Multi-skilling refers to one's ability to seamlessly transfer knowledge and skills from one area of application to another. This session will offer some insight into this by first identifying generally known barriers to multi-skilling training (time constraints, lack of in-depth theoretical knowledge amongst the candidates, complexity of equipment, and existing social views). Participants will discuss possible solutions, and six previously published papers dealing with related subjects will be reviewed. Participants will learn that cognitive models used in multi-skilling are well within the human capacity. This session will also discuss the results of a major multi-skilling training project in industry. The analysis of results strongly indicated that transfer routinely occurs in between different domains of acquired knowledge and skill, making multi-skilling an important human resource development tool in the skilled trades.
Mick is Program Head of Bachelor of Technology in Manufacturing, part-time degree program at British Columbia Institute of Technology. He holds undergraduate and graduate degrees in Mechanical Engineering from University of Waterloo. His work experience includes 15 years in manufacturing industry in Ontario, and 29 years in post-secondary education in Ontario and British Columbia. His professional focus in teaching, research, and engineering applications is on efficient fluid power transmission and control, design for environment, and design for manufacture and assembly.
