Map It Out

There are many types of waste that eat away at efficiency and productivity. Every little bit adds up, a tiny piece at a time until it starts costing you more and more money. It is not just labor, although that one accumulates fast and does usually cost the most. But it's wasted material and space as well. Imagine how much material is wasted on mistakes and mess ups. Every time a part is made wrong or it makes it through production before being discovered, the amount of time and effort lost accumulates.

There is waste in almost every process; it can be tough to spot it in the beginning. You have to be able to step back and examine what works and what is not working as well. Sometimes it has to be a team effort and sometimes it has to be someone who is monitoring from the outside. When you're very close to an error it can sometimes be tough to see it; especially if you are working around it daily.

Recognizing the waste is the first step and removing it to the best of your ability is the second step. The waste can be major or small, however the name of the game is continuous improvement. You always want to be progressing and making the processes better. That does not mean just changing things to change them; you should always have a plan ahead of time. You should also have the ability to reveal what the changes will do and how they will improve things on paper first.

If you have a plan and have everything mapped out and written out ahead of time, then you'll be able to show and convince those who make the final decisions. Also, by having a written plan, they will more likely look at any future concepts quicker and with more trust. It will help future projects get green lighted faster, saving time and convincing.

Whatever the changes are, it's important to first identify them, and then put a plan together. The plan will prove that the change is the right move and show how well it's going to work. It is better than simply going at a problem blind with no forethought and no preparation. Planning and mapping out how the current process works and what the improvements will improve upon is the professional and wise way to take on a problem.
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