What is a standard of work?
Also to know is, what does standard work look like?
Standard work is like the steps on the staircase. You start at the bottom, improve the process, and move up a step. That step is the new standard on which you stand while you make an improvement to get to the next one. Incrementally, you're able to get to the top by moving from one standard to the next via improvement.
Beside above, why is standard work important?
The reason that standardized work is so important in warehousing and distribution (or operations in general) is that it allows us to understand variance in our processes and to make appropriate corrections. For that reason, standardization serves as a fundamental platform for continuous improvement.
If your organization is serious about standardized work, I suggest the following steps:
- Step 1 Working Lean - Focus and prioritize.
- Step 2 Develop the best-known way of working.
- Step 3: Visualize the standard.
- Step 4 Train everyone to the new standard.
- Step 5: Scheduled follow-up.
- Step 6: Introduce a process for improvement.