Saint Louis University

School of Engineering and Architecture

Department of Industrial Engineering

Case Study
On-the-Job Training at Buenaobras Machine Shop

Submitted By:
Gatchalian, Michael Angelo

Submitted To:
Engr. Ma. Corazon Ocampo, MSME

Date Due:November 3, 2016

Date Submitted: November 3, 2016

I.

Background of Case
Buenaobras machine shop emloys about 300 people. During the summer
months,production volume significantly increases and the company needs to hire about
40new employees to handle the heavy workload. Most of these new employees
arecollege and high school student who are on summer vacation.
II.

Statement of the Problem

The company frequently hires employees who are college and high school
student who are on summer vacation to handle the heavy workload when the production
volume significantly increases.
Though this is recurrent, the company still doesnt have a system for orientation
and on-the-job training for newly hired employees making the company experience a
rash of injuries to its employees.
III.

Presentation of Facts
All newly hired employees are asked to fill up the companys application form
theninstructed to go directly to the manufacturing site ready to start on their first day
ofwork. They receive no orientation. The workers are shown to a working station
andafter a minimum amount of on-the-job training, they are expected to start
performingthe job. Most of the jobs are quite simple and hence, training is completed
within 5 to10 minutes.
The company has had excellent experience with the students over the years.
Much ofthe success can be attributed to the older workers coming to the aid of the
newemployees when troubles or difficulties arise.
One summer, the company experienced a rash of injuries to its employees.
Althoughmost of the injuries were minor, the company felt it imperative to conduct a
series ofshort training programs on safe material- handling techniques. The company
was at aloss as to who should conduct the training.Out of desperation, the president
asked Jonathan Andres, one of the first linesupervisors to conduct the training.
Jonathan had recently attended a trainingprogram on safety and was aca
IV.
Presentation of alternative Solution
In order to come up with a properly planned and systematic training program, the
supervisor should:
a.

List learning styles and needs of his target population, which in this case are
the newly hired employees who are college and high school students.

b.

Incorporate training buddies who are a seasoned staff who are assigned for
segments of an on-the-job Training Day to a new worker. The role of the
training buddy will be to teach and guide the new employee, set as a
model to the new employee, oversee and ensure that the new employee is
doing the job properly following the companys safety protocol, and to
communicate and to provide a realistic picture of what the new employee
should do to accomplish the job correctly.

c.

V.

Select practical strategies for On the Job Training that must be creative to
keep the interest of the new employees, and that will only consume the
available resources of the company

Evaluation of Alternative Solution

a. This alternative could be advantageous in a way that the company could
ensure that the new employees will really learn from their training because
their learning styles were considered but on the other hand, this alternative
may be too vague and needs to be more specific.
b. The advantage of this alternative is that it strengthens relationships between
the old and the new employee and promotes cooperation, communication
and collaboration. But on the other hand, their will be a tendency for the
supervisor to assign the wrong training buddy who is not fit for that specific
field and who will excel better in another field assigned to another old
employee.
c. Advantage to this alternative is that it is economical but on the other hand,
this will make the program very limited.

VI.

Conclusion and Recommendation

In conclusion, since the alternatives can work good together when combined, the
management should List learning styles and needs of his target population, which in this
case are the newly hired employees who are college and high school students
incorporating training buddies who are a seasoned staff who are assigned for segments
of an on-the-job Training Day to a new worker. The role of the training buddy will be to
teach and guide the new employee, set as a model to the new employee, oversee and
ensure that the new employee is doing the job properly following the companys safety
protocol, and to communicate and to provide a realistic picture of what the new
employee should do to accomplish the job correctly considering the selection practical
strategies for On the Job Training that must be creative to keep the interest of the new
employees, and that will only consume the available resources of the company.
VII. Answers to Questions
Help the company president solve the problem by following the steps below:
1. State the main problem of Buenaobras Machine Shop
The company still doesnt have a system for orientation and on-the-job
training for newly hired employees though they are frequently hiring high school
and college students on vacation during peak seasons causing rash of injuries to
its employees due to lack of orientation.
2. State the different areas of consideration following the guide below:

Strengths of the Company

The company has had excellent experience with the students over the
years. Much ofthe success can be attributed to the older workers coming to the
aid of the newemployees when troubles or difficulties arise
Weaknesses of the Company
All newly hired employees receive no orientation. The companys training
for new employees is completed within 5 to10 minutes only.
Opportunities
The old employees have certain skills in certain aspects of the company
that can be used during training and orientation of the newly hired employees.
Threats
The company may bring more injuries to their employees that may get out of
control and that may cost them more if the company will not come up with a
properly planned training program for their newly hired employees.
3. Give your proposed solutions / alternative courses of action or ACA to help
the company president overcome the problem.
Dont forget to state the advantage and disadvantages of each solution.
a. List learning styles and needs of his target population, which in this case are the
newly hired employees who are college and high school students.
This alternative could be advantageous in a way that the company could ensure
that the new employees will really learn from their training because their learning
styles were considered but on the other hand, this alternative may be too vague
and needs to be more specific.
b. Incorporate training buddies who are a seasoned staff who are assigned for
segments of an on-the-job Training Day to a new worker. The role of the training
buddy will be to teach and guide the new employee, set as a model to the new
employee, oversee and ensure that the new employee is doing the job properly
following the companys safety protocol, and to communicate and to provide a
realistic picture of what the new employee should do to accomplish the job
correctly.
The advantage of this alternative is that it strengthens relationships between the
old and the new employee and promotes cooperation, communication and
collaboration. But on the other hand, their will be a tendency for the supervisor to
assign the wrong training buddy who is not fit for that specific field and who will
excel better in another field assigned to another old employee.

c. Select practical strategies for On the Job Training that must be creative to keep
the interest of the new employees, and that will only consume the available
resources of the company
Advantage to this alternative is that it is economical but on the other hand, this
will make the program very limited.
4. State your recommendation based on your ACA.
Since the alternatives can work good together when combined, the
management should List learning styles and needs of his target population,
which in this case are the newly hired employees who are college and high
school students incorporating training buddies who are a seasoned staff who are
assigned for segments of an on-the-job Training Day to a new worker. The role of
the training buddy will be to teach and guide the new employee, set as a model
to the new employee, oversee and ensure that the new employee is doing the job
properly following the companys safety protocol, and to communicate and to
provide a realistic picture of what the new employee should do to accomplish the
job correctly considering the selection practical strategies for On the Job Training
that must be creative to keep the interest of the new employees, and that will
only consume the available resources of the company.
5. Provide a conclusion or detailed action plan to implement your
recommendation using the guide below:
Specific Activity

Person
Responsible
List learning styles HR manager
and needs of his
target population
Selection of
First line
training buddies
supervisors
Preparation of
HR manager
training schedule

Time Frame
1 month

Budgetary
Requirement
n/a

1 week

n/a

2 weeks

n/a