Shall we begin 2013 with the fundamentals?
Why not!
Standardized work (STW), the best way we know right now, is a cornerstone of excellence.
By engaging our team members in finding & sharing the best way we know now, we
- Engage minds & hearts,
- Build our problem solving muscles,
- Reduce waste & process variation, and
- Lay the foundation for more improvement
Not a bad list.
But STW is part of a management system - a web of shared processes, tools and thinking.
Isolated, STW withers like a leaf on a poorly watered vine.
So what is a management system?
An integrated set of parts with a clearly defined goal.
The goal of the Toyota Production System (TPS), perhaps the world's most famous management system is:
- Highest safety & quality
- Lowest cost & lead time
TPS components include:
- STW
- Visual Management & 5 S
- Just-In-Time
- Quality in the process, and so on
One of the invisible enablers, and obstacles, to STW is our mental models - the way we see the world.
Let me give you an assignment.
- What are the elements of your management system?
- Which of these elements support STW?
- Any improvement opportunities?
- What are some mental models around STW in your organization?
Here's to a safe, happy & prosperous 2013.
Best regards,
Pascal
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