Creating Flow
The most efficient route between 2 points (A and B) is a straight line. The indirect route means that you will travel further, use more energy and take longer.
The concept also applies when reviewing and improving processes.
If you can identify “hotspots”, remove waste and minimise variation your processes will become more efficient, quality will improve and value to customers will increase.
Ways to improve flow:
- Identify the “hotspots”. Where are you seeing backlogs, errors and other wastes? Are they valid? Is there a quick, and obvious solution?
- Look for ways to maximise process capability and minimise downtime.
- Balance output in the process. Look at where resources are deployed to improve overall process efficiency?
- Remove the “hotspot”. Is there something you can do to completely resolve the problem?
What is variation in a process?
Examples of variation include:
Time – the amount of time it takes to do, or not do something.
…or…
The time a process is started and/or stopped.
Quality – how good the output of your process is, or needs to be.
Knowledge and skills – how well trained and/or adept the person performing the process is.
Customers – different customers have different needs and wants. What is good for one customer, might not be good for another.