Is on-the-job training is a better method of training for a manufacturing business to use than off-the-job training?
Off-the-job training has several advantages and disadvantages :
• The skills required might not be available in the business thus employees can acquire new techniques and ideas from off-the-job training.
• Off-the-job training allows for mistakes to be made when learning. Learners are less likely to waste resources when working and this lowers the risk of damaging business reputation.
• Off-the-job training is not necessarily tailored to an individual business
On-the-job training has several advantages and disadvantages :
• The company can control what is taught and employees learn the exact way the business wants things done. Workers only learn the specific skills needed.
• Employees can carry on working while training. Thus some output is still produced.
• It is Cheaper than off-the-job training
• On-the-job training can reinforce errors and bad habits of the trainer. This may lead to a reduction in sales and a damaged reputation for the business.
• Fewer new ideas and skills will be taught.
To conclude, it depends on what the training is for. If the business intends to use new techniques or machines, the business may not have a suitable person to train others so on-the-job is not an option. In this case, it would have no choice and would have to use off-the-job training.