If you are new to this we recommend you visit our page What is Lean? to know what Lean is and how it can benefit you and your company.
Coming back to this post!
If you look at the dictionary meaning of Lean you will find the answers like slim, thin, healthy, etc. which means a person having no superfluous fat in his body. Probably you all know what are the effects of having extra fat. You find it difficult to walk or run fast, to do certain activities which thin people can do, have to spend huge amount of money on medical services…you may add more if we are missing something.
But what these symptoms and extra fat have to do with your business.
Well, let’s first look at what all a non-lean business struggles with. It misses promised delivery schedules to its customers, processes run slower due to internal communication and other problems, often fails to deliver good quality products and services, and most importantly bears huge amount of cost wasting time and resources.
Sounds familiar?
Are you starting to get what we are going to talk about. The extra fat in your business. And making your business Lean means removing superfluous fat from it. This extra fat is single most important evil which eats up cash in your business. You and your team don’t get enough income raise. Your customer grow more dissatisfied and your company faces all the problems we have discussed above.
So, if you are convinced enough that you must remove the extra fat from your business. Here it is for you how…
There is a tool in Lean basket named as 5S. This tool is a set of 5 easy steps if followed appropriately you will be able to start removing the extra fat. And that will be a kick-start towards your Lean journey.
The steps of 5S are:
1. Sort
2. Set in Order / Store
3. Shine
4. Standardize
5. Sustain
Let’s talk about each of these steps in detail so that you can apply it to your business…
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1. Sort
In this step, separate each item in your target area into two categories.
a) Item that you need
b) Item that you don’t need
Once you are through with separating each item into above mentioned two categories. Remove the items that you don’t need from your work area. You may doubt that in this category you might need few items in future. The trick is to further categorize them based on frequency of their use. Frequency will depend on the type of item. Say monthly, half-yearly, yearly. This way you will be left with those you actually need in you work area. Keep the items which are less frequently used away from your work area and that too only if you are sure you will need them in future. If you are not sure whether you will need something or not just move it out to scrap.
Now you are left with items in category (a) ie, items that you need.
One amazing thing you will notice after you complete you first step is that you have gained huge amount of usable space. If you have not noticed such thing you have to perform this step again and more rigorously.
2. Set in Order / Store
There is a very famous saying which is used for this step “A place for everything, Everything in its place”. Take time to analyse where each needed item should be placed to make your every day job easier. You have to organise the needed items in such a way so that you don’t have to spend more than 30 seconds to find the item when you need them. That’s 5S rule. 30 seconds. It may become exception for very few things which are beyond control but you have to give a jerk to your head if you fail to achieve this rule. Make use of shelves, racks, folders in computer, etc.
3. Shine
This leads to you to a 3 sub step process. Shine means cleaning.
Cleaning means inspecting.
Inspecting means Detecting.
Detecting means correcting.
When you clean something you are automatically inspecting the area. If you detect something unusual you immediately try to make it correct.
This step is sometimes performed along with Step 2 which is Set in Order.
4. Standardize
By now you have availed the extreme benefits by following first 3 steps and you are already amazed with the results looking at your workplace so much more productive and better than it was looking before.
Now imagine how will it look like after a month or so if you don’t maintain it?
Standardize is about documenting what and how you have achieved such great results. It includes taking pictures of workplace how you want it as a standard every day. And step by step procedure what needs to be done each day in order to maintain it like this. I know you must be wondering it has become an extra job for you to maintain it but you will be surprised to know that if you document the steps properly it will not take more than 5 minutes each day to keep every item back to its designated place. And imagine the relief you will feel next morning when you find your workplace just ready for use and you don’t have to drain your energies to re-arrange things before you start productive work.
You can prepare document in the form of checklist and conduct daily 5S audit of your workplace to maintain it.
5. Sustain
Well, trying something new is easier than to sustain it. right? This is the toughest step to achieve in order to sustain. What is that which helps you sustain the gains you have made till now. Yes you got it right. Discipline! To sustain something new you have to develop it into a habit. We have a trick for you to develop this habit and prevent it from backsliding. Train others!!! Yes, if you train others and they start following what you share with them you will also feel encouraged to keep your habit for long.
So, now you have taken the first step to remove extra fat from your business.
But there is more…
7 Secrets That Sucks Cash in Your Business
Step by Step Process to Create Value Stream Map
3 Rules That Will Bring More Cash to You
What do you think? Put your views in comments…
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Have a Question?
Allow us to understand your problems and tell what we can do to help your organisation reach the results you seek. Schedule a free consultation with us.
