I took my car in for an oil change last week. When I was growing up, my Dad always changed the oil in our cars and he showed me how to do it for myself.
My early cars were easy to work on and changing the oil took little time and skill. As time went on, however, engines became more complicated, requiring specialized skills and equipment. It seemed that, while I wanted to continue to do the work myself, it was actually faster and cheaper to have the work done.
Many companies face the same problems that I have run into with my car repairs. What once worked very easily and took little effort now either works very poorly or not at all. Processes and protocols developed months or years ago no longer address the issues they once did, or have been modified over time. Employees that established these processes may have moved to different departments or have left the company.
Process improvement (PI) programs often begin by asking “How are things working now?” By mapping out current processes, a PI leader and his or her team can help the organization determine “pain” points and aid in the development of innovative ways to reduce waste and eliminate errors.
Several years ago, an automobile parts company utilized the tag line, “Pay me now or pay me later.” The same can be said for PI. An organization can put a PI program in place early or wait until serious problems occur. A robust PI program can help to head off problems before they begin, saving costs and complications later.
How are you helping your employees to work smarter by reducing the amount of time they spend on non-productive activities and correcting errors? 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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