ABSTRACT
Once the management system has been defined and documented in a manufacturing operations manual or guideline and the foundational elements of the operating system have been put in place, it is time to execute the manufacturing system as designed. Execution is an ongoing activity that will benefit from a clearly defined set of work routines assigned to key functions and individuals within operations. This chapter explores the role of standard work routines in managing shop floor activities. Standard work routines extend beyond employee roles and responsibilities by defining the specific and repetitive daily, weekly, and monthly tasks required to keep the operating system “in check” and performing as expected. One key to preparing a set of standard work routines is to know what key process indicators to monitor, when to execute the routines, and when to react to process abnormalities, based on an understanding of their root cause.
