Training & Development Assessment for Ford Motor Company Human Essay

Training & Development Assessment for Ford Motor Company Human Resources Department - Essay Example The objectives of the Ford automaker are basically to consolidate its brand image, get closer to its customers and ensure customer satisfaction through high quality products and service. Staff training is essential, because the need for effective employees becomes greater, demanding both initial and continuous training. Ford Company has entered a new phase of sustained growth which should last for over 10 years. Historically, the demand for new automotive service technicians has been critical. Those entering the industry with recognized credentials can accelerate their career. This profile will dramatically change in the next few years as higher quality cars produced by foreign venture auto makers begin to take over the main share of the car parc. To support this growth and shift in vehicle make-up, the Ford structure and key players will also change dramatically. This dynamism could offer attractive opportunity to foreign companies in the parts and service businesses. For Ford Company training is necessary to ensure an adequate supply of staff who are technically and socially competent, and capable of career advancement into specialist departments or management positions. There is, therefore, a continual need for the process of staff development, and training fulfils an important part of this process. Training should be viewed, therefore, as an integral pan of the process of total quality management. Organizational level. In a time of rapidly changing technologies and ever-shorter product life cycles, product development often proceeds at a glacial pace. In an age of the customer, order fulfillment has high error rates and customer enquiries go unanswered for weeks. In a period when asset utilization is critical, inventory levels exceed many months of demand (Bateman, Snell, 2004). The usual methods of boosting performance - process rationalization and automation - haven't yielded the dramatic improvements for Ford Company need. In particular, heavy investments in information technology have delivered disappointing results - largely because companies tend to use technology to mechanize old ways of doing business. According to the survey provided by Ford (www.ford.com) the quantity of defective articles and spoilage are rather high because many new employees feel lack of experience to perform a particular type of work. This situation is observed in Fords' subsidiaries located in less developed countries. For instance, the level of spoilage caused by welding and sanding is about 20 % (permissible level is about 5-7%). In this very case, training is therefore a key element of improved organisational performance as it increases the level of individual and organisational competence. It helps to reconcile the gap between what should happen, and desire-targets and standards of performance; and what is happening and levels of work performance. Personal level. In Ford company performance deficiencies result from motivational problem which is closely connected with lack of skills. To improve this situation Ford Company needs to train employees taking into account rapid environmental changes. The purpose of training is to improve knowledge and skills, and to change negative attitude towards training activities. This can lead to many potential benefits for both individuals and the organisation. Training can: increase the confidence, motivation and commitment of staff;