A Lean Journey 
On Fridays I will post a Lean related Quote. Throughout our lifetimes many people touch our lives and leave us with words of wisdom. These can both be a source of new learning and also a point to pause and reflect upon lessons we have learned. Within Lean active learning is an important aspect on this journey because without learning we can not improve.
“People tend to think that they need a process
for everything, and once in a while you hear ‘We’re going to dummy-proof it.’
But if you dummy-proof the process, you only get dummies to work there.” — Reed Hastings, CEO Netflix
for everything, and once in a while you hear ‘We’re going to dummy-proof it.’
But if you dummy-proof the process, you only get dummies to work there.” — Reed Hastings, CEO Netflix
People
are often concerned that Lean efforts, including standardized work, will turn
them into unthinking robots. Many Lean methods are used so that abnormalities
are clearly visible and therefore can be reacted to. It is not about mindless
conformity. Lean creates a baseline so improvement can occur by freeing up mental
capacity from doing the routine in order to think about how the process could
work better.
are often concerned that Lean efforts, including standardized work, will turn
them into unthinking robots. Many Lean methods are used so that abnormalities
are clearly visible and therefore can be reacted to. It is not about mindless
conformity. Lean creates a baseline so improvement can occur by freeing up mental
capacity from doing the routine in order to think about how the process could
work better.
A
common myth about standardized work is that many think of a rigid work
environment where workers aren’t required to think. This is totally the
opposite. Operators are part of the creation of the work standard and then are
challenged to improve these methods. The standard creates a baseline by which
improvement can be measured. Ideas should be discussed with group leaders and
considered depending upon the consensus and buy-in from other members and
shifts. Once consensus is reached then experimentation can be done to determine
the effectiveness of the improvement. If it is deemed an effective change then
the standardized work can modified and everyone trained in the new method.
common myth about standardized work is that many think of a rigid work
environment where workers aren’t required to think. This is totally the
opposite. Operators are part of the creation of the work standard and then are
challenged to improve these methods. The standard creates a baseline by which
improvement can be measured. Ideas should be discussed with group leaders and
considered depending upon the consensus and buy-in from other members and
shifts. Once consensus is reached then experimentation can be done to determine
the effectiveness of the improvement. If it is deemed an effective change then
the standardized work can modified and everyone trained in the new method.
The
worst kind of waste is the lack of employee involvement and creativity. Lean
doesn’t work unless everyone is involved and has input. We must involve
employees in the continuous improvement process because the people actually
carrying out the job know how to do that job better. A truly Lean culture
respects people and engages them in continuous improvement.
worst kind of waste is the lack of employee involvement and creativity. Lean
doesn’t work unless everyone is involved and has input. We must involve
employees in the continuous improvement process because the people actually
carrying out the job know how to do that job better. A truly Lean culture
respects people and engages them in continuous improvement.
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