Benefits of Employee Multifunctional Cross-Training: A few tips

The Clock Maker
1899
Jefferson David Chalfant
Representing the need
to update skills to 
changing technologies.

Employee Multifunctionality allows for increasing adaptable workplaces. The world has a growing need for updated skills and training will be a big part of developing such workers to meet emerging needs. The digital era and the technologies inherent such as AI and manufacturing advancements will put pressure on workers to increase their capacities. Cross training can help meet some of those gaps through knowledge and skill breadth.

Cross training fits well with many fields and can increase the abilities and skills of employees to meet emerging demands.  This article discusses 14% of the global workforce may need to update their skills by 2030 (In some ways it makes a case for online education.). The author discusses that industries that have a need for additional updating of knowledge due to artificial intelligence and technology. How cross-training could be the solution to the growing skills gaps in tech, health care, manufacturing and beyond.

What we often find is that that cross training is more then updating skills but sometimes gives the depth and breadth that employees crave as they grow, change, and adjust in their lives. A study found that cross training employees may lead to greater retention of high quality employees and save on recruitment, selection, and staffing issues (Keep in mind there are times to recruit in-house and times to recruit from the outside.) Benefits of Cross - Training : Scale Development and Validity

Cross training also leads to increases in skill as well as additional employee retention. One provides job depth and width in a way that leads to new opportunities. In such a way we can design employee training and progression paths that continue to move to greater depth and greater application of that depth to other areas (i.e. innovation and higher human capital). The employees skills not only are enhanced (depth) but also the context and application of those skills into multiple areas (cross knowledge fostering) 

A few tips on cross-training tips....

1.) Cross train using existing skills as a bridge to new skills. i.e. they know how to build a widget using a certain tool. Can they learn to use that or a similar tool in a different situation? 

2.) Think of longer term market changes. If we know what the market is going to need in terms of skills within 5 years we can start to infuse new skills demanded by the market as well as cross train those into other functions. 

3.) Cross training with higher level process knowledge can lead to awareness of ones position in relation to similar positions in the production chain. As employees learn related positions/skills they have a greater understanding of those positions that supports efficiency and adaptability. 

4. Understand motivations and abilities of employees and enhance their interest to encourage a path of development for growth leaning employees. Keep them engaged and motivated.