| dc.description.abstract | This field project for the Masters of Science in Engineering Management at the University of
Kansas was designed to provide a layout for a training program for the Sales Department of Great
Western Manufacturing. It began with a literature review on how adults learn, the types of training
programs available, and information on designing training programs. Through the literature review,
it was determined that adults learn best through repetition and scenario based training.
A questionnaire was distributed to the Sales staff and production managers at Great Western
Manufacturing. The questionnaire was focused on the opinions of both veteran employees and new
staff within the Sales department. Based on the idea that the production staff would know better
where sales lacked at delivering the necessary information for production, a second questionnaire
was created for production supervisors to get a sense of what the supervisors thought should be
included in the sales training program. The questionnaire focused on what training employees felt
was needed in a training program for the Sales department. It also asked employees what they felt
would be the best method of training for the training program
The Sales staff found five areas to focus training: internal systems, technical aspects of Great
Western equipment, sieves and flows, customer/industry information, and competitor information.
Overwhelmingly, production managers found the area in greatest need of training attention
concerned documentation and order descriptions. Both groups found formal structured training
with some hands on training to be the best methods of delivery.
Based on the information provided by the literature review and questionnaire, a training plan
was developed for the Sales department of Great Western Manufacturing. The plan includes the
content of the program, mode of delivery, roles and responsibilities, and the preliminary schedule. | |
