Dr Deming Point 13
Institute a Vigorous Program
of Education and Retraining

The free, exploring mind of the individual
is the most valuable thing in the world.
-John Steinbeck

Dr Deming Point 13 stresses continuous training of all employees within the organization. Dr Deming strongly believed in self improvement. It’s the responsibility of management and the individual to gain new skills. The individual should always look for new skills and improve his / her abilities. Management should not only encourage training but provide the means for the employee to gain new skills.

Vigorous Education

Companies spend quite a bit of money to recruit good people. It takes a significant amount of time and effort to find the right individual to match the open job.

Once that person arrives, the new employee learns their job through on the job training. After they learn the job and become proficient, the on the job training time decreases. Expectedly, the employee produces and contributes to the company’s bottom line.

Since the employee has the skills for their job, for many companies, the training stops. Why continue the training?

There are many reasons for additional education and training. Dr Deming Point 13 uses the word “Vigorous” which means dynamic. Dynamic training improves people. Improving the individual’s skillset improves the company. Educations opens the mind and makes the mind more creative. Creative minds solve problems.

Many times the solution to a problem comes from thinking outside the box. Education beyond the job’s required skill lets one gain uncommon and unique methods to solving problems.

How does your company handle education and training? Here are 4 types of company training modes

• Short Term
• Reactionary
• Benefits the Company
• Benefits All
  

Short Term

For some companies, the training stops after the initial training. Supervisors feel employees now have the skills to be productive. The company spent enough money and time on that employees training. If a employee wants to learn more then OK; as long it's on the employees own time and dime.

If you work in this type of company you may want to start looking elsewhere. This company’s short term thinking will lead to poor moral and eventual failure.

---

Reactionary

Some companies provide training only when there is a deficiency within the company. This company usually does not have any long term education plans.

For example, the company has many supervisors with expertise within their department. However these supervisors may not have supervision skills. Management finds their departments poorly organized and not running smoothly. To improve this situation, management pays to train the supervisors in leadership skills.

This reactionary type of company limits your growth. Companies in this mode spend most of thier time fighting fires and not moving forward.

---

Benefits the Company.

Most companies fit this type. In this case, they train employees in many facets of the company business. Training includes cross training between many different departments. The company plans and schedules this cross training for the employees. 

The company believes that training and education should only be issued if it can improve the company’s bottom line. If you work in a given department and want to take outside courses with regards to your department then the company grants and pays for the training. If you desire to take training outside of the company’s needs then training will not be reimbursed.

All outside training needs to be approved for reimbursement prior to taking the training.

Benefits All

This company meets Dr. Deming Point 13 Institute a Vigorous Program of Education and Retraining. This company plans and schedules training to improve the company and the individual. The company proactively encourages employees to obtain outside training. The company establishes systems to assure a dynamic training program.

The individual can take courses that improves themselves and not necessary the company. Reimbursement occurs no matter the class. The company realizes that improvement ideas come from all types of skill sets. The more educated the individual, the more it benefits the company.

The company recognizes that over time the employees’ task changes. Department transfers occur, promotions occur, departmental change occurs…In any role, changes happen naturally. To prepare for the known and unknown changes, the company must provide education for their employees. Dr Deming Point 13 stresses this.

---

Actionable Items to meet Dr Deming Point 13

1. Create a system to assure on-going training.
2. Track training for all employees and review the training.
3. No matter the course, reimburse the employee.
4. Create and execute training plans for all employees.
5. Promote education as an investment and not an expense.
6. Treat people as an asset and not a commodity.
7. Encourage training outside of the employee's skill set.