Training Within Industry Job Instruction | Winter 2026
Event Location:
Manufacturers Resource Center, 7200A Windsor Drive, Allentown, PA, 18106, USA
Standardize Training. Build Stability. Empower Your Team.
Job Instruction (JI) is a proven method for teaching team members how to perform tasks correctly, safely, and conscientiously. This hands-on training goes beyond simply telling or showing—JI provides a structured approach to help employees quickly learn and retain essential job steps.
Participants will practice developing Job Instruction Breakdown sheets and demonstrate Training Within Industry’s 4-step process on their own work-related steps during class:
1. Prepare the Worker
2. Present the Operation
3. Try Out Performance
4. Follow-Up
Through hands-on practice and coaching, this workshop will help supervisors, team leads, trainers, and team members master the skills needed to sustain Standardized Work—the foundation of operational stability and continuous improvement.
COURSE HIGHLIGHTS
• Reduce training time with a proven standardized 4-Step instruction process
• Improve employee engagement and cooperation
• Strengthen Standardized Work with Job Instruction Breakdown Sheets
• Improve team member safety and minimize scrap, rework, and errors
• Strengthen training effectiveness and team member development
Who Should Attend
Trainers, Operators, Team Leads, Supervisors, Managers, Continuous Improvement Team Members, Plant Engineers, Plant Managers and anyone seeking to elevate their workplace training and skills development program.
Questions? Contact Nicole Pierce at (484) 655-4873 or nicole.pierce@mrcpa.org.
INSTRUCTORs
Gene Kaschak | VP, Continuous Improvement & Leadership Development Strategy
Gene has seen first-hand how the best improvement ideas usually get started by the people doing the work every day. His early projects in continuous improvement were focused on bringing these ideas to life by listening to small suggestions or comments and designing the proposed solutions for various manufacturing, operations, maintenance, product development, and information technology projects. As a Lean Coach with MRC since 2014, Gene’s focus now is to develop the scientific thinking skills in the local manufacturing community to bring these improvement ideas to life through daily experiments.
Shawn Furman | Director, Automation and Manufacturing Technology Strategy
Shawn mentors MRC manufacturers to lead and guide them in advanced technologies that enhance quality, boost productivity, encourage innovation, and reduce production time. Today that also includes digital transformation, automation and robotics, and IT integration that enables innovation and smart manufacturing, driving extraordinary outcomes for customers.
Shawn demonstrates a 20-year proven, well rounded background in leading process improvements at industry icons directing or managing teams in Electrical Engineering, Automation Engineering, Maintenance Engineering, or combinations of both. Shawn also has the experience and talent small and mid-sized manufacturers need to help them implement their technology roadmap and guide them through the implementation of transformative technologies that are critical to compete and drive their companies into the future.
Prior to joining MRC, Shawn held positions of leadership at Boston Beer as Manager, Electrical and Automation Engineering, and Senior Automation Engineer. At Ainsworth Pet Nutrition, Shawn held positions as Director, Maintenance & Engineering, and Maintenance Manager. Earlier in his career, he held engineering positions at The Hershey Company. Shawn attended Penn State Erie, The Behrend College, and earned his Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering.