ABSTRACT
Thomas first expressed a lot of gratitude to Daniel for what he called “an excellent day of learning.” Then he continued while drawing on the flipchart:
We will not be very long. Here are my main takeaways. First, the conditions for implementation of the Standardized Work: The process must have minimal variation and be repetitive … ideally, a cyclic operation (Figure 10.1). The Standardized Work, at least in the format you taught us, has four elements: Takt time, Job Sequence, Standardized Work in Process, and Key Points. You added Key Points because you believe that they are the “knowledge reservoir” and therefore belong as elements of Standardized Work. On the forms, you taught us how to write four documents: the Process Analysis chart or Yamazumihyo, as some Japanese companies call it, the Standardized Work Chart, the Standardized Work Combination Table, and the Operator Work Instructions. This list of forms is similar to Toyota’s, but you have removed the Process Capacity Sheet and included both the Process Analysis Chart and the Operator Work Instructions.
We have also learned the importance of focusing on the method versus the time while implementing Standardized Work. You underscored that the Standardized Work approach is built on the notion that the “right method will lead to the right time.” Therefore, we should focus on the method to achieve highest productivity (Figure 10.2).
