Yes the more you understand the better you can help them or the next person

Hands on is very important in my opinion.

Yes, I think hands on is just as important (if not more) than classroom learning. I prefer to use both so they can learn about it, then have the example experience

Yes - and in my opinion that is the most important, yet challenging part of the job. It's super important to not only learn the day to day aspect of the operators, but also establish rapport. Thanks for the post, love it.

I would spend a few hours in each department to learn side by side what their job was. I would ask them to teach me as if I was a new employee, starting that day, like a shadow.

I would also make it a priority throughout the week to "go walk the floor" and strike up conversations with the employees to build respect, make sure they knew I cared about their safety, etc. It didn't feel like "productive" time, but man was it valuable.