Effects of visual training and visual aids on the performance of new workers on a wood products assembly line

On-the-job training (OJT) can be among the most effective ways of training workers because of its direct focus on tackling workplace challenges. However, the problem was that the effects of visual training techniques to supplement this training were not well realized. This is an important issue for companies seeking the most effective training methods for simple assembly tasks. The study's purpose was to determine the effects of two visual methods, a pre-work video training session and a large graphic sign illustrating assembly procedures. The research question was how these supplemental methods affected the performance of assembly trainees in comparison to unstructured OJT alone. The theoretical bases of this study were information processing approach and Visual Factory Management. Three groups of 12 new workers were trained for 6 days to assemble wooden tiles. The control group was trained with unstructured OJT alone, the others with unstructured OJT plus one of the visual methods. Acceptable units assembled and accuracy percentages were measured. One-way analysis of variance, Dunnett's C tests, t tests, the training evaluation, and the post-training interviews were used to analyze findings. While the workplace sign group had significantly lower productivity and accuracy than the other groups there was no significant difference for the video group. Overall, the results of this study indicate that visual supplements to OJT vary in their effectiveness. When the supplements lead to greater performance and quality from the assembly workers it benefits the overall economic system.