Some time ago it became necessary to increase the number of skilled
mechanics in the steel spring business and a company in Detroit
segregated a group of handymen under a skilled mechanic to see if
they could acquire the necessary skill in a period less than three
years which was then the admitted necessary time for complete
apprenticeship. The plan had the assistance of a man trained in
teaching methods but without large knowledge of the special business
in hand. After four weeks’ training an operator was put on production
work who equalled the average mechanic in this line of work and who
in three months was leading the production of the shop. This initial
success led to the establishment of schooling as the proper method of
securing skilled help in this factory.
The elements most desirable in industrial training are:
1. Separation of the training department from production so as to
avoid interference with production and also interference with the
operators in training.
2. Supplying a full knowledge of the special business or trade
through an instructor fully trained.
3. Supplying a full knowledge of teaching methods through an
instructor who can act as a vehicle for the transfer of trade
information in simple language to the new operators.
4. Application of the students’ time to learning one simple
operation, preferably on a subdivided operation.
5. Application of the student’s time to learning the free operation
of the tool together with opportunity to try its operation on some
personally chosen work.
6. Satisfactory high scale of wage, but one which can be exceeded in
actual production.