Assignment Task:
Overview:
In Lean Manufacturing, standardized work is a means of establishing precise procedures to make products in the safest, easiest, and most effective way based on current technologies. This is one method to eliminate some of the lean wastes we've studied. This week's discussion will illustrate the power of standard work.
You are an employee of our company that produces Pig art. This activity will require you to do the following:
TASK 1: Take a sheet of paper and draw a pig.
TASK 2: You are then given a grid document and procedural directions to draw the standard pig.
TASK 3: You are then given a chance to view both pictures and notice the results. Write up your reaction to this exercise by answering these questions:
When people receive instructions in written format, what can go right, or wrong in interpretation by the next person to perform them? How can this get companies in trouble with product issues?
How does the lean principle of making instructions and expectations in a factory or work instruction "visual" relate in this case to our exercise?
How might they have made this instruction set a different way in order to ensure perfect and repeatable results each time for the operator? Can you offer an improvement?