Unifying Standards, Elevating Skills.

SkillForge : A Digital Learning Platform for Mechanic Skill Certification

Unifying Standards, Elevating Skills.

SkillForge : A Digital Learning Platform for Mechanic Skill Certification

Target Product

PWA (Web & Mobile)

Timeline

2023

My Role

UI/UX Design - Team Lead

SkillForge is PT. United Tractors’ internal platform for upskilling thousands of heavy equipment mechanics across Indonesia. While the original web-based system had been in use for some time, it started showing its limitations,especially in terms of usability and learning flow. Mechanics often missed their assigned courses due to confusing navigation. Supervisors had minimal visibility into their team’s learning progress. And one of the most problematic areas? The essay correction feature. Reviewers struggled to manage and evaluate written assessments efficiently.

SkillForge is PT. United Tractors’ internal platform for upskilling thousands of heavy equipment mechanics across Indonesia. While the original web-based system had been in use for some time, it started showing its limitations,especially in terms of usability and learning flow. Mechanics often missed their assigned courses due to confusing navigation. Supervisors had minimal visibility into their team’s learning progress. And one of the most problematic areas? The essay correction feature. Reviewers struggled to manage and evaluate written assessments efficiently.

To address these challenges, a full redesign was needed—not just to improve the user experience, but also to ensure the platform could support the company’s larger goals: aligning with Individual Development Plans (IDPs) and streamlining learning across the field.

To address these challenges, a full redesign was needed—not just to improve the user experience, but also to ensure the platform could support the company’s larger goals: aligning with Individual Development Plans (IDPs) and streamlining learning across the field.

Target Product

PWA (Web & Mobile)

Timeline

2023

My Role

UI/UX Design - Team Lead
Stakeholder Interview :
Stakeholder Interview :

From Problem to Practical Solutions.

Aligning Vision with Those
Who Shapes the Business
Direction.

Designing SkillForge wasn’t just about making screens look good, it was about solving real problems mechanics face when learning and getting certified. Here’s how the process went:

Define Problems

Lock the goals and problems clearly.

Do Research

Gather user insights and pain points.

Start to Design

Turn findings into flows and screens.

Validation!

Test, tweak, and refine until it fits.

User Interview :
User Interview :

We Listen, They Talk.

We Listen, They Talk.

User Interview & Issue Grouping

To understand real-world pain points, we conducted interviews with three key user groups : organic mechanics, outsourced mechanics, certification assessor, and supervisors. Each group provided unique insights into how they interact with the system, their challenges, and what they expect from a better learning experience.

To understand real-world pain points, we conducted interviews with three key user groups : organic mechanics, outsourced mechanics, certification assessor, and supervisors. Each group provided unique insights into how they interact with the system, their challenges, and what they expect from a better learning experience.

“Sometimes I just don’t know which course is right for me.”
“Sometimes I just don’t know which course is right for me.”

Ahmad - Organic Mechanic

Ahmad wants to grow in his role, but the platform didn’t make it easy. With so many course options and no clear path, he often skipped what might have been useful. He mentioned how helpful it would be if the system could guide him based on his position and needs.

Ahmad wants to grow in his role, but the platform didn’t make it easy. With so many course options and no clear path, he often skipped what might have been useful. He mentioned how helpful it would be if the system could guide him based on his position and needs.

What we changed : The new platform connects directly to each worker’s IDP, so Ahmad gets personalized course suggestions without the guesswork.

What we changed : The new platform connects directly to each worker’s IDP, so Ahmad gets personalized course suggestions without the guesswork.

"If my supervisor doesn’t remind me, I don’t even open the site."
"If my supervisor doesn’t remind me, I don’t even open the site."

Budi - Organic Mechanic

Budi is hands-on all day and rarely near a laptop. He logs in only when asked, and even then he's not always sure what to do. The course instructions were confusing, and he found essay tests especially unclear.

Budi is hands-on all day and rarely near a laptop. He logs in only when asked, and even then he's not always sure what to do. The course instructions were confusing, and he found essay tests especially unclear.

What we changed : Clearer task instructions, guided learning flows, and built-in notifications now help users like Budi stay on track without needing constant supervision.

What we changed : Clearer task instructions, guided learning flows, and built-in notifications now help users like Budi stay on track without needing constant supervision.

“Correcting exams was a nightmare. Too many clicks, too much scrolling.”
“Correcting exams was a nightmare. Too many clicks, too much scrolling.”

Rini - Instructor

Rini manages a team and handles grading. Her main complaint? The review page for exam was clunky and made her job harder. She wanted to grade faster, with a clearer layout and ideally, export progress reports too.

Rini manages a team and handles grading. Her main complaint? The review page for exam was clunky and made her job harder. She wanted to grade faster, with a clearer layout and ideally, export progress reports too.

What we changed : Developed features for automatic correction of material exams, answer key for essay questions, inline review, and data export functionality for generating reports.

What we changed : Developed features for automatic correction of material exams, answer key for essay questions, inline review, and data export functionality for generating reports.

"It’s hard to get a clear picture of my team’s progress."
"It’s hard to get a clear picture of my team’s progress."

Dedi - Site Adaro SPV

Dedi manages a team of mechanics and is responsible for assigning courses and making sure everyone stays on track. He told us that when monitoring progress, the dashboard often felt scattered. This made it difficult to catch delays early and slowed her decision-making when assigning new courses.

Dedi manages a team of mechanics and is responsible for assigning courses and making sure everyone stays on track. He told us that when monitoring progress, the dashboard often felt scattered. This made it difficult to catch delays early and slowed her decision-making when assigning new courses.

What we changed : We built a single view with filters and real-time updates dashboard, so supervisors can monitor at a glance and assign courses faster.

What we changed : We built a single view with filters and real-time updates dashboard, so supervisors can monitor at a glance and assign courses faster.

Stakeholder Interview :
Stakeholder Interview :

Aligning Vision with Those

Who Shape The Business Direction.

Aligning Vision with Those
Who Shapes the Business
Direction.

To understand the strategic direction behind the certification program, we conducted interviews with several key stakeholders. Their input helped us understand the importance of IDP integration, system scalability, and the need for a role-based course experience.

To understand the strategic direction behind the certification program, we conducted interviews with several key stakeholders. Their input helped us understand the importance of IDP integration, system scalability, and the need for a role-based course experience.

Details Process
Interview with Stakeholder

We carried out three in-depth stakeholder interviews, each lasting approximately 45 minutes. Participants included HR leads, Learning & Development teams, and Technical System Owners. Discussions focused on platform vision, integration requirements, and real-world limitations from both business and technical sides.

We carried out three in-depth stakeholder interviews, each lasting approximately 45 minutes. Participants included HR leads, Learning & Development teams, and Technical System Owners. Discussions focused on platform vision, integration requirements, and real-world limitations from both business and technical sides.

Key Insight
Certification Must Align with HR IDP Structure

Stakeholders emphasized that the platform must seamlessly integrate with the Individual Development Plan (IDP) system to personalize learning paths for each mechanic and ensure alignment with internal upskilling strategies.

Stakeholders emphasized that the platform must seamlessly integrate with the Individual Development Plan (IDP) system to personalize learning paths for each mechanic and ensure alignment with internal upskilling strategies.

Supervisors Need Easier Tracking Tools

There was a strong request for better monitoring tools to help supervisors oversee course progress, assignment completion, and certification outcomes, especially for outsourced mechanics.

There was a strong request for better monitoring tools to help supervisors oversee course progress, assignment completion, and certification outcomes, especially for outsourced mechanics.

Content Library Must Be Modular for Future Expansion

Flexibility was a key concern. Stakeholders envisioned a content library that could scale, allowing for the addition of new courses, media types, and assessment formats without overhauling the system.

Flexibility was a key concern. Stakeholders envisioned a content library that could scale, allowing for the addition of new courses, media types, and assessment formats without overhauling the system.

Comparative Research
Comparative Research

Learning From Industry Benchmarks to Design a Purpose-Built Solution.

Learning From Industry Benchmarks to Design a Purpose-Built Solution.

To ground our redesign in real-world standards, we conducted a comparative study of both specialized learning management systems and mainstream online course platforms. This helped us identify feature gaps and prioritize functionality that directly supports field operations.

To ground our redesign in real-world standards, we conducted a comparative study of both specialized learning management systems and mainstream online course platforms. This helped us identify feature gaps and prioritize functionality that directly supports field operations.

Platform

Course Type

Role

Based Course

Exam Feature

Question Bank

Grading Method

Assigned via IDP & by supervisor

MCQ & Essay

Fully custom bank per course

Auto-grade & manual review

Assigned & self-picked

All type, incl. essay

Advanced quiz bank

Auto-grade & manual review

Manual & template based

Basic quiz

Available

Auto-grade & manual review

Assigned by admin

Basic quiz

Available

Auto-grade only

Self-picked

Quiz

No bank feature

Auto-grade only

Self-picked

No formal exam

No bank feature

Project based

Self or intitution-assigned

Quiz + peer review

No bank feature

Auto-grade & peer review

User Persona :
User Persona :

Behind The System.

Behind The System.

Who is The User?

From our interviews, we distilled user insights into realistic personas that represent key roles within the certification process. These personas guided our decisions across UI design, content structure, and role-based feature logic.

From our interviews, we distilled user insights into realistic personas that represent key roles within the certification process. These personas guided our decisions across UI design, content structure, and role-based feature logic.

Wiantoro Sudjatmiko - KOMATSU Mechanic

Wiantoro - KOMATSU Mechanic

Wiantoro - Mechanic
Goals :
Goals :

Gain certifications relevant to their job, understand course requirements, complete them without friction.

Gain certifications relevant to their job, understand course requirements, complete them without friction.

Constraints
Constraints

Often confused by system navigation, forgets deadlines, lacks clear progress indicators.

Often confused by system navigation, forgets deadlines, lacks clear progress indicators.

Needs :
Needs :

Need a simple & clear system with progress tracking and deadline reminders to complete courses.

Need a simple & clear system with progress tracking and deadline reminders to complete courses.

Design Response :
Design Response :

Clear dashboard summaries, role-based course assignment via IDP, simplified exam flow.

Clear dashboard summaries, role-based course assignment via IDP, simplified exam flow.

Rifat Alifa - ADH Site Adaro

Rifat Alifa - ADH Site Adaro

Rifat Alifa - ADH Site Adaro
Goals :
Goals :

Monitor mechanic progress, assign courses for outsource staff, ensure team compliance.

Monitor mechanic progress, assign courses for outsource staff, ensure team compliance.

Constraints
Constraints

Incomplete tracking tools, slow feedback loop, lack of overview.

Incomplete tracking tools, slow feedback loop, lack of overview.

Needs :
Needs :

Need a way to track team progress, quickly assign courses, and get a clear overview to ensure compliance.

Need a way to track team progress, quickly assign courses, and get a clear overview to ensure compliance.

Design Response :
Design Response :

Dashboard with real-time progress tracking, bulk course assignment, and a summarized compliance view.

Dashboard with real-time progress tracking, bulk course assignment, and a summarized compliance view.

Hendra Darusman - Instructor

Hendra Darusman - Instructor

Hendra Darusman - Instructor
Goals :
Goals :

Review submitted tests efficiently, especially essays, give fair and fast feedback.

Review submitted tests efficiently, especially essays, give fair and fast feedback.

Constraints
Constraints

The review process is slow, especially for essays, with limited tools for structured feedback.

The review process is slow, especially for essays, with limited tools for structured feedback.

Needs :
Needs :

Tools to review tests faster, highlight key points in essays, and provide consistent & clear feedback.

Tools to review tests faster, highlight key points in essays, and provide consistent & clear feedback.

Design Response :
Design Response :

Inline review interface with answer keys, annotation tools for essays, and a dashboard showing review status.

Inline review interface with answer keys, annotation tools for essays, and a dashboard showing review status.

We Listened, We Observed,
We Listened, We Observed,

Then We Designed.

Then We Designed.

After understanding the problem deeply, we moved into the solution space. This is the phase where ideas started to take shape through brainstorming and mapping. Every pain point we found now had the chance to be solved.

Task Flow
Task Flow

To Match the Field.

To Match the Field.

We mapped the flow based on real case, not assumptions.
Each step was crafted to match how users actually work in the field, making the process simpler, faster, and more efficient.

We mapped the flow based on real case, not assumptions. Each step was crafted to match how users actually work in the field, making the process simpler, faster, and more efficient.

We mapped the flow based on real case, not assumptions. Each step was crafted to match how users actually work in the field, making the process simpler, faster, and more efficient.

Mechanic - From Course to Certificate

Mechanic - From Course to Certificate

This flow explains the process from mechanic logging into SkillForge, selecting a course, taking the exam, scheduling a practical exam, to receiving the exam certificate.

Supervisor - Team Check & Assign Course

Supervisor - Team Check & Assign Course

Supervisors can monitor what courses are available, then assign a team of mechanics in their area to join the course if they are not already registered.

Instructor - Check Material Exam

Instructor - Check Material Exam

After the mechanic completes the theory test, the system will automatically correct the multiple choice answers, but the instructor will assess the essay answers and determine whether the mechanic passes the theory test and is then allowed to take the practical test.

Design Guidelines :
Design Guidelines :

Principles That Shape
Every Pixel.

Principles That Shape
Every Pixel.

We create a design guideline concept consisting of color combinations, typography, logo concepts, and several other design needs. This guideline will be used for branding needs, UI design, publications, and others.

We create a design guideline concept consisting of color combinations, typography, logo concepts, and several other design needs. This guideline will be used for branding needs, UI design, publications, and others.

Inter.
#5B45ED
#5B45ED
#FFB300

Bold

16px, 18px, 24px

Semibold

14px, 16px, 18px, 24px

Medium

12px, 14px, 16px

Regular

12px, 14px, 16px

We chose Inter because it was designed for digital interfaces from the ground up. Its clean geometry and generous spacing make long reading sessions easier on the eyes, while its versatility across weights keeps the UI structured yet approachable.

ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ

abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz

0123456789 - !@#$%^&*()_+

UI Components :
UI Components :

The Building Blocks of Seamless Learning.

The Building Blocks of Seamless Learning.

Let's See The Solution :
Let's See The Solution :

Showcase the final design direction with a focus on clarity, consistency, and usability.

Showcase the final design direction with a focus on clarity, consistency, and usability.

Validation 1 :
Validation 1 :

Usability Testing to User

Aligning Vision with Those
Who Shapes the Business
Direction.

Group 1 : Testing with the Frontline Users

We ran usability tests with 5 mechanics, the primary users of SkillForge. Their feedback revealed how the platform performs under real operational tasks, from accessing courses to completing exams.

We ran usability tests with 5 mechanics, the primary users of SkillForge. Their feedback revealed how the platform performs under real operational tasks, from accessing courses to completing exams.

Task List

User 1

User 2

User 3

User 4

User 5

Login & Select Course

View Course Details

Take Theory Exam

View Exam Result & Certificate

User Highlight

Smooth overall, no issues.

Minor confusion in theory test

Navigation flow can be smoother.

Smooth overall, no issues.

Smooth overall, no issues.

Task List

Positive (Smooth)

Neutral (Minor Struggle)

Negative (Failed/Big Struggle)

Usability Score

Login & Select Course

5/5

0/5

0/5

100

View Course Details

3/5

2/5

0/5

80

Take Theory Exam

4/5

1/5

0/5

90

View Exam Result & Certificate

5/5

0/5

0/5

100

Overall average usability score :

92.5

Notes & Insight

Overall usability performance is strong, with most tasks scoring above 90 and an average of 92.5, showing that the platform feels intuitive and easy to navigate.

The only area needing improvement is the course detail page, where two users hesitated, indicating a need for clearer hierarchy and better visual cues.

Yugo Bayu Prastyo

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