For many organizations which are undertaking an improvement initiative the target is process improvement – however without careful consideration and planning many project sponsors will be grateful of any improvement particularly in underperforming areas -however this can lead to further problems
Through implementing standardized processes efficiency can usually be delivered – however if you look at all the processes along a value stream – efficiency in only one part of the process will deliver waste (e.g. more material produced than the downstream process can handle, resulting in excess inventory).
So individual efficiency can be a bad thing. Typically production processes that outperform other areas are symptomatic of organizations that have not instigated “process teams” i.e. areas where processes overlap and are controlled within a single or integrated team. Operating in this manner supports teamwork and ensures that everyone can support the slower processes.
Click here for part two of the article: Why Individual Efficiency in the value stream can be a bad thing
