Why Train Manufacturing Leaders?
Why Train Manufacturing Leaders?
Manufacturing leaders are responsible for millions of dollars of assets, labor and materials. They’re responsible for the safety of our employees, the quality of our product and on-time delivery to our customers. We expect them to lower our factory costs and embrace new processes and technologies in support of business growth. The real question is whether or not they are adequately trained to handle this level of responsibility?
Let's consider and compare the Manufacturing Supervisor role to that of other professions. Typically what we see outside of our manufacturing world is a direct correlation between training requirements and knowledge expectations. Doctors and Pilots have a high level of responsibility and we see a direct correlation with the amount of training that they receive. Financial Fund Managers and Teachers are on the higher side of this scale too, and we definitely expect our Auto Mechanics and Electricians to be trained professionals. Personal Trainers and Truck Drivers typically receive some level of training and we expect them to practice safety in the gym and on the roads. There is a clear correlation between responsibility levels and training training requirements.
Where do our Manufacturing Supervisors fall on this scale of responsibility vs. education? Well, they have a high level of responsibility and we expect a lot from them in terms of business deliverables, so I think that responsibility-wise, they are close to Fund Managers and Teachers. In which case, we should expect them to be manufacturing experts, right? But the truth is that they are way undertrained.
Over my 35 year career I’ve seen a steady decline in the training that Manufacturing Supervisors receive, and I know that many manufacturing companies have abandoned manufacturing leadership training all together which is unfortunate for the supervisors and the industry as a whole. But I get it, training is expensive, inconvenient and its effectiveness is questionable.
How to Train Manufacturing Supervisors
Most training requires that a high-priced consultants come on site, all your supervisors need to rearrange their schedules for day shift training and meanwhile no one is running your factory. Then a week after the training everybody forgets the training material and goes back to their job as normal. And that’s because conducting a week-long training session is like putting a giant log on a small fire: it just doesn’t catch.
But what if there was training that was affordable and is designed specifically for manufacturing supervisors, delivered as a slow drip training process, allowing the knowledge to be absorbed over time.
Have your supervisors been trained at a level that reflects their level of responsibility and accountability? If you are looking for a solution to this training dilemma, then visit Tools for the Trenches for an affordable, flexible and effective solution.
But whether you choose to use T4T or another program, please understand the importance of placing experts in charge of your deliverables.
Know that when supervisors perform well, plants perform well!
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