Are Your Employees Cross-Trained?

Smaller companies often have individuals who are cross-trained to take over for someone who is out sick or on vacation. Companies who do not cross-train are missing out on a great learning opportunity. Everyone thinks their job is the hardest in the company. They don’t understand when someone in another department takes a ‘long time’ to get something done that they think should have taken only minutes to complete.

I’ve been fortunate to have been asked to assist in other departments when they are short handed. It has given me a whole new perspective on other people’s jobs and responsibilities and the true effort they need to do their jobs. We’ve all heard the old saying that we should not criticize another until we have ‘walked in their shoes’. This holds true for their work shoes as well.

Cross-training also enlightens you on how the company’s processes flow and how the work a person does in one department effects other individuals and their jobs in another department. I highly recommend cross-training for all companies. It will also add value to your organization by increasing the number of trained employees you have for the various positions.

The author, Marge Bonura, is the Director of Sales & Marketing for New England Machinery, Inc. (NEM). NEM is a leading packaging machinery manufacturer of bottle unscramblers, cappers, orienters, retorquers, lidders, pluggers, pump sorter/placers, scoop feeders, hopper elevators and much more. The company has been in business since 1974 selling to the food, beverage, pharmaceutical, personal care, chemical, household products, automotive and other industries. For more information on NEM, visit their website at www.neminc.com.