Session Title

Curing the Firefighting Epidemic

Session Abstract

First-line supervisors across the country spend as much as 90% of their workday in a “firefighting” mode. Dozens of mini-disasters keep supervisors running from problem to problem, interrupted only by meetings and paperwork. Even more disconcerting is the fact that many problems are repetitive.

Hope is on the way for overloaded supervisors through proven Training Within Industry techniques making problems visible, stabilzing the process, ensuring effective training, and developing improved methods. Using an integrated approach that involves workers, supervisors, and technical departments, Hicks provides a clear path for reducing defects, creating employee involvement, and developing a stable basis for continuous improvement. Supervisors and managers from manufacturing, maintenance, engineering, and support functions will all benefit from this proven approach.

Specific Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this session, participants will learn…

• Contributors to Firefighting Behaviors

• Solutions to reduce firefighting

• An action plan

Target Audience

Presenter Biography

David Hicks is a Registered Professional Engineer with more than 20 years of experience in manufacturing, quality, training, engineering, plant management, and research & development. David has held positions in the automotive, tire, and metal fabrication industries.