Developing a Systematic Cross-Training Model for Production in Fluctuating Demand

In order to attain competitive position in the market, manufacturing organisations have to be able to adapt their processes to the changing situations they encounter. Organisations have to be arranged in a manner that they are capable of meeting demands for speed, flexibility, creativity, multidimensionality and complex solutions, otherwise they are unable to handle the complexity and rapidity with which the external factors are changing. The aim of this study is to construct a systematic cross-training model that is applicable to production environment in which demand is fluctuating. The model includes definition of cross-training need in the case company and a cross-training programme. The programme consists of the selection of trainees and the planning of training and maintenance. The practical implementation of the model was initiated in the case company. The gained empirical evidence showed that a model can be developed in a systematic manner and resource binding training can be implemented in an environment where the capacity is periodically utilised at a high degree. The gain of successful implementation of the model is a reduction in the overtime work costs. The case study was conducted in a plant of international Electronics Manufacturing Services (EMS) company. The empirical study included historical demand calculation and plotting, interviewing the workers, issuing two questionnaires and data collection from various documents.fi=Kokotekstiversiota ei ole saatavissa.|en=Fulltext not available.|sv=Fulltext ej tillgänglig