The study examines the impact of training on employee performance in the manufacturing industry, emphasizing its role in enhancing skills, motivation, and organizational effectiveness. Grounded in Human Capital Theory and supported by motivation and learning theories, the study adopts a quantitative research design. Primary data were collected from 85 manufacturing employees in Belagavi district using a structured questionnaire. The data were analyzed using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) through SmartPLS, along with reliability and validity tests such as Cronbach’s Alpha, AVE, and the Fornell–Larcker Criterion. The findings reveal that training-related factors, particularly training need assessment and evaluation with feedback, significantly improve employee motivation. However, employee motivation shows a significant but negative relationship with performance, indicating the presence of contextual barriers. The study concludes that while training enhances motivation, organizations must address workplace challenges to effectively translate motivation into improved performance outcomes.