Experience in Knowledge Management and Training of Power System Protection for New Employees in Thailand’s Power Utility

Power system protection is a highly specialized and mission-critical discipline responsible for ensuring the security and reliability of electrical transmission systems, where failures can lead to widespread outages, equipment damage, and safety hazards. Due to its technical complexity, proficiency has traditionally required long periods of on-the-job training, often spanning 5 to 10 years. However, as experienced engineers and technicians approach retirement while new personnel must achieve competence more quickly, the risk of knowledge loss increases and places growing pressure on departments to transfer critical expertise effectively. This paper proposes an integrated knowledge management and training framework aimed at accelerating competency development while preserving technical knowledge across generations. The framework combines rationale-based documentation, a centralized knowledge repository, and a structured training program that includes rotational field assignments. This knowledge base retains not only technical data but also engineering rationale, lessons learned, and field practices, ensuring accessibility for both new and experienced staff. By implementing this approach, departments can reduce the time required for personnel to become competent, mitigate the risks associated with knowledge loss, and enhance the long-term sustainability of transmission system protection functions.