We all are guilty of multi-tasking. While in a meeting on conference calls we are working on another presentation, or while driving complete all our social calls to pass the time in the traffic, while kids are at their activities we complete chores etc. Did you know that without even realizing it you are trying to eliminate your idle time(waste) and are already practicing sort of LEAN process improvement!
When you hear of LEAN what comes to your mind? Do you immediately think of weight loss, slim and trim, removal of excess? If you think that then you are not wrong. Your thought process is already on the right track! LEAN Six Sigma is the process of removing excess, making processes slim and trim so they do not get bogged down with excess activities (weight). Simply put LEAN is a process improvement methodology to remove waste in a process.
For Example, at the office desk that you sit at, how many times do you have to get up to pick up printed paper from the printer? Or how many times do you have to swirl in your chair to pick up a stapler? All those extra movements and steps are waste as they do not add value to the work you are performing. Implementing LEAN will help remove all those extra steps and the improvement process will re-organize your workspace to make you more efficient.
In any process improvement method, the first step is to define “Value”. Value can be defined as the inherent worth of a product as judged by the customer. Will the customer be willing to pay for it? If not, then it does not add value. That step, or process is considered Non-Value added or waste and would be eliminated when implementing LEAN.
Understanding and laying out the as-is process is very important for any process improvement project. This helps us to understand each activity in the process and identify if it as Value Added or Non-Value Added. However, there are some activities that are necessary but do not add value to the process, they are called Necessary Non-Value Added. For example, when you fill gas in your car……..while the gas is being filled if you are standing and waiting for it, that is a Necessary Non-Value Added activity but you can convert that to Value added by cleaning the car in that time or catching up on your messages/phone conversations rather than doing it while driving!
The next step in the LEAN process is to identify the different types of waste, so that we become aware of them and prevent them from creeping into our daily life processes. For this it is also important to understand the 5S - Sort, Set-in-Order, Shine, Standardize and Sustain. This Facilitates the flow of product and information while creating an atmosphere of easy understanding. It also provides a safe, clean, organized environment so that minimal time is spent on non-value added activities. Thus fostering an environment of continuous improvement.
Friends and colleagues often ask me how I am able to do so many things/be engaged in so many activities at the same time? My answer is simple, I practice continuous improvement learned through LEAN and other process improvement methodologies in my daily life to accomplish more within the same time. You can improve efficiencies in your daily tasks too once you go through my LEAN 101 training. It will teach you to use the tools and techniques to apply this approach to all walks of your life. You will be able to apply this to your projects at work, as well as to your personal life. Your time is valuable, apply LEAN approach and accomplish more!
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