Reducing Training Costs With One-Point Lessons

One-point lessons are a simple yet powerful learningare:
and operational tool. When applied systematicallyQualityo Defective incoming material or productso
throughout the work site, one-point lessons provideCauses and prevention of defectso Materials or
many benefits. They can help deploy just-in-timeproduct specificationso Methods for finding and
knowledge and skills across an organization. They alsodiscovering abnormalities in equipment and materials
positively affect employees' abilities to perform dailyInventoryo Materials inventory control specificationso
tasks as well as improve an organization's costProduct inventory control specifications
efficiency and product quality.Equipment operationo Changeover operationo Startup
As an aid for spreading best practices company-wide,sequenceo Monitoring and inspection methodso
one-point lessons can support and enhanceShutdown and lockout/tagout sequenceo Cleaning and
improvement efforts such as Lean Management,maintenance protocols
Just-In-Time (JIT) Production, Total QualitySafetyo Emergency stopping methodso Safety
Management (TQM), and Total Productivestandards for use of tools and equipmento Reliable
Maintenance (TPM).methods to prevent accidents
One-Point LessonsMaintenanceo Cleaning procedureso Adjustment
One-point lessons are short visual presentations on aprocedureso Inspection procedureso Lubrication
single point. One-point lessons have three purposes:oprocedures
They sharpen job-related knowledge and skills byInspectiono Methods of inspectiono Acceptance
communicating information about specific problems andinspection specificationso Product inspection
improvements.o They easily share importantspecifications
information just-in-time.o They improve the team'sImprovement toolso Checklistso Cause-and-effect
performance.diagramso Control chartso Red tags
Characteristics of One-Point LessonsIn other words, whenever workers need key
One-point lessons are:o Short visual presentations on ainformation to perform their jobs, one-point lessons can
single pointo Detailed on one or two pageso Supportedbe an effective tool for delivering that information.
by diagrams, photographs, or drawingso GeneratedSharing Knowledge Among the Team
and used at the point of needTeam leaders and members who have acquired
A one-point lesson is a learning tool for communicatingspecial skills or knowledge need a way to share their
standards, problems, and improvements about workknowledge with their teammates. Rather then merely
processes and equipment. Workers and supervisorsrepeating what they have learned, they should put it in
use one-point lessons to provide key information abouta form that suits their workplace. One-point lessons
everyday work and improvement opportunities. Thus,translate knowledge into practical information that
one- point lessons may contain information on a wideteammates can use to effectively perform their jobs.
range of topics.Additionally, one-point lessons are an effective training
Types of One-Point Lessonstool because:o They are short and focused on a topic
Three types of one-point lessons exist; each type hasthat team members need to know about.o Information
a distinct purpose:o Basic Knowledgeo Problem Casecan be presented in bite-size chunks, when and where
Studyo Improvement Case Studyit is needed.o They offer a simple vehicle for going
Basic Knowledgeover the material until everyone has mastered it.o
Basic Knowledge one-point lessons fill a knowledgeThey offer a flexible way to deliver training on the
gap. This ensures that team members have thefloor, during meetings, during production activities, as
knowledge they need to do their job or participate inwell as during formal training.o The act of teaching
improvement activities.develops communication and leadership skills on the
Problem Case Studyteam.o They are good tools for training new
Problem Case Studies use actual examples ofemployees or transfers.
breakdowns, defects, and other abnormalities toConclusion
illustrate how to identify and/or avoid a workplaceWe have discussed how companies use one-point
problem.lessons to eliminate waste and improve operations by
Problem Case Studies are most effective whenproviding just-in-time information. We have described
presented immediately after a problem occurs, whilethe kind of information contained in a one-point lesson
the issue is still fresh in everyone's mind.and how this information can be used as a training tool
Improvement Case Studyto sharpen the knowledge and skills of the entire team.
Improvement Case Studies summarize the concepts,We have discussed the three types of one-point
contents, and results of improvements that result fromlessons: Basic Knowledge, Problem Case Study, and
team activities. This helps teams in other areas toImprovement Case Study, and have reviewed
make similar improvements.examples of each. Finally, we have briefly discussed
Where to Us One-Point Lessonsthe steps involved in one-point lesson development.
Examples where one-point lessons may be applied