When it comes to cutting waste in your business, you can cross your fingers and hope that people start to get better and more efficient or you can take proactive steps to solve problems. The solution is not just identifying the problem and then throwing some money at it. Everyone knows that it does not really work and there is no way to monitor progress and set benchmarks. So how do you identify and implement a plan to solve a problem? It takes a team effort, one person cannot see the problem, fix the problem and make sure it stays fixed.
A common misconception is that you are looking for problems. While this is true, because sometimes they are easy to identify, what you are really looking for are opportunities. You are looking for opportunities in the process already in place that you can improve. You have to improve them, because the improvement are how you get better and leaner and more competitive. We must look at the whole process and understand what is essential and what is just a waste of energy.
This includes the vital steps in the production process and can even sometimes include other things that are involved in the process. The most important things to keep in mind is what directly affects the cost and of production and supplying your product to your customers. There are certain things that are essential to the functioning of the company, but have no direct effect on the speed and efficiency of how the product is made.
The way the office runs for example, while critical to the running of the business, doesn't affect, or shouldn't affect the speed and efficiency on the factory floor. If it is a contributing factor, then there is a problem that is easy to identify. Start with the easier, quicker fixes in order to begin the improvement.
Sometimes, when small things are fixed, it will open a window on other inefficiencies and they will be able to more clearly identified. This is a process, and like any process that involves several steps and takes time. But if you rush through changes, in the first place they will not be exactly what you need, and it will be harder to move forward and have the changes be accepted as the new way of doing things.
A common misconception is that you are looking for problems. While this is true, because sometimes they are easy to identify, what you are really looking for are opportunities. You are looking for opportunities in the process already in place that you can improve. You have to improve them, because the improvement are how you get better and leaner and more competitive. We must look at the whole process and understand what is essential and what is just a waste of energy.
This includes the vital steps in the production process and can even sometimes include other things that are involved in the process. The most important things to keep in mind is what directly affects the cost and of production and supplying your product to your customers. There are certain things that are essential to the functioning of the company, but have no direct effect on the speed and efficiency of how the product is made.
The way the office runs for example, while critical to the running of the business, doesn't affect, or shouldn't affect the speed and efficiency on the factory floor. If it is a contributing factor, then there is a problem that is easy to identify. Start with the easier, quicker fixes in order to begin the improvement.
Sometimes, when small things are fixed, it will open a window on other inefficiencies and they will be able to more clearly identified. This is a process, and like any process that involves several steps and takes time. But if you rush through changes, in the first place they will not be exactly what you need, and it will be harder to move forward and have the changes be accepted as the new way of doing things.
About the Author:
six sigma training can help you be a more efficient manager. Do your best for yourself and your business with six sigma. To learn more stop by 6sigmaonline.net. This article, More Efficient Employees Will Lead To Less Waste In Your Company has free reprint rights.
No comments:
Post a Comment