A FIELD-STUDY OF TRAINING FAULT-FINDING

This field study develops training for fault-finding in a hot strip st eel mill and evaluates its effectiveness. A prescriptive model of faul t-finding was developed to overcome the errors made by technical perso nnel whilst fault-finding. This model breaks down fault-finding into t wo main goals: initial symptom identification and narrowing dawn the l ocation of the fault to one sub-system. A computer-based training syst em was designed to train achievement of these goals by inculcating app ropriate knowledge and by providing practice at simulated faults. The simulations had high physical and psychological fidelity with informat ion available in the mill. The pre- and post-training performance was compared for eight technical personnel (four experienced and four appr entices) who tackled four matched faults. There were improvements afte r training in achievement of both goals. This was confirmed by qualita tive analyses of the concurrent verbal reports obtained from the four apprentices whilst fault-finding.