December 2009

Ask the Training Expert
By Sheree’ Evans-Metcalf

Q: Should training take place in a formal training situation or on the job? 

A: During the last PMMI Certified Trainer Class that I facilitated at Pack Expo in Las Vegas, one of the OEMs stated that he never has classroom training—all of his training takes place at the machine.

The decision of where training should occur is important, and should be in line with the goals that are to be accomplished as part of the PMMI Certified Trainer program.

In a formal classroom presentation, the trainer has a better opportunity to talk with the trainees, to learn more about their experiences with the job or with the machine on which they are to be trained. It also gives the trainer an opportunity to prepare trainees for the training, with training aids that can be used to accomplish this objective.

The first lesson in a training program is very important. When the trainer and trainee meet for the first time, a rapport is established between the two of them. The atmosphere for the whole training program can be set within a few minutes. The idea is to give trainees a complete overview of what will be occurring, with “no secrets and no surprises.” Having set the stage in the classroom, the trainer can present the subject matter, and then lead the class into the on-th- job training portion of the program.

The on-the-job training portion of PMMI’s Certified Training Workshop gives trainees the opportunity to see the skills demonstrated, and then perform the tasks by themselves. The saying that comes to mind is: “I hear and I forget, I see and I remember, I do and I understand.”

At the end of the training program, the trainer should make a conscious effort to evaluate the success of the program. The trainer should remain open-minded and receptive to criticism. If the trainer is open to criticism and analyzes objectively how he or she is doing, his or her program will improve and become truly meaningful.

Sheree’ Evans-Metcalf is the owner of S.E.M. Consulting Group, LLC. She currently is a teacher for the PMMI Certified Trainer Program.