Maintenance Assessment

Every business and industry in operation today depends on one thing for its existence - a well trained workforce.  Each day businesses become more and more dependent on highly automated manufacturing systems.  The companies with the brightest futures all have employees who are trained for the future. 

Currently, the challenges companies face include:  the need to improve productivity; improving machine and equipment availability; increasing applications of automation; and the corresponding need to improve the skills of the maintenance workforce.

Many of the current maintenance personnel trained over the past 20 years are either retiring, or are faced with the necessity of up-grading their skill levels to keep pace with the demands of new technologies.  Additionally, many companies are required to cross-craft and have production workers perform some basic maintenance tasks to meet the challenges of the new market place.

The Maintenance Skills Assessment Program is designed to evaluate employee’s training needs in the areas of mechanical and electrical maintenance.

What makes this program unique?

Two big reasons make this program unique. 

First – each individual is assessed in three different methods – written, oral identification and a practical hands-on demonstration. 

Second - an individual training plan is developed for each person evaluated.  The training plan is designed to provide training in deficit areas only.  Individuals needing training will receive it, but individuals not needing training will not receive it.  This allows for the maximum benefit of time and training dollars.

What evaluations are conducted?

The Maintenance Skills Assessment is a three part tool to evaluate the levels of competency of the maintenance workforce on representative tasks.  This includes:

• A comprehensive written multiple choice test covering standard maintenance knowledge and applications.  Questions are designed as Level I –covering basic knowledge of the subject; or Level 2– dealing with “shop-floor” applications.  The mechanical or electrical written portions are each completed in about four hours.

• An oral identification and applications assessment (ID) covers typical components used in maintenance activities. Employees are asked to name and describe the components and the “how and why” usage.  In conjunction with:

• A series of standard performance (hands-on) activities, in which employees are asked to perform a task according to specifications.  Employees are rated on proper tool selection and work practices. 

How are evaluation results presented?

The results of the evaluation are presented in bar graphs and printouts that give both the individual and the company a full summary with training recommendations.  Plus each individual assessed receives an individualized training prescription.

What is the Goal of the Program?

The goal of the Maintenance Skills Assessment is to improve performance, your business and the confidence and skill level of your maintenance staff.  The assessment program is not designed for use in making pre-employment, promotion, demotion, salary, and/or job qualification decisions.  It is used for training purposes only.

MAINTENANCE SKILLS TRAINING

It is often difficult to get experienced employees to participate in training programs.  Many feel the material may be too elementary, or “I haven’t done, or I don’t do this kind of work.”  Many of these employees are unaware of the future needs of expanding skills levels that will be required.  In too many cases, training programs for workers do not recognize, or are unable to measure the past experience of the employee.

To meet these challenges, the Technical College System of Georgia – Quick Start developed and constantly review over 100 performance oriented training units.  These training units provide cost-effective and relevant maintenance training for Georgia companies.  West Central Technical College and Georgia Quickstart understand the difficulties companies face in developing and providing training for the maintenance workforce. 

There are training modules available in the following areas:

Mechanical

Electrical

For more information regarding these programs, please contact Joe Hajducko, Director of Corporate Training at (770) 537-5757 or email at jhajduck@westcentraltech.edu

Return to Top