Packaging School & AICC on the "Tribal Knowledge" Dilemma

Our very own Dr. Suggs and Alli Keigley write in a feature of BoxScore by AICC.

Dr. Suggs states:

"Think for a moment about your colleagues and the management within your company or organization—chances are good that there are different age demographics represented. Today, we are seeing a paradigm shift due to the baby boomer generation reaching retirement age, and when they retire, critical information—what we are calling tribal knowledge—may disappear with them. If something is not done to capture this knowledge, the company will be left with gaps in information.

On the flip side, tribal knowledge can negatively affect the training of new hires. There is certainly much useful tribal knowledge floating around in companies; however, the spread of incorrect information can be attributed to tribal knowledge as well. For example, an employee who works in a silo and is told to train a new hire will share faulty tribal knowledge, if that’s how they operate. And improper training for software or equipment on the plant floor poses a threat to the production process, the service being provided, and ultimately the safety of the employees."

Read the full piece here: https://now.aiccbox.org/the-tribal-knowledge-dilemma/