On The Job Training

Presentation by Mark
Hoxmeier

What will be covered

On-the-job-training defined
How on-the-job-training can be used
in your organization
On-the-job-training explained
How it works
A real world example
An exercise
Summary

What is on-the-jobtraining?
On-the-job-training (OJT) is
simply the training that an
employee receives at work
during the normal work day
458)

(Foster,p.

How can OJT be used in

your organization?

To teach a single skill or task

Multiple programs
Used to help teach tasks within
a work process
Used in conjunction with other
types of training procedures
(Foster, p. 411)

On-the-job-training
explained
OJT is very important to todays
businesses because of:

Greater emphasis on the value of formal

education and training programs
Advanced learning must be grounded in
real-world curricula
Investment in human capitol is perceived
by many to add shareholder value
(Vital Speeches of the Day, p.418)

OJT explained (cont.)

Information is not training

Employers must have insight as
to how individuals learn
Employees learn through:

Practice
Feedback
Guidance

(Franchising World, p. 25)

OJT explained (cont.)

Different kinds of instructional goals
require different instructional
strategies
The trainer needs to focus on output
rather than the training program
itself
Effective training design
Necessary knowledge and skills
Setting in which job is performed

OJT explained (cont.)

Training must be done in a manner to
assure that the participant
completes the training with:
A high sense of value for what they have
learned
High competence in their ability to perform
the task for which they were trained
High levels of confidence in their ability to
perform the trained skill
(Franchising World, p.26)

OJT and the Internet

Using the Internet as an OJT tool

Mobile
Helpful in time-pressed situations
Good for self-motivated employees
Eager to master skills on own-terms
Supplement for traditional instructor-led
training

(Upside, p.165)

How OJT works

Structured OJT

Prepare the trainee

Present the training
Require a response
Provide feedback
Evaluate performance
(Quality, p.84)

Prepare the trainee

Explain the purpose

Determine prerequisites
In applicable cases, explain general
safety and quality issues
Explain how training will be done
Try to set trainee at ease and solicit
questions

Present the training

Position the trainee

Provide overview of process and
steps involved
Include safety and quality issues
again
Describe and demonstrate
Summarize

Require a response and

provide feedback
Simultaneous actions in the
structure of OJT
Establish a level of
understanding with the trainee
so you can get honest and open
response

Evaluate performance

Value the trainees opinions

Quantifiable output

Structured OJT is one of the

preventive expenses that will
help reduce, if not eliminate, the
cost of failure (Quality, p.84)

A real world example in

the aerospace industry
(Training, p.76)

What was the issue?

What caused the problem?
How OJT helped the problem

What was the issue?

Certified aerospace inspectors
continually failed to detect
serious flaws in metal
components

What caused the

problem?
The inspectors were not
properly operating the test
equipment
The method for teaching the
inspector was by watching
another inspector who had more
experience with the machine

How OJT helped

Developed simple procedures for
the task
Identified and document best
practices
Training professional used the
documentation to train
Fostered an environment of
communication and learning

A Simple Exercise
You will need two other
individuals to help emphasize
the importance of OJT
With the first individual,
separately show him/her how to
fold a particular style of paper
airplane. SHOW ONLY.

Exercise (cont.)
With the second individual:

Show as well as allow individual to follow

along w/ his/her own paper
Use a documented step by step procedure
Encourage questions and communication

Then let both try to reproduce

Unless, the first individual already
knows that style of airplane he/she
will probably have more difficulty
reproducing it

Summary
OJT is important because it
grounded in real-life practice
Employees learn through practice,
feedback, and guidance
Structured OJT includes preparing
the trainee, presenting the training,
requiring a response, providing
feedback, evaluating performance.

Bibliography
Foster, S. Thomas. Managing Quality: An Integrative
Approach. New Jersey: Prentice Hall, 2001.
Franklin, Harriet. Five Steps to Effective Training.
Franchising World Sep./Oct. 1999: 24-26.
Greenspan, Alan. Investments in Human Capitol.
Vital Speeches of the Day 1 May 2000: 418-420.
Suzik, Holly Ann. On-The-Job Training: Do It Right!
Quality Nov. 1999: 84.
Terry, Lisa. On The Job Training. Upside May 2000:
165-174.
Walter, Diane. A View From the Floor. Training Jul.
2001: 76.