The Standard Work Process: Overcoming Obstacles to Making Effective Standard Work
The standard work process is a critical piece in the implementation of Lean manufacturing programs. It helps to stabilize a process and it provides a basis for continuous improvement. No matter how good something is, though, there is always a cost to it. For standard work, the price can come in the form of hard feelings and subsequent lack of engagement that it can cause in some employees.
In fact, the same aspect of standard work can raise job satisfaction for some people and reduce it for others. Why? Because people are unique. For example, those who love predictability and structure thrive under the standard work process. But those who are more independent, free spirits dislike feeling micromanaged and resent feeling forced to do their work in specific ways.
So, how can leaders make standard work more appealing to employees? A good way to start is to make sure that standard work is structured in a way that it makes it easy for team members to get help when they need it.
Let’s assume that the manufacturing managers are doing a lot of things right:
- there are andon lights in place to call for assistance, and teams are encouraged to use them
- there is a defined sequence of events that happens when the lights are turned on
- leaders enforce the process, and make sure people respond as required
- there are team leaders who can float and offer assistance when help is needed
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