Take interior woodwork, for example. But other things like equipment installation, you need to show them every step, and provide a lot of guidance about what not the do, and why. And once they know how to do something, they are off and running. It's no different than teaching anyone how to do something for the first time.
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A couple of cases I'll cite to show how the issue is everywhere.
Trinity Yachts at their best built top quality, excellent in all regards. At their worst, during the bad economic time when they had people laid off, were grabbing what labor they could get, were a total mess, there was at least one buyer who took delivery and immediately took it to Rybovich for months to get everything corrected.
I remember talking to a plant manager in Jamaica where we got excellent quality production about the start up of that sewing plant. He said it wasn't just the job tasks but so many things we take for granted that had to be taught. Many were totally unfamiliar with sewing machines but with other basic items. One he pointed out was toilets. They didn't have flushable toilets in their homes. It was simple but new and different.
Many of the older members here have lamented about what younger don't do. Include me. I never changed a tire until I had a flat at 26 in rain on the interstate. My wife has never changed one. Neither of us has changed the oil in a car.
Now, a very common one I see today. People who grow up in most countries, certainly Asia, the Caribbean, etc. all know how to cook. Something like 30% of Americans don't know how to cook. Now, my wife and I do but definitely not the fancy meals many of you prepare. We actually surveyed our employees who are largely younger and 35% never cooked full meals, nothing more than frozen or microwave or a bowl of cold cereal. The survey was actually done as part of our courses in financial management and as part of showing them how much they could save if they didn't eat out all the time. Our COO and close friend is 29 years old, has never cooked a meal, and no one has ever cooked a meal in her condo and she has no plans to change. We have a good friend who is 53 and has never cooked a meal. Don't blame it on the US though as she was born and grew up in Spain. They had a chef, her mother never cooked either.
The point is that people everywhere lack what others may consider basic skills. It's simply what you've been taught.