Content Author's Note:

Training Within Industry [TWI] in New Zealand

The Training Within Industry Scheme [TWI] is a management tool that develops and successfully implements leadership skills and is acknowledged elsewhere in the world as the only scheme that does work. The TWI Scheme facilitates skills development and business continuous improvement.

Training Within Industry [TWI] Defined

The Training Within Industry [TWI] Scheme's three programs are management tools to increase production and give better service of correct quality, produced under conditions of safety, and in an atmosphere of good relations. Total management commitment and involvement is essential for success.

The TWI Scheme is not an apprenticeship training scheme, it consists of management tools! The job instruction tool is perfect for giving of instruction to apprentices on-the-job by experienced trades persons.

Three Programs

The universal TWI scheme consists of three standardized programs covering essential skills needed by all managers and team leaders, regardless of their industry:

• Skill in Instruction, the Job Instruction Program
• Skill in Leading, the Job Relations Program
• Skill in Improving Methods, the Job Methods Program

Four-step Process

Each TWI program follows a proven four-step process: Preparation, Presentation, Application and Testing. The four-step process applies without variation world-wide.

Certified TWI Trainers present the programs of which they are qualified in, using exactly the same reference manuals for delivery. The only variation in the delivery and on-job coaching by trainers is in some of the examples used to illustrate key points.

Team leaders are given the opportunity to learn and practice the four-step process in a confidential, low-stress, and highly supportive environment.

Each program is simple, straight-forward and easy to implement following attendance on a program and on-job coaching by a TWI Trainer.

The individual aids include pocket reference cards for daily use after the program has been completed.
Job Instruction Program
How it Works
The On-Job Instruction program is conducted for a group of approximately 8 people in 10 hours, based on 2-hourly sessions daily for 5 consecutive days. The qualified program presenter, the TWI Trainer, spends time on the job with each group member to coach and experience them in what has been shown.

The Objective
The Job Instruction Program trains team leaders in how to quickly train employees to do the job correctly, safely, and conscientiously. The objective is to help Team leaders develop a well-trained workforce resulting in less scrap and rework, fewer accidents, and less tool and equipment damage.

The Method
The On-Job Instruction program trains team leaders in how to effectively break down a job for instruction. The method emphasizes preparing team members to learn, giving a proper demonstration, identifying key points in the job and safety is always a key point, observing a team member perform the job, and tapering off coaching and continuing to follow up.

The Outcomes
The outcome from a Job Instruction program is that specific jobs get done:

• Correctly
• Quickly
• Safely
• Conscientiously

Job Relations Program
How it Works
The Job Relations program is conducted for a group of approximately 8 people in 10 hours, based on 2-hourly sessions daily for 5 consecutive days. The qualified program presenter, the TWI Trainer, spends time on-the-job with each group member to coach and experience them in what has been shown.

The four main category of problems are those that:

• You sense
• Size up
• Are bought to you
• Burst in your face

The Objective
The Job Relations program trains group members in how to build positive employee relations, increase cooperation and motivation, and effectively resolve conflicts. JR emphasizes that people must be treated as individuals.

The Method
Group members are given foundations for developing and maintaining good relations to prevent problems from arising. Principles include providing constructive feedback, giving credit when due, telling people in advance about changes that will affect them, making the best use of each person's ability and earning the employee's loyalty and cooperation.

The Outcomes
The outcome from a Job Relations program is that when problems do arise, the Team leaders know to get the facts, weigh them, make a decision, take action, and check results.
Job Methods Program
How it Works
The Job Methods program is conducted for a group of approximately 8 people in 10 hours, based on 2-hourly sessions daily for 5 consecutive days. The qualified program presenter, the TWI Trainer, spends time on the job with each group member to coach and experience them in what has been shown.

The Objective
The Job Methods program trains team leaders how to improve the way jobs are done. The aim of the program is to help produce greater quantities of quality products in less time by making the best use of the available people, machines, equipment, resources and materials.

The Method
Participants are taught how to break down jobs into their constituent processes. They question details and develop new methods by eliminating, combining, and rearranging these details.

The Outcomes
The outcome from a Job Methods program is a clearly defined process for continuous improvement within a business.

TWI Qualifications

The qualifications of Victor Johnson, are results of formal certification and implementation experience within many businesses over more than 2 decades. He was certified by the Industrial Training Service as a firm's TWI Trainer within New Zealand Forest Products for Job Instruction, Job Relations, and Job Methods. He was subsequently trained and certified as a Industrial Training Service TWI Trainer of TWI Trainers within New Zealand Forest Products.

History of TWI Development

The Training Within Industry Scheme was developed during WWII by the Allied governments of Canada, United Kingdom, and the United States of America. The purpose was to have an effective and efficient system that could be universally applied within industries for speedy training of the work forces in production of supplies and materials needed for the war effort.

After the war, the TWI Scheme was retained in the United Kingdom and the USA. It was later introduced into New Zealand where it was administered by the Industrial Training Service of the then Department of Labour.

Summary

In the early 1950's the TWI Scheme was introduced from the USA into Japan as a means to boost business and economic recovery following its defeat in WWII. The three TWI programs are the core of the Toyota Production System.

Some of the TWI Scheme elements are the foundation of the LEAN Managament concept.

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Copyright ©. All rights reserved. 2012. Premier Strategics Ltd, Hamilton, New Zealand. Updated 15 January 2013.