational excellence, demonstrating core aspects of safe and efficient operation.

The video focused on critical points of navigation and support, providing a Just-in-Time Training (JITT) tool, allowing operators to access vital instructions when they needed them most.

This approach condensed the volume of information and aligned with how operators interacted with the equipment in real-time, ensuring they were equipped with the navigational support needed to handle any situation efficiently.

Execution

Our team collaborated closely with Veolia’s technical training department and in-field operations subject matter experts to field, storyboard, script, film, and produce the 8-minute video. We utilized cutting-edge filming techniques to ensure clarity and engagement and captured real-time in-field operations to ensure authenticity.

Two men are sitting at a conference table, watching a video on a wall-mounted screen. The man on the left is wearing glasses and is reclining with his arm behind his head, while the man on the right, wearing a cap, is sitting with his fist clenched. The table has laptops, a coffee cup, a water bottle, and other miscellaneous items.

Screenshot of a video editing software interface with various tracks, clips, and controls, showing a work in progress editing a video about a centrifuge control panel.

Results

The pilot video was deployed in the later half of 2024 to test its impact on operator efficiency.

Early feedback showed marked improvements in:

Faster comprehension of standards and procedures
Increased operator confidence in real-time in-field operations
Reduced training time, freeing up experienced staff to focus on other critical tasks
Post-Pilot, the Learning & Development leadership team implemented a Brand Ambassadorship program to scale the pilot’s efforts with a select group of SME in-field operators.
Our SME was promoted to “Complex Startups Project Manager” to continue his leadership in the effort

A person kneels on the floor, adjusting equipment, with a laptop and tools nearby, in an industrial setting with machinery and equipment, while another person stands in the background near a large blue machine.

Testimonials

A smiling man standing in front of a vintage military aircraft.

“The video looks amazing and is very well put together!
There’s a ton of information, it’s easy to understand, and hits all the major milestones of operating a centrifuge. Very well done.”
-Glenn Cornelisse, Services Field Area Manager

“Projects like this havn’t always worked for us in the past.
I was impressed with how Modern Ancients worked to incept this opportunity with a passionate SME to improve the training and overall experience of technical operations for Veolia Water Technologies.”
-Andrea Forster, Global Services Expert Operations Executive at Veolia Water Technologies and Solutions

A woman with curly blonde hair and glasses smiling outdoors with her arms crossed, dressed in a black blazer and white shirt, in a wooded area.

A man dressed in a dark suit, white shirt, and black tie, smiling in front of a modern building with glass windows.

(Collected from internal discussions throughout the project)

“Modern Ancients dedication to this project was inspiring to the entire team.
They we’re diligent in assuring every voice was heard, comprehending the complexities of our organization with ease and grace.”
-Jason Marshall,
Complex Startup Project Management - Team Leader

“Looks great!
Nicely done.
It is as fine as the best training videos that I’ve seen.
Congrats!”
-Dave Mason,
Sr Field Services & Technical Advisory Manager, Global Technical Direction and Validation

A black and white photo of a person with glasses holding a cigarette, with a reflection of their eyes in the lenses, and a cigarette in their hand.

“Working with the team at Modern Ancients was definately a journey. From the earliest stages of exploring how to approach this innovation opportunity, to producing scripts in alignment with complex competency matricies, and directing talent on set, they were there every step of the way, improving our co-creation. The quality of their people, process and product are of the highest order.”
-Devon Phaneuf,
Key Subject Matter Expert, Field Operations and Service Excellence

What’s Next?

Looking Forward

The team at Modern Ancients is grateful for aligning with the talented and dedicated team at Veolia, who came together around this pilot project, largely incepted by a passionate subject matter expert who saw an opportunity to turn his passion into an intrepreneurial endeavor.

Based on the pilot's success, the project has been marked for expansion in 2025. The programs are to build a Comprehensive Educational Content Library for all in-field training operations across Veolia’s wastewater treatment facilities.

This initiative represents a pivotal shift in how Veolia delivers operator training, paving the way for more dynamic, video-based training modules that offer real-time operational support.

Does your organization have an innovative idea you’d like to pilot?