Cross training. At some point in our professional warehouse careers we have all done it. Sometimes it can be a pleasant, organized opportunity with goals, timelines, and even a structured checklist supervised by an over enthusiastic trainer.
Most of time however, it is shadowing a team lead, maybe taking notes, maybe not, or perhaps just some good old fashion OJT (on the job training). I would like to propose a different approach to cross training.
First lets ask, why do we cross train? Of course one answer is that we want a more versatile, experienced, educated and proficient work force. Cross training helps us accomplish that goal. Traditionally we, as the managers, identify one up and comer, a raising star in the department. Someone we trust to be ambitious and mature enough to start the long climb up the proverbial department food chain. We then pair that individual with a department veteran and some version of the above scenarios plays out. The result is we now have an added asset in our department to help when the work load increases or to fill in for time off, etcetera, etcetera, and there is nothing wrong with this traditional version of cross training.
But what if we could do more with cross training? What if we could cross train the entire department while still identifying and recognizing that raising star in the department? How much more could our warehouse benefit from this version of cross training? These are the questions I asked myself and below I will describe the cross training program I instituted with great success.
Let me revisit our first question. Why do we cross train? Most of what I stated above remains true, but doing so the traditional way can be slow, and can consume man hours. We all know how valuable man hours are, a slowed down warehouse is not an efficient warehouse.
I wanted to take cross training a step further. I don't just want a stronger workforce, I want the best work force. I want everyone on my team to be ready to step into my shoes should the need arise. Of course it is not feasible for me to cross train my entire department to do exactly what I do on a daily basis. What I can do, however, is give my team some tools to become future professional warehouse managers. I can combine a review of current processes, preparing the members of my team for advancement, and cross training of my entire department all into one step.
How do I accomplish this? It's simple. I identify anyone in my department and I inform them that in two weeks they will be giving the rest of the department a twenty to thirty minute class on what roll they play in the warehouse and how their process works. In short, what they do and how they do it.
This person is now going to gain experience in the areas of creating a presentation, public speaking, process mapping, process review, and process maintenance. Your employee is going to review his or her own daily processes on a level that, most likely, they have never done before and then teach that processes to others. Don't believe that last statement? Take a minute and write down how you get dressed in the morning. Do you start with socks? Right foot first or left foot first? Or do you start with your shirt? Now you're thinking about the first step to something you do every single day without conscious thought and you have done this processes for most of your life.
Imagine all the hidden department benefits that could come from this type of process review or cross training. Oh, and lets not forget that he/she is teaching this processes to your entire department giving you the added benefit of cross training everybody at one time.
So the idea in my system of cross training is for the one individual to learn a multitude of new skills, and for multiple people to have exposure to a process in the department that they may be unfamiliar with.
Of course I provide guidance for my team in the form of a previously created template or example class. This acts as a guide for those with less experience creating and presenting. It also helps to keep the presentation focused. I schedule time to meet with the identified individual a minimum of four times before the class start date and offer guidance for the finished product. Doing so gives me, as the department manager, the opportunity to review the process under a microscope and work on my leadership and mentoring skills. It also allows the individual some practice time in a controlled environment. It is critical to be a subject matter expert before giving this type of presentation. These meetings will help give the individual the confidence they need to become such an expert. It is equally critical that you, as the mentor, are there to lend a hand if things start to go astray.
Each class ends with some questions and answers about the process. I ask if anyone would like to volunteer for the next class, then I ask if anyone would like to preform the process they just learned about in the days ahead.
An added benefit to this system of cross training is team building. Everyone will eventually give a class so the presenter is presenting to an empathetic audience. An empathetic audience is an attentive audience and of course some processes will be repeated by different presenters, but when it comes to learning new processes there is nothing better then a little repetition. Not to mention I get to spend some great one on one time working with the members of my staff.
The world of supply chain / warehousing is changing. Everything is going to speed up. We are going to need our workforce to be up to speed in all areas of our departments sooner then later and new leaders will have to emerge to fill the demands of a faster more efficient world. I believe my system, or any system that promotes sharing of information and education in our area of expertise can be part of that evolution.
Like what you read? See my other post at:
http://thepallet-jack.blogspot.com/2015/11/the-most-valuable-asset-in-warehouse.html
My name is Matt Austin. I am a Professional Warehouse Manager. I greatly enjoy all areas of warehouse process improvement, and sharing ideas. Please feel free to contact me with any warehouse situations you may be experiencing for some outside perspective. Thank you for reading!
No comments:
Post a Comment