Training programs for inspection

Training is a neglected area for improvement of industrial inspection performance. Previous work shows that training can be effective but provides the reader with general principles rather than detailed examples for training programs. The experiment reported here gives details of two training programs devised for a complex visual inspection task. They differed only in that one (active) required the trainee to make an active response at each stage, while the other (passive) did not. Task performance for 42 subjects in three age groups showed significantly better performance (fewer errors) with the active training program. The specific error types reduced by active training were those logically related to the training program. There was a significant age decrement in performance, but it was smaller in magnitude than the difference between training programs.