Training my Quality Staff of 4 Inspectors (plus 4 Specialty Inspectors)

[realchrisforce]

Just took over a staff of 4 inspectors (plus 4 specialty inspectors) who weren't given proper training on our product line, incoming inspection protocol, and a few other aspects of our QA system. Needless to say I've had my share of push back, but I'm just looking for some advice on how one might proceed to teach and train a staff who have little to no background/formal training QA/QC or technical knowledge?

 

[silentrunning]

Re: Training Help

I would start with a solid list of requirements. Until you know exactly what the requirements are, you can't really say the people don't meet them.

 

[RoxaneB]

Once you have your list of requirements (i.e., who needs to know what), you can assess their competence. If you discover a person is competent at a required task, indicate so on a checklist or matrix...and directly to that person.

If there is room for improvement, I suggest working with the individual (or the team, if applicable) on developing an action plan to gain the necessary skill set. Something like 30-, 60-, 90-, 120-day plan.

At the same time, you'll also need to determine how much additional training will cost. The company may not want to send everyone on a course that is off-site. One thing I've seen done is a group 'book study'. Everyone reads the same book and a person is selected, at random, each week to report on the chapter that was to have been read. The group then discusses if they agree, if they can do/implement, etc.

 

[realchrisforce]

I did start by making a list of test equipment that everyone should be trained on how to know. Everyone should be proficient with each piece of test equipment at least in terms of how it works and what it's doing.
The other problem i have though is a push-back of not wanting to learn, not wanting to follow protocols, and i have a difficult time in breaking bad habits left by by predecessor.

 

[silentrunning]

Chris, In a perfect world it would be the job of Top Management to ensure that ALL employees followed protocols and did not develop bad attitudes but we know that isn't always the case. You have to be a salesman as well as a Quality Manager. Not an enviable task but if you can pull it off, you will greatly increase your value to your company.