| Many companies strive to improve performance but are unable to quantify the impact of training on performance. The purpose of this quantitative study was to determine the gains in performance achieved by implementing standard work practices and a specialized training plan in an environment where quality is critical. To achieve this purpose, an experiment was performed where training treatments were applied over 3 time intervals to the exact same group of workers. The dependent variables of quality and productivity were measured before the first training and following each training treatment. The theoretical framework of this research was based on the principles of scientific management which link methods improvements, formal industrial training, and change management to influence worker behavior. The research question addressed whether the 3 trainings affected quality and productivity scores. The 3 trainings represented the multilevel independent variable; performance scores were conceptualized in the areas of foreign material contamination, product handling practices, and equipment readiness. A repeated measures MANOVA was used to determine whether the group of workers (N = 108) improved over time following each training. From the results, which showed significant improvement in quality scores and insignificant gain in productivity scores, one can determine the return on investment of utilizing a repeated training design. The positive social change implications of this research are to provide quantifiable benefits of training to improve employee readiness and reduce cost in a manufacturing firm, which will lead towards improved job stability within the local community. |
