How can Lean Manufacturing help you prioritize your tasks?

1 Identify value

The first step in lean manufacturing is to identify what value means for your customer, whether it is an internal or external one. Value is what the customer is willing to pay for or what solves their problem or satisfies their need. You can use tools such as value stream mapping, voice of the customer, or customer journey mapping to understand the value proposition of your product or service. By doing so, you can prioritize the tasks that directly contribute to creating or delivering value and eliminate or minimize the ones that do not.

2 Eliminate waste

The second step in lean manufacturing is to eliminate waste, which is anything that does not add value or consumes resources unnecessarily. Waste can be categorized into eight types: defects, overproduction, waiting, non-utilized talent, transportation, inventory, motion, and extra processing. You can use tools such as the 5S method, the 5 Whys, or the PDCA cycle to identify and eliminate waste in your work processes. By doing so, you can save time, money, and energy and focus on the tasks that matter most.

3 Implement flow

The third step in lean manufacturing is to implement flow, which is the smooth and uninterrupted movement of work from one stage to another. Flow reduces delays, bottlenecks, and interruptions that can affect the quality and speed of your work. You can use tools such as Kanban boards, pull systems, or batch reduction to implement flow in your work processes. By doing so, you can increase your productivity, flexibility, and responsiveness and avoid overloading yourself or your team.

4 Ensure quality

The fourth step in lean manufacturing is to ensure quality, which is the degree to which your work meets or exceeds the expectations of your customer. Quality is essential for customer satisfaction, loyalty, and retention. You can use tools such as quality circles, poka-yoke, or Kaizen to ensure quality in your work processes. By doing so, you can prevent errors, defects, and rework and deliver your work with confidence and excellence.

5 Seek improvement

The fifth step in lean manufacturing is to seek improvement, which is the continuous and systematic effort to enhance your work processes and outcomes. Improvement is based on feedback, data, and learning from your successes and failures. You can use tools such as A3 reports, gemba walks, or hoshin kanri to seek improvement in your work processes. By doing so, you can identify and solve problems, implement changes, and achieve your goals and objectives.

6 Respect people

The sixth and final step in lean manufacturing is to respect people, which is the recognition and appreciation of the human element in your work. People are the ones who create, deliver, and consume value. You can use tools such as teamwork, empowerment, or recognition to respect people in your work processes. By doing so, you can foster a culture of trust, collaboration, and engagement and motivate yourself and others to perform at your best.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?