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Standard Work
Standard work means working on standards to produce correct and consistent results. It is considered a way to achieve the highest possible degree of consistency and reliability in any process. It aims to ensure that everything is done by everyone in the same way and in the best possible way. Standard work is one of […]
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Value Analysis
Value is one of the most important concepts within Lean thinking and one of the most valuable outcomes Lean provides. Value Analysis focuses on what adds value to business processes as perceived by the customer. A process that does not add value to the product or service should be redesigned or eliminated altogether. Problem solving […]
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Waste Analysis
In a Lean culture, Waste is anything that doesn’t add value from the customer’s perspective. It includes activities and resources beyond what is needed to meet customer requirements. Waste Analysis involves identifying, quantifying, eliminating and preventing waste in manufacturing, service and office environments. Many Lean tools and techniques focus on continually identifying and eliminating these […]
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Value Stream Mapping
A Value Stream Map (VSM) is a high-level visual representation of a business process. It helps to understand the flow of value in the process as perceived by the customer. Its primary goal is to identify and eliminate waste (Muda) and make the process as close to lean as possible. Although it is often associated […]
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Visual Management Audit Checklist
Visual Management is a technique that uses information displays, visual controls, labels and signs, color coding and other markings instead of written instructions. This visual management audit checklist will enable the observer to better address compliance gaps and provides an opportunity for continuous improvement. An effective audit should end up with a list of improvement […]
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Process Chart Template
A Flow Process Chart is a representation showing the sequence of activities within a process. This type of process map is preferable when documenting sequential processes that contain few decisions. This template allows to record the steps of a process in a tabular format. It is often used to identify waste by analyzing the non-value […]
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The Main Components of an Effective Visual Management System
Also known as Visual Control and Visual Factory. Visual management is a business management approach that communicates important information in a visual and real-time manner. It is a system of labels, signs, markings, information displays, and visual guides instead of written instructions. Lean organizations rely heavily on visual management to detect abnormalities, reinforce standards, and […]
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Observation and Gemba Walks
Many managers nowadays try to resolve work-related issues while they are sitting in their office or in the meeting room. Attempting to resolve problems in this way without visiting the actual place and without seeing what’s really happening is not necessarily a successful approach. This article will be highlighting one the most inexpensive data collection […]
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Process Yield Measures
An ideal process must produce without defects and without rework. To expose these unnecessary and costly inefficiencies, you should have appropriate performance metrics to measure process yield, or otherwise, the true process yield might be underestimated. Process yield measures should be able to expose even the smallest inefficiencies in a process, which will enable operations […]
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Kaizen Event Charter Template
Kaizen Events are focused improvement activities designed to improve a process or work area. They emphasize on the elimination of unnecessary non-value added activities. This will result in improved quality, efficiency, delivery, cost saving, standardized systems and employee engagement. You can think of a Kaizen event as a continuous improvement activity at the micro level […]
Continuous Improvement Toolkit
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