* Corresponding author. International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics 24 (1999) 173}184 The need for worker training in advanced manufacturing technology (AMT) environments: A white paper A. Mital*, A. Pennathur, R.L. Huston, D. Thompson, M. Pittman, G. Markle, D.B. Kaber, L. Crumpton, R.R. Bishu, K.P. Rajurkar, V. Rajan, J.E. Fernandez, M. McMulkin, S. Deivanayagam, P.S. Ray, D. Sule  Industrial Engineering, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati OH 45221-0116, USA  Mechanical Engineering, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati OH 45221-0116, USA  Department of Education, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati OH 45221-0116, USA  Department of Industrial Engineering, Mississippi State University, MS 39762, USA  Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, NE 68508, USA  Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering, Wichita State University, KS 67208, USA  Department of Industrial Engineering, Tennessee Technological University, TN 38501, USA  Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Alabama-Tuscaloosa, AL 35486, USA  Industrial Engineering, Louisiana Tech University, LA, USA Received 15 October 1997 Abstract The international globalization of the World markets for manufactured goods, particularly consumer goods, has placed an emphasis on nations to improve manufacturing productivity. This need to improve productivity is further prompted by a potential loss of competitive edge in the global marketplace. The market competitiveness and e$ciency of any nation is primarily dependent upon the economy, reliability, quality, quickness, and ease of its manufacturing processes and the resulting quality of outcomes (products). To a major extent, the skills of the workforce determine the e!ectiveness and the e$ciency of the process of manufacturing and the quality of goods produced. And yet, there is a severe lack of standardized and consistent worker training programs for skills needed by workers in modern manufacturing organizations. This review paper shows that there is a dire need to train workers in manufacturing organizations and thereby improve the overall e!ectiveness and e$ciency of such organizations. Relevance to industry As technology changes, so do the skills workers need. In order to compete successfully in the global market, manufacturing organizations must aim at training workers in skills necessary to produce quality goods.  1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved. Keywords: Advanced manufacturing technology; Training; Globalization; Skills 0169-8141/99/$ - see front matter  1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved PII: S 0 1 6 9 - 8 1 4 1 ( 9 8 ) 0 0 0 2 4 - 9