Process Performance Boards are displays that enable leaders to visually track People, Quality, Delivery, Cost and Process Improvement. They enable leaders to answer questions such as, “Are we taking care of our people?”, “Are we efficient?” or “Are we effective?”. These are forms of Visual Management often used during Leader…
Actions, behaviors and tools that leaders use to build and sustain a Lean Culture. For a better understanding of Leader Standard Work and an overview of Lean Six Sigma, check out our Free Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt Training, Green Belt Training or Lean Training.
Shadow Boards are visual methods of storing tools or materials and are always placed where the work is being done. Each shadow board consists of outlines or “shadows" in the shape of individual items to make it obvious where each should be put away. The shadow board accomplishes two essential…
Work Balancing or Line Balancing involves balancing the work rate between sub-processes in order to efficiently match customer demand or takt time. The idea is that process is always on time but never idle. For a better understanding of Workload Balancing and an overview of Lean Six Sigma, check out our Free…
What is Work Cell Design? Work Cell Design is a method of organizing physical operations by process flow as opposed to function in order to maximize value-added steps. The most classically efficient work space shape is the U-shape which minimizes the wastes of transportation, motion and waiting. For a better…
Water beetle or water spider is a term used to describe the person responsible for maintaining correct inventories on the production line so that line employees have no need to stop working. The term stems from the fast movement of this employee as they check stock levels and resupply each…
Visual Management is the practice of making the workplace visually easy to work in. This includes making it easy to identify units and materials, updating people on the process status, showing how the process works and providing a visible process plan for future steps. For a better understanding of Visual…
Waiting happens internally when one colleague is idle because they are unable to proceed with a process step until another colleague or department provides the necessary parts or information in order to continue. This also refers to the resulting delay before customers receive their desired goods or services. Waiting is…
Transportation refers to the concept of the moves or "touches" to a unit or product as it flows through a process. This can refer to an email sent from one department to another or to materials being moved from one warehouse to another. Transportation is one of the 8 Wastes.…