1. Training
& Development
If there’s one
thing you should have for continuous improvement, it’s training and development. Training programs are one of the
improvement tools that can give your employees more opportunities for
development, growth, and engagement. It also provides an avenue to train them
with the skills and knowledge your organization needs its workforce to have.
For example, you can train them about process improvement training or business
approaches like the Six Sigma and Lean to secure customer satisfaction and cost
reduction. You can also take advantage of this program to teach them the best
business practices to better execute current strategies and find ways to
improve on them.
2. Daily
Huddles
Daily huddles take place at the value stream level
and last for about 10 to 15 minutes. Huddles are led by the leader and are
attended by all members of the value stream. Huddles take place directly in
front of the visual board so that the metrics that are displayed on the board
can be discussed and updated as needed.
The purpose of
daily huddle is to make everyone collaborate at a common platform, take charge
and ownership of each and every aspect, for example, improving production,
productivity, material availability, etc., and most important is the increasing
communication.
3. Standard
Work
Standard work is a written description of how a
process should be done. It guides consistent execution. At its best, it
documents a current “best practice” and ensures that it is implemented
throughout a company. At a minimum, it provides a baseline from which a better
approach can be developed.
The definition
of standard work is “the most effective combination of manpower, materials and
machinery”. Standard work is the method, and thereby you have the four Ms of
manufacturing (manpower, material, machinery, methods). Standard Work is only
“the most effective” until the standard is improved.
4. Value Stream
Mapping
Value stream mapping is a tremendously valuable tool for
improving a process. Well suited for a broad range of industries and processes.
A value stream map (VSM) illustrates the flow of materials and information as a
product or service moves through a process.
Value-stream
mapping is a useful tool for grasping the current situation and for planning
improvements. A current state value-stream map depicts the current situation as
is. A future state value-stream map depicts what the value stream should look
like after planned improvements have been implemented.
Kaizen is a
Lean manufacturing tool that improves quality, productivity, safety, and
workplace culture. Kaizen focuses on applying small, daily changes that result
in major improvements over time. Although improvements under Kaizen are small
and incremental, the process brings about dramatic results over time.
5. Hold a
Kaizen
Beyond the
obvious benefit of improving processes, holding a Kaizen event can foster
problem-solving, collaboration, and communication skills and allow employees to
demonstrate leadership. Engaging team members to identify problems and suggest
improvements in their work areas encourages a sense of ownership over their
work, which can improve overall motivation, morale, and productivity. Finally,
holding a Kaizen event is one way to reinforce a robust culture of continuous
improvement within your organization, after all, the best way to sustain the
principles that you want to guide your company is to put them into practice.
You can try one
of these or all of these. You’ll see benefits from these continuous improvement
ideas and perhaps even spark a Lean transformation with your success.
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