All too often we get excited by the idea of organisational change, optimising entire value streams or employing a new Poke Yoke (error proofing) concept that will ensure future products or services will be defect free, and rightly so after all if lean tools weren't so powerful, why would we want to use them in the first place?
Sometimes it is hard for us to make the switch from the grand to the minute; observing, enjoying and appreciating the smallest kaizen improvement, often focussing on the larger issues and neglecting the smaller.
I recently read an article by Ron Pereira on Laundry Kaizen, where he had implemented a system which allowed him to store dirty washing in separate compartments of the laundry basket, effectively separating the items before the wash, preventing users from putting coloured items in a mixed wash (Poke Yoke).
In addition when the compartment was full it acted as a 'Kanban' signal to put on another load; finally this simple system also reduced set up time as all pre-wash sorting was virtually eliminated (eliminating waste).
This very simple system may not get many of you exited but for some people, a routine task such as this can be laborious and using if using basic lean principles the process is reduced and if this provides the user more free time to spend with his or her family then surely it should be embraced.
Many of us learn about learn principles, a few of us teach these and a select few 'live' this principles throughout every aspect their lives.
How could you 'Lean' your life? Please email me with ideas – the best ones will be published in future blogs…
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