Newsletter March 05
MVATC is proud to be a sponsor of the Second Annual Mohawk Valley Business Plan Competition. The competition officially kicks off in January and entrepreneurs have until March 25, 2005 to submit their plans. The winning business plan will be awarded a $10,000 cash prize and another $10,000 in business services. The contest is open to individuals who live, work or attend college in Oneida and Herkimer Counties. Companies less than two years old with less than $2 million in annual sales that are headquartered in the two counties are also eligible to apply. Read the Article...
Do Your Supervisors Lead or Cover
The role of a supervisor, especially a front line supervisor, is to translate the goals of the
organization into direct action. Promotion to supervisor is often a reward to a good worker.
That is a very appropriate act but sometimes it results in the loss of a good worker and the
acquiring of a bad supervisor. The skills needed for these jobs are very different. Often
lack of supervisory skills is masked by the leader doing too much of the work and covering for
the rest of the team. That happens because he/she has the job skills, not the skills to lead
the team. This results in a suboptimum performance.
Training Within Industries (TWI) was developed to meet this need. This comprehensive training
program provides classroom and hands on training that develops supervisors into the leaders
that you need. At the same time, most companies find that the enhanced skills provide an
immediate return on investment.
TWI uses the term "supervisor" in a broad sense to include team leaders, lead persons group
leaders, service providers, etc. Any reference to the word supervisor in the TWI program
refers to any person who is in charge of people, trains/instructs, or directs the work of
others.
When producing goods and services, each person has a role. The role of a supervisor
is to have production go smoothly while producing a quality product at the lowest cost.
Production here includes every kind of work, not only manufacturing, but indirect work
including office work and other services.
The Five Needs of a Supervisor
TWI has identified five needs of a supervisor required to perform the position. These needs
include two types of knowledge and three types of skills.
1. Knowledge of Work
Knowledge of work is unique and differs from job to job. This knowledge includes the
technical aspect of the job and can include anything from the machine calibration settings for
a production employee to the appropriate form for a purchasing clerk. Even routine jobs
require an increase in knowledge day by day. TWI recognizes that the company must meet this
need.
2. Knowledge of Responsibilities
Each supervisory position has set levels of responsibilities and authorities. This knowledge
consists of company policies, practices, agreements, regulations, safety rules, production
plans, sales plans, interdepartmental relationships, etc. Supervisors' responsibilities may
differ for each company or plant. Therefore, every supervisor needs to understand completely
his responsibilities and authorities. TWI recognizes that only the company can meet this need.
SKILLS
3. Skill in Instructing
The skill in how to instruct employees is essential for all supervisors. A supervisor who can
effectively train his/her workers will help those people quickly to obtain the ability to work
on their own. When this skill is acquired, the team will pull together to reduce the number
of defects, rejects and rework. Properly trained employees will help reduce the number of
accidents and the amount of equipment and tool damage... The Job Instruction Training (JI)
component of TWI teaches this skill.
4. Skill in Improving Methods
This skill enables supervisors to break down their work into small parts to examine the
details. Using this breakdown, people will be able to improve the work methods by
eliminating, combining, rearranging or simplifying these details. Through continuous use
of this skill, the company will utilize the available workforce, machines and materials more
effectively to achieve greater production of good quality products. The Job Methods Training
(JM) component TWI teaches this skill.
5. Skill in Leading
Skill in leading allows supervisors to have good relationships with and among people. This
skill helps the supervisor get the necessary cooperation from other people so that the work
is carried out effectively. Since the result of a supervisor's work depends on the output of
other people, cooperation is crucial. He or she can get the necessary cooperation from others
by using this skill in leading. Daily use of this skill reduces problems. If problems do
arise, by using this skill the supervisor will be able to solve them effectively. The Job
Relations Training (JR) component of TWI teaches this skill.
The general philosophy of TWI is to get the most out of your workforce, you need to get the
most out of your supervisors. Don’t just reward good workers with promotions, give them the
tools they need to be a success. MVATC wants to be a part of that success. For more
information, contact Paul MacEnroe at (315) 793-8050 or Paul MacEnroe