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Multiskilling
This unit of work addresses aspects of the following syllabus outcomes:
A student:
H1.1 investigates industry through the study of businesses in one focus area
H1.2 identifies appropriate equipment, production and manufacturing techniques and describes the impact of new and developing technologies in industry
H6.2 applies the principles of quality and quality control
H7.1 evaluates the impact of the focus area industry on the social and physical environment.
Extract from Stage 6 Industrial Technology Syllabus © Board of Studies NSW 1999.
multiskilling – noun the development of a number of skills from which workers may earn a livelihood.
Source: The Macquarie Concise Dictionary (1994) The Macquarie Company.
A more common definition of multiskilling is where labour organisation is structured so that workers possess a range of skills appropriate for use on a project or within an organisation.
A multiskilled worker is an individual who possesses or acquires a range of skills and knowledge and applies them to work tasks that may fall outside the traditional boundaries of his or her original training. This does not necessarily mean that a worker obtains or possesses high-level skills in multiple technology areas. However, the worker can be an effective and productive contributor to the work output of several traditional training disciplines.
Some of the reasons for the introduction of multiskilling include:
- to increase labour productivity
- cater for the declining number of tradespeople and cater for a critical skill shortage
- create a more flexible labour force able to meet challenges, improve project performance and better utilise the current pool of skilled workers
- to utilise labour so that workers possess a range of skills suitable for more than one work process
- develop competency within the workforce and allow full deployment of qualifications across the industry
- assign workers tasks based on their ability to perform the needed skill and not restricted by traditional job descriptions or work boundaries.
Problems that affect multiskilling are both basic and practical. Basic problems are difficult to overcome and include limits on human skill retention and the difficulty of maintaining a multiskilled workforce from a management and financial viewpoint. Practical impediments include the organisational requirements, production management structure, resistance to change, qualifications requirements and the acceptance of multiskilling in both union and non-union work sites.
What is meant by the term, multiskilling?
Advantages of multiskilling
- Flexibility
Workers who are able to perform a large number of tasks can fill in for other workers, increasing workforce flexibility.
- Communicatio
Knowledge of various tasks can increase the understanding of other tasks and improve coordination.
- Positive effects on innovation
The processes of improving design concepts are easier because of the individuals ‘multi’ knowledge.
- Employment security
A multiskilled workforce is not as threatened if skills become obsolete because of new technology.
- Project efficiency
Through the increased level of multiskilling, work can be reorganised so that it can be performed most efficiently. Multiskilled workers carry projects through, sometimes all the way from start to finish often taking ‘project ownership’.
- Competitive market
Cost saving are passed onto the customer, through the decrease of labor cost due to reduction of turnaround time and number of workers involved.
- Management effectiveness
Multiskilling is most valuable in the areas of management. Here it effects the reduction of product completion time (e.g. reduced subsequent production line delays), the decrease of project planning time (e.g. only one employee has to learn the details of the project), and the cutback of administration costs (e.g. faster completion of pay claims and materials billing).
A company experiencing financial
difficulties is attempting to trade out of the problems. One idea is to retrench
staff to reduce production costs, but it is decided to introduce multiskilling
to help solve the financial problems.
Explain how multiskilling may reduce production costs and relieve the financial pressure.
Access the web site at
http://www.employment-studies.co.uk/summary/summary.php?id=336 
and find the document Productive skills for Process Operatives.
The document looks at the multiple skills
required for an operative in this industry. List these skills.
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