Improving tile setter training In June 2017, Welch Tile & Marble hosted the NTCA Five Star Contractor summit, updated the group on its training journey, and revealed future for hands- on tile training. Welch Training & Development manager Dave Rogers and I – through trial and error – jointly brainstormed about building a better tile setter training process using a shipping container. The plan escalated when we started developing the Five Star Contractor meeting agenda, which forced us to think through our process successes and failures over the past 12 years. We started with our related instruc- tion outline for Apprenticeship and the milestones to build the NTCA online Apprenticeship modules. Our first challenge with train- ing was engaging the apprentices after working a full day in the field. Much of the classroom train- ing required extensive pre-planning and preparation in the warehouse with tools and products in unused spaces. This situation led us to make small mockups that only one or two individuals could work hands-on at a time, leading to disengagement with class members who weren’t participating in hands-on module work – you knew you lost them when they pulled out their cell phones and their eyes glazed over. Training factors to consider We identified these different fac- tors and aspects of training that needed to be addressed in order to craft an engaging, effective training process. • Safety tool box talks at the begin- ning of each class • Short classroom pre-hands-on explanation and theory NTCA UNIVERSITY UPDATE –––––––––––––––––––– Building a better tile setter training process with Dan Welch By Dan Welch, president, Welch Tile & Marble Since so many of our members have new employees and unique ways to do training, I have asked Dan Welch, president of Welch Tile & Marble, to share some of the company’s challenges and development of innova- tive training approaches. – Becky Serbin, NTCA Training & Education coordinator 110 TileLetter | September 2017