Abby Carlin Case Study
Team 1 Role Assignment
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Team manager and discussion summarizer – Emmanuel Cruz
Lead for completing the Rubrics Details Form – Frank Tulli
Lead for defining objectives, writing the case overview, and selecting readings – Donna Mulder
Lead for creating discussion questions and facilitating the discussion – Kimberly Aldrich
Case Overview
Abby Carlin, a recent college graduate, is embarking on her first job as an instructional designer with
Learning Together Through Training, Inc. (LTC). LTC’s vice-president of design is Abby’s former
professor, Dr. Joyce Abbott, who has enticed Abby to join the firm. Abby’s first job will be designing a
training for Fritz David Manufacturing (FDM), a steel stamping plant for large steel car parts. After
meeting with Andrew Thomas, the plant manager, Abby has learned that their older work force is
retiring in the next 90 days due to company incentives. In the past, the new employees shadowed the
experienced employees to learn all the steps in the manufacturing process. Since the older
employees are ready to retire, they have no interest in training the new recruits. Abby must create a
training program in 90 days to train three shifts of recruits. The training is further hampered by the
lack of written documentation, poor lighting conditions, and high noise levels.
Objectives
After analyzing and discussing the Abby Carlin case study, the learners will be able to:
Describe out-of-the-box solutions to document the steps required for training
Design solutions that take into account poor learning conditions and time constraints
Describe strategies that can be used to deliver training
Describe strategies to encourage older employees to help with training
Discussion Questions
What role could the soon-to-be retirees play in the training of the new employees? How can Abby get
them on board to help her in that role? (Objective #4)
What unconventional methods could Abby use to create training materials? What strategies could she
use to deliver the training? (Objectives #1, 2, and 3)
Supplemental Readings
Evaluation of Instructional Design of Computer-Based Teaching Modules for a Manufacturing
Processes Laboratory by Christine Hailey and David Hailey
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com.ezproxy.lib.purdue.edu/doi/10.1002/j.2168-9830.2000.tb00535.x/pdf
Boeing's got new teachers -- retirees
http://www.oregonlive.com/business/index.ssf/2008/08/boeings_got_new_teachers_retir.html
Older and wiser? : Workplace learning from the perspective of older employees by Alison Fuller and
Lorna Unwin
http://eprints.ioe.ac.uk/2347/
General Motors-Grand Rapids Stamping Operations
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ixPhogfZTHU
Stamping Plant Tour
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ydoEJnwMlnk
Rubric Details Form
Team Members: Frank Tulli, Emmanuel Cruz, Donna Mulder, Kimberly Aldrich
Name of Case: Abby Carlin – Documenting Processes in a Manufacturing Setting
For each case, describe/address the
following:
Details for the Abby Carlin Case Study
Who are the key stakeholders?
Designer: Abby Carlin
Client: Andrew Thomas
SME: Big John
Audience: New Operators
Other important stakeholders: Dr. Abbott/LT3
What are the primary concerns of
each stakeholder?
Designer: Training everyone while keeping up production.
Client: Time limited to 90-day design and implementation.
Productivity should not be effected.
SME: Retirement pending.
Audience: Learning to use the Blanker machines.
Other stakeholders: Abby’s performance is a reflection on
the firm.
What are the key (1-2) ID design
challenges? (Hint: Label these as
Analysis, Design, Development,
Implementation or Evaluation.)
1. Analysis: Identifying the content to be taught.
2. Design: Determining the best methods for delivering the
training.
What case-specific constraints
impact the designer’s ability to
address design challenges?
1. Environmental Conditions ( noise, light)
2. Time
3. SME attitude
How would you prioritize these
design challenges and case-specific
constraints? Why this order?
1st priority and why: SME attitude. The SMEs are key to
the training. They are the only ones who can help Abby to
learn the Blanker machine procedures. Without the SME’s
knowledge, the project will fail.
2nd priority and why: Environmental Conditions. These
can be adjusted for depending on the type of training that is
created.
Lesser priority challenges and why less important:
Time and Analysis & Design issues. In order to execute the
listed solutions, we need SME on board.
Outline two reasonable solutions
your classmates might suggest.
Option 1
Have Abby approach Andrew about allowing “Big John”
time away from the Blanker machine so that she can use
him as an SME. Ask “Big John” or other current/former
employees, to assist in training a new operator or several
new operators by allowing the new operators to shadow the
older ones. Work with Andrew to come up with incentives
for current/former employees to train the new operators.
Option 2
Record the operators at work with a GoPro camera. The
video can be edited with captions and voiceovers added
later. Abby can then create necessary training materials.
Describe how each solution
addresses the design challenges
and case-specific constraints listed
above.
Option 1
 Abby can learn and develop materials as she observes
the SME’s actions.
 By convincing “Big John” to act as an SME Abby can
remove him from the floor where conditions are less
than optimal. This would make conversation easier
when out of the poor floor conditions. Additional
incentives would help bring past retirees in to help
address the time issue.
Option 2
 Abby can learn and develop materials as she observes
the video recordings.
 The video can be edited so noise is reduced and light is
enhanced. Video eliminates direct contact with SME
negating the effect of the negative attitudes of the
SMEs.
Discuss the pros for each solution.
Option 1
 Hands on training from SME for trainees.
 Immediate feedback from SMEs to trainees.
Option 2
 Not as many retirees needed to implement.
 Electronic based training can be accessed anywhere
and anytime making training faster and more efficient.
 More cost efficient.
Discuss the cons for each solution.
Option 1
 Need too many SMEs on board to make it work well.
 The training will be costly due to the inclusion of
necessary incentives for the retirees.
 One-to-One training takes longer.
Option 2
 Specialized equipment needed for recording and editing
video.
 Feedback from SMEs not immediate for trainees.