On the Line
Working on the line can be high paced and intensely unpredictable. Critical thinking and the ability to quickly troubleshoot are essential in the restaurant work environment. As items run out, appliances break, customers become disgruntled, and stress rises critical thinking can be significantly useful in creating efficiency and thus product quality.
This can also be true for an automotive "line" tech. As he/she is working a problem with a goal in mind, the concern and root cause my not be one in the same. Therefore it is important for the tech to be able to tell what is cause and what is effect.
John,
Your last sentence is the foundation upon which students will build their careers. Being able to visualize the cause and effect will enable them to be successful and valued.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
An effective leader will nurture critical thinking and refection in employees. Allowing folks to "think", then make decisions based on what they know and have experienced in similar situations, can instill self-confidence and ownership. Taking ownership can be highly motivating for many individuals - and - the leader then becomes a guide to reach the "bottom line" rather than a micro-manager.
Ellie,
Thank you for these good comments about how to walk through the problem solving process. It seems so many students today are missing the common sense aspect of problem solving so we need to provide them with experiences that will enable them to acquire such a skill set.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I have seen this many times in my automotive career and as a instructor. Without full observation of the symptoms and some knowledge of the product or system, it is almost sure that you cannot come to a proper diagnosis and repair when fixing just about any problem on a car.
Daniel,
Incomplete information is dangerous as you have mentioned. Students need to learn how to see the big picture and then walk back through the steps so they see how each segment contributes to success, in this case a successfully operating automobile.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Even if they do not know the system they are working on they need to be able to reflect back on experience they have and be able to find and apply all resources available to they. When all else fails ASK
condition vs. cause requires thinking outside of the box.
Ray,
Right you are and it is important students be able to think along these lines.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
