All Member Open Forum

Can someone tell me of any books on Converting from Single Craft to Multi Craft Technicians? My plant is currently single craft and I am looking into pathways to Multi Craft. I know you can't do this overnight.

------------------------------
David Skarupa
Reliability Manager
Domtar Personal Care
Columbus OH
------------------------------

@David Skarupa I think is purely management. 1st proper change management strategy and implementation. Secondly we use 3x3 skill matrix as your people will be on a programme to learn 3 crafts/skills which will make them fluid and the team efficient. This also translates to better succession plan implementation. Hope this helps.

---------------------------------
Stanley Aroyame

AB-INBEV
---------------------------------

That can be a tricky change and there are many factors.  

First is this a union plant?  Management will need to partner with the union to make this a success.  Even if it is not a union plant, still involve the craft leadership in the process.

What is meant by muliti-craft?  For some it means a tech doing mechanical and electrical work.  For others it means combining millwright, pipe fitter, welding, machinist, etc crafts into just mechanical craft and the similar for electrical.

Changing this will mean redefining what your tech levels are and the maintenance progression  plan is.  This is a good time to also reset some standards among your organization around what is a millwright and how will you qualify someone for it.  Many times this also may involve rescaling pay at each new tech level.

Another tip for your existing staff, is to not to adjust their tech level or pay down to any new definitions.  Grandfather these guys in.  If you want a change to fail, make a 30 year vet requalify for the new multicraft positions.  You can still have them do training to develop the new skills but leave them at the current level and pay.

------------------------------
Randy Riddell, CMRP, PSAP, CLS
Reliability Manager
Essity
Cherokee AL
------------------------------

I agree with Randall it is very important to involve the crafts leads. I would put a plan together first to have a good basis for discussion.  You should outline for them the "The Need" (why this change)  and what the "to be" will look like for them.  They need to understand what this will do for them and their work.

------------------------------
Deborah Rose
Manager, Asset Management Initiatives
St. Paul MN
------------------------------