Throwback Thursday: Become a Learning Organization
Organizational learning is a strategy that centers on the detection and correction of errors, which this article explains will help moldmakers stay ahead of the competition.
A true learning organization is a result of five interrelated disciplines: personal mastery, shared vision, team learning and mental models, which make up the foundation of the organization, and systems thinking is the cement that holds it all together. This throwback article from 2004 by Ashish Mithal, a new products manager for Waddington North America, reviews some curent business thought in organizational learning and outlines how learning initiatives can serve as a central strategy for mold shops to stay ahead of in today's competitive times.
These five disciplines are key ingredients for fostering learning within an organization and for building and sustaining learning organizations. It starts with individual learning. In a learning organization individuals strive to contribute toward a shared vision. Well-adjusted mental models are constantly challenged and refined in pursuit of personal mastery. Personal, department or business unit goals are aligned with the mission of the organization. Furthermore, in learning organizations teams are empowered to learn together and see their work as a part of a whole, with respect for interrelationships and processes that are dependent on one another. Group or team learning leads to additional individual learning and higher levels of personal mastery. Thus, a powerful learning loop is created. Lifelong commitment to organizational learning and the continuous learning cycles leads to competitive advantages and higher levels of organizational success.
Related Content
-
MMT Chats: A More Modern NPE “Made for You”
The Plastics Industry Association is making NPE 2024 a “can’t miss”’ experience with more of everything – education, exhibitors and networking! The PLASTICS Industry Association Chief Operating Officer Glenn Anderson and Director of Trade Show Marketing Damaris Piraino share what’s in store for attendees of next year’s May 6-10, 2024 in Orlando, Florida.
-
MoldMaking Conference Session Spotlight: Data
Want to learn about digital workflows in mold design or ERP or global mold monitoring and asset management or the impact of tooling digitalization?
-
MMT Chats: Project Engineer Applies Lean Manufacturing Principles to Growing Sustainability Role
MoldMaking Technology Editorial Director Christina Fuges catches up with MMT’s 30-Under-30 Honoree Katherine Pistorius, who has added Regional Sustainability Coordinator alongside her Project Engineer duties, which demonstrates the many paths one can take in a manufacturing career. Here she shares how this opportunity unfolded for her and what the job entails today and in the future. This episode is brought to you by ISCAR with New Ideas for Machining Intelligently.
