TWI Blog

This blog is dedicated to asking and answering questions that pertain to the use of the Training Within Industry Program and it’s J-Programs. As a learning community, let’s explore how we might all become better practitioners of our craft and build the knowledge base of regarding TWI.

Implementing TWI – Part 6 – The Training’s Complete – Now What?

Posted on by Roger Bilas

In previous posts we discussed some of the issues involved in preparing and holding your first TWI workshops. In Part 6, we will discuss the actions most helpful for following up and reinforcing the skills learned in the workshops. We will focus on three main areas in this post:
1. Picking the tasks to train – the Training Timetable
2. Self-Efficacy and Coaching
3. Practice, Practice, Practice

One of the most critical keys to a successful TWI implementation, especially if you Continue reading →

The Bilas Group Releases Their Job Instruction Training Kit

Posted on by Roger Bilas

The Bilas Group, LLC is proud to announce the release of our Job Instruction (JI) Training Kit. The kit contains everything you’ll need to conduct your own Job Instruction 10-Hour Workshop. You’ll receive the Trainer’s Guide, 10 Participant Guides, 10 JI Pocket Cards, a DVD containing videos of Roger Bilas delivering the materials, all the forms you’ll need in electronic format, and all the training aids necessary for the demonstrations. For the month of May, the kit is being offered for an introductory low price of $350, a discount of $149. It can be purchased from our on-line store.

After 100’s of deliveries in manufacturing, service and administrative settings, I decided it was time for everyone to be able to provide the JI 10-Hour course to their people at a reasonable cost. We went back to the original materials, Continue reading →

Implementing TWI – Part 5 – Tips for Conducting the JI Workshop

Posted on by Roger Bilas

In Part 5 of our series on implementing the Training Within Industry program, we will focus on conducting your first TWI workshop.  In an earlier installment we recommended starting with Job Instruction or a combination of Job Instruction and Job Relations workshops.  We’ve discussed where to start and how to set goals to provide guidance and motivation for the target area.  We gave criteria on determining who to include in the training and scheduling the first workshop.  In this post we will focus on some tips to make your training go smoothly and be most effective.

When training any of the TWI J-programs, the first session should be kicked off by the senior Continue reading →

Implementing TWI – Part 4 – Scheduling the Initial TWI Training

Posted on by Roger Bilas

In our previous posts we discussed which TWI J-program to start with (we recommended JI or JI and JR, concurrently), where and how to focus your efforts in a target area, and who to select for the training.  In this installment we’ll talk about the scheduling options for your JI workshops.  If you are starting out with only JI, one of the best scheduling options is to have a JI workshop first thing in the morning and another one late in the day.  Our preference is to try to maintain natural workgroup integrity.  You’ll be able to have between 6-10 participants Continue reading →

Appliance Maker Uses JI to Smooth New Model Transition

Posted on by Roger Bilas

A manufacturer of consumer appliances used JI training to help train its people on updated procedures in one of their value streams.  The result was a model update on the line without any productivity loss.  Normally, when the production procedures and instructions are updated, productivity is negatively impacted as people learn and become practiced in the new ways of doing the work.  This loss during train-up was avoided by their use of JI and off-line training.  Prior to the changeover, the organization called The Bilas Group in to conduct a JI training workshop.  After receiving the initial training, they designated primary trainers for Continue reading →