Training Whitepaper

A key concept of Lean manufacturing philosophy is differentiating between value-added and non value-added activity. Within that category is the concept of necessary non value-added activity or activities that are necessary, but don’t add value to the products being built. Supervision is considered a necessary, non value-added activity. While management involvement in the production process has not disappeared at Burton Industries, its management team has questioned how much supervision is really necessary if employees are trained in the “why” behind their jobs and understand how they interrelate to the production process.

This philosophy has driven cross-training efforts that have created a more nimble, flexible workforce able to work in multiple production jobs as production demand dictates. This training focus has evolved over multiple years into a program known as Learn 2 Earn, that increases team members’ compensation as their skills proficiency increases. In some cases, team members are trained in skills applicable to multiple processes in individual work cells; in other cases they are trained to work as a cohesive team in a single work cell.

Read the full whitepaper here.

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