Encouragement in Lean Times

Often times the value stream mapping activity results in the right identified activities to drive the organization in the right direction however, performance goals are often linked to something else. If this is the case, look at the organizational alignment. Action: Maximize your value added operations by updating your Value Stream Plan. The converse is true as well. Consistent processes yield consistent results. If your processes are not giving you what you expect then maybe it is time to look at the standard. Is there a recognized and followed standard? If so how can it be improved? If not, make a standard! Are you circumventing the process? If the business, service, or manufacturing process has a required labor to perform the task or project requirements and we ask our associate to double output or make do then the process result will suffer. The Process and Results principle is a perfect principle and it does not change. Look at your short term actions as they relate to your longer term plan. Are they congruent and viable? Have you determined the "vital few" that will determine your success? If so, are the actions that need to drive those strategies being linked to all parts of the organization where they apply? Oh, you don't have a strategic plan that meets those criteria? Get busy! A recent survey found that only a little over half of US manufacturers with 500 or more associates have a strategic plan and the smaller your organization is the less likely you are to have a strategic plan.