Whether you are trying to introduce consistency to tasks being done or to make it easier to train new employees, work instructions, sometimes referred to as standard work, can make life much simpler. It is easy to see how specific instructions on how to do a job would be helpful … Read More
There are lots of advantages to having a neat and clean workspace, from efficiency to environmental considerations. The big problem is always how to get there. One technique associated with Lean Manufacturing is called the 5S program; it starts with the obvious challenges of how to get the workplace cleaned … Read More
Nonprofit boards vary wildly in their effectiveness, from barely functional to highly effective. One thing that sets the effective boards apart from the less so is a solid understanding of the board’s function and how each board member fits in. No piece of paper can change the culture of a … Read More
ISO 9000 and other quality management systems require a documented procedure for dealing with corrective actions and preventive actions. ISO allows them to be dealt with by the same (CPAR) system, but they are different mind sets. Preventive action is reading the manual before you open the box, corrective action … Read More
It can be challenging to keep track of which employee has had what training, even in a small company. One good way to track it is with a training matrix: A matrix like this lets you quickly find out what training an employee has had and needs (you can easily … Read More
There are lots of reason to focus on safety in a business, starting with taking care of employees and reducing their families’ distress. But there is a bottom-line argument for it, too: as injuries go down, profit goes up. Worker’s Comp premiums go down. Product quality goes up. Less time … Read More
In its standards for quality management systems, ISO-9001 has a lot of sections relating to how the production floor works and how quality is maintained. One section that is sometimes overlooked, 6.2.2, addresses personnel qualifications, competence, and training. In particular, it discusses: – how a company determines the required competencies for … Read More
At the Compete Smart conference for Montana’s manufacturers, I attended break-out sessions on Value Stream Mapping and Training Within Industry. The names sound very different and they come from very different methods, but I was struck by the fit between them. Value stream mapping is done from the perspective of … Read More