A manufacturing company employs several maintenance employees. When a problem occurs with the equipment, a maintenance employee receives a description of the symptoms and is supposed to locate and fix the source of the problem. The company recently installed a new, complex electronics system. To prepare its maintenance workers, the company provided classroom training. The trainer displayed electrical drawings of system components and posed problems about the system. The trainer would point to a component in a drawing and ask, "What would happen if this component were faulty?" Trainees would study the diagram, describe the likely symptoms, and discuss how to repair the problem.
Suppose the maintenance supervisor has complained that trainees are having difficulty troubleshooting problems with the new electronic system. They are spending a great deal of time on problems with the system and coming to the supervisor with frequent questions that show lack of understanding. The supervisor is convinced that employees are motivated to learn the system and they are well qualified. What do you think might be the problems with the current training program? What recommendations can your make for improving the program?