Cross-training in business operations, also known as multiskilling, involves training employees for flexible response to changing production schedules.
Cross-training has been closely linked to cellular manufacturing--for example, in a book segment, "Cross Training in Cells and Flow Lines." That linkage is more thoroughly discussed in a book by Suri, which includes the benefits of posting in the work place a training matrix: Each employee in the area is listed as a row on the matrix, with various skills as columns. As an employee masters a skill, a check mark is entered in the matrix. Having multiple check marks becomes a visual source of recognition and pride by the employee.
Sometimes, as an enabler of cross-training, the company adopts (perhaps as an element of a contract with the labor union) skill-base pay, which refers to a pay-for-skills incentive; for example, for each new skill mastered, the employee's wage rate is increased by some amount, such as $0.50 per hour.
A close partner of cross-training is job rotation. That is, for a multi-skilled employee to maintain skill levels, it is necessary for that employee periodically to rotate among jobs calling for those skills--and to do so often enough that skills do not deteriorate. As one example, at Signicast Corp., Milwaukee, Wisc (producing investment castings) cross-trained operatives rotated among jobs every 4 to 6 hours.
The concept of cross-training for front-line associates can apply also to the technical and professional staff--in that case being referred to as cross-careering.
Video Cross-training (business)
Advantages
- Helps patrons/customers/clients in the long run, as employees are empowered to answer questions about the entire organization.
- Requires staff to re-evaluate the reasons and methods for accomplishing their work; inefficient methods, outdated techniques and bureaucratic drift are challenged, if not eliminated.
- Raises an awareness of what other departments do.
- Routine scheduling is enhanced with the ability to move staff about the "Operation".
- Better coverage, increased flexibility and ability to cope with unexpected absences, emergencies, illness, etc.
- Can increase the "employability" of staff who have the opportunity to train in areas they were not originally hired for.
Other advantages include:
- Increased flexibility and versatility,
- Appreciated intellectual capital
- Improved individual efficiency,
- Increased standardization of jobs,
- Heightened morale.
Maps Cross-training (business)
See also
- Cellular manufacturing
- Interdisciplinarity
- Just-in-time manufacturing
- Bus factor
References
Source of article : Wikipedia
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