36629417 – you do not have to reinvent the wheel
When looking at issues facing your organization, it is easy to think that a problem is unique, and therefore requires a unique solution. While this approach is understandable, it may not be necessary.
Often, an issue has already been identified and corrected by another team, either internal or external to the company. Isn’t it comforting to think that a different group may have already tackled your conundrum — and solved it? Wouldn’t you want to learn from their best practices? It’s worth the effort to find out.
A Continuous Improvement team can benefit from looking for solutions that have previously worked for another team before developing a new resolution. This is referred to as “replication”. Instead of reinventing the wheel, a team can try a proven approach to solve a shared problem or efficiency. This can save time and money. It can also reduce employee frustration, as a known solution with a track record of success is frequently better accepted than an unknown development.
Replication is a great way to introduce a successful solution into several departments of a company. For example, the replication of 5S programs has been used to standardize the layout of supplies, equipment and storage at nursing stations within a hospital. This allows nurses and other staff to move easily between nursing stations, saving time and frustration caused by having to hunt for needed materials.
How are you helping your employees to work smarter by reducing the amount of time they spend on non-productive activities?
If your business processes need a “check-up,” please email me at michael@leadingchangeforgood.com! I’d love to help you get back to a healthy, productive workplace!
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