What Is TWI? (Training Within Industry)

What Is TWI?

Training Within Industry (TWI) is a set of learning disciplines and problem solving tools that enable people doing work to effectively create, improve, train and sustain standard work, while increasing productivity through problem-solving.

Why Do I Need TWI?

TWI supported the U.S. war production effort during WW II. Despite great success, it was largely forgotten, yet, it provides a basis of Toyota’s core training even today.  Inability to hold standard work is a major reason why lean initiatives stagnate. TWI is being re-born as a proven structured approach to sustain continuous improvement.

Where Would I Use TWI?

You can use TWI methodology wherever you need to teach people to:

• quickly learn to do a job
• identify and remove waster
• resolve personnel problems successfully
• institute general problem-solving

When Would I Use TWI?

TWI takes us away from command & control “Scientific Management” to Management by Science. Standards are set – as bases of comparison – and used as base lines for improvement now.

Who Would Use TWI?

The TWI Programs can be used by everyone to ensure problem solving and structured improvement is embedded in their daily work.

How Is TWI Used?

TWI creates a productive workplace environment where people are treated as individuals yet work together as a team, where all operators perform jobs the standard way, and where problem solving is embedded in the work.  TWI is not a “silver bullet” and requires disciplined deployment. It can start with you if developing the competence of people is really important.

Where Did TWI Come From?

For years, researchers have slowly uncovered the secrets of the Toyota Way.  Only recently have we understood Toyota's unique ability to achieve and sustain standardized work and to continuously improve ...and it's not a modern invention!  Research has shown that the 60-year old, U.S. training program, Training Within Industry (TWI), continues to play a vital role in the development and sustainability of the Toyota Way since 1951.

Please contact Don Dinero at dadinero@TWILearningPartnership.com or (585) 305-6820 for additional resources, or if you’d like to learn more.

Program Summaries:

Skill In Leading

This skill can help the supervisor and others maintain good relationships among people to get their cooperation that is necessary for work to be carried out effectively. The result of a supervisor’s work depends on the output of other people. To be a good supervisor, then, the cooperation of others is crucial. He or she can get the necessary cooperation from others by using this skill in leading. Furthermore, if this skill is used daily, fewer problems will arise. And even if problems do arise, using this skill the supervisor will be able to solve them effectively.  This skill is valuable for all employees, but is usually offered to supervisors because it is integral in their job description.

This skill is learned in the Job Relations Training (JR) component of TWI.

Skill In Instructing

Skill in Instructing is an essential skill to quickly train employees on how to quickly begin to work on their own and for all people to perform each job the same way. When this skill is acquired, people will help reduce the number of defects, rejects and rework. Well-trained people also help reduce the number of accidents and the amount of equipment and tool damage.

This skill is learned in the Job Instruction Training (JI) component of TWI.

Skill In Job Safety

Skill in Job Safety is a sub-set of Job Instruction Training and teaches employees how to look at a job from a safety point of view.  In jobs that apply, Job Safety Training teaches employees how to spot hazards and how to deal with them through training with the result of preventing accidents.

This skill is learned in the Job Safety Training (JS) component of TWI.

Skill In Improving Methods

This skill enables people to break down their work into small parts, so they can take a good look at the details and learn how to identify and remove waste. Using this breakdown, people will more easily be able to see how to improve their work methods by eliminating, combining, rearranging or simplifying these details. When this skill is used continuously, it will allow companies to utilize the workforce, machines and materials now available more effectively to achieve greater production of good quality products.

This skill is learned in the Job Methods Training (JM) component TWI.

Skill In Program Development

Many problems happen because of a lack of proper training and the four “J” Programs noted above will do much to solve them.  However, when problems are unique to a company or a department and these programs do not apply, a training program must be created which will fit the need.  Program Development teaches people how to analyze problems and develop a training plan to solve them.  Also, if training is not part of the solution, Program Development will lead the employee to those factors that do solve the problem.

This skill is learned in the Program Development (PD) component of TWI.