Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/1372612
64 PCB007 MAGAZINE I MAY 2021 all part of the process that starts with a busi- ness plan and culminates with your trinket in the hands of your happy customer. All depart- ments make up that "well-oiled machine." Training members from one department about the processes and skills required in an- other department will help those units to work together better. is also leads to an increase in understanding, empathy, and respect between departments. For example, when the quality engineer inspects parts and finds defects, they are more likely to care about why the part is de- fective and what part of the process failed. is is invaluable, especially when activities such as root cause analysis are required to determine failure modes. ey are also less likely to just stamp "REJECT" on the part and kick it back over to manufacturing to deal with. With in- creased communication comes increased qual- ity. In another example, when your salespeople have a keen understanding of your manufac- turing processes, they are more likely to have effective sales interactions, like knowing when a certain opportunity fits perfectly into your niche, or when to walk away and not waste the time of the engineering department. is kind of cross-training is increasingly easy to implement. Self-paced online courses can be taken anytime and anywhere—such as at an employee's desk during lunch or on a cell- phone during mid-cycle downtime on the fac- tory floor. At Blackfox, we have seen that em- ployees will complete a significant amount of learning on their own personal time in the eve- ning hours and on weekends, too. ey com- ment that they appreciate when their employ- er gives them the opportunity to learn and ad- vance themselves. It is probably no surprise that many of these go-getters are also asking to get their hands on the leadership training courses so they can help secure internal ad- vancement. A common question we see is, "What is the best way to implement training in our organi- zation?" First, a good training partner is an in- valuable resource. Solid training partners will be able to suggest and curate the most appro- priate content for your training needs. ey can help you build a training plan for optimal delivery across your organization, and they will be able to offer multiple mediums from which your employees can receive training. A highly effective scenario is a combination of training mediums such as self-paced training, on-the-job training (OJT) and instructor-led training (ILT). Self-paced training that happens when time is available is complemented by OJT. e best OJT is structured and aligns with self-paced material, bridging the gap to apply theoretical knowledge to what your company does spe- cifically. When possible, incorporate instruc- tor-led training as well. Bring in outside ex- perts. Your internal experts (who are likely not trained to be trainers) will probably pick up some new stuff too. Outside experts can deliver instructor-led training remotely or in person. is material can also be based on a set curric- ulum, and some experts train on content and curriculum specific to your company's needs. Aer you implement a new training pro- gram—whether it is comprehensive and in- Jahr Turchan