Cultural Awareness and Communications
Impact Washington worked with MEPs from three other states – Oregon, Nevada and Idaho – on implementation of Lean for the Food Processing Industry Project. Working with several Washington food processors, the project’s objective was to address the unique competitive challenges in the industry as well as the nature of its workforce. While providing training in Lean techniques and guiding participating companies through implementation, it also provides organizational development training for the Hispanic workforce and for native-speaking employees as well, developing cross-cultural and English language ability focused on implementing Lean effectively in a cross-cultural team environment. Below are descriptions of the specific training elements included and required.
Cross Cultural Communications: Hispanics and Native English Speakers
This four-hour seminar for native English speakers develops practical skills to better understand, communicate and work effectively with non-native speakers of English, with specific focus on Hispanic workers. It provides contrasts between the Hispanic/Latino work culture and the dominant American work culture and equips participants to effectively communicate and work in a teamwork environment across cultures. Participants will learn to:
- Edit their speech for more effective communication.
- Demonstrate knowledge and use of effective strategies to confirm if the listener comprehends what has been said.
- Use strategies for inviting participation from culturally reserved persons.
- Understand how factors such as personal space, gender, culture and age influence communications and demonstrate appropriate use of strategies to allow for those factors.
- Develop communication strategies for teamwork and workplace interactions that are in alignment with respectful acknowledgement of the impact of culture.
Who should attend? Native English speaking managers, supervisors and leads who interact on a daily basis with non-native speakers in the workplace.
Lean English Essentials (Limited English Speakers Support Course)
This 16-hour (4 sessions) course is a bridge or support class to prepare limited English-speaking workers to participate, along with native English speaking co-workers, in Principles of Lean (Food 101) implementation in their workplace.
It is called Lean English Essentials because it provides enough English support to get most limited English-speaking Hispanic workers prepared with the concepts and Lean vocabulary in order to be a part of the company-wide activities.
Who should attend? Targeted workers who are selected for this training should have some English language ability, as well as sufficient longevity and work knowledge that they would be logical resources and participants in the company’s Lean activities. Truly bilingual employees may also participate in preparation for becoming a bilingual champion.
Bilingual Lean Champion Training
In addition to the training above, the company will identify a bilingual Lean champion. The Lean English Essentials trainer and Lean consultants wil help the company with criteria for ideal candidates. The trainers will provide ongoing coaching on Lean implementation for this person and facilitate development of this bilingual internal company resource.
Lean Implementation Project Activities
- Company Assessment
- 16 hours of Lean English Essentials support training (Lean English Essentials/Cultural Awareness Training) occurs on site – (Lean bilingual champion identified)
- 4 hour cross-cultural communications training for native English speakers
- 1 day Principles of Lean training
- 2-3 day Value Stream Mapping training
- 160 hours of follow-on Lean training and implementation
Call 425.438.1146 for details