Productivity Planner

5S implementation methodology is a system to reduce workplace waste and optimize productivity by
maintaining an orderly workplace. The use of visual reminders helps to achieve consistent
improvements as well. 5S Implementation “cleans up” and organizes the workplace, without changing
its existing configuration, and it is typically the first lean method which an organization puts
into effect.

The 5S pillars, Sort, Straighten, Sweep, Standardize, and Sustain, provide a methodology for
organizing, cleaning, developing, and sustaining a productive work environment. In order to have
a smooth and efficient flow of work, every company needs a system to organize and maintain the
work areas.

This lean manufacturing method encourages workers to improve their working conditions and helps
them to learn to reduce waste, unplanned downtime, and in-process inventory.

Typically, 5S implementation would result in significant reductions in the amount of space needed
for existing operations. It also would result in the organization of tools and materials into
labeled and color coded storage locations, such as the well known painted outlines of tools on
pegboard.

Another result is the creation of kits to organize specific activities. These kits save a great
deal of time and aggravation. You no longer need to gather the same items repeatedly for frequent
tasks; they are all in one place. Brilliant!

The approach to 5S implementation
5S is a cyclical methodology: sort, straighten, sweep, standardize, and sustain the cycle. This
results in continuous improvement. It is a never ending process that gradually improves
everything it touches.

The 5S Pillars
Sort. This focuses on identifying all unnecessary items from the workplace which are not needed
for day to day operations. These items recei [Read more →]

Tags: , , Leadership, Inspiration, Management, Organizational Culture by Chris Russell
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Recently I read that United Parcel Service changed the way they route their brown delivery trucks to make right turns instead of making left turns and crossing oncoming traffic. According to UPS, this saves time and fuel while waiting for traffic to clear on busy roads and at stoplights. It is also safer because there is less exposure to opposing traffic. With all the trucks they have on the road, saving just a thimbleful of gasoline per vehicle per day results in a large cost saving.

Assuming UPS is correct, if I were to follow this example I might save enough money to buy a cup of overpriced coffee this year, but this story still made a big impression on me. Why? Because it illustrates how analytical and process-oriented some companies are to be competitive in an increasingly difficult business environment. It is an example of creating a model of a business, inspecting it, and asking important questions about the way every facet of the business operates:

What can be done to increase customer satisfaction?

What can we do to deliver our product faster? Less expensively?

How can we make fewer errors?

What can we do to process our paperwork with fewer steps?

What can we change to lower our costs without lowering our quality or time standards?

Where will we get the biggest return on our investment in marketing or training or equipment?

These are questions that need to be asked in every business every day. These questions bring answers that need to be discussed in order to make the best decisions possible. Many businesses find they are challenged in this economy. Some will figure out what they will have to do in order to grow or just to survive, others will just hope things will get better.

I’ll bet on those that seek and find efficiencies, mine their databases to discover customers th [Read more →]

Tags: , , Leadership, Inspiration, Management, Organizational Culture by Chris Russell
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Getting your most important tasks completed is not always the easiest thing to do. You may even be putting off important tasks for the unexpected issues that pop up in front of you during the day.

It’s hard to stay on track, especially on demanding days. You may have more tasks for the next day and feel guilty because you didn’t complete all your work today. Then you start the next day with a sense of being overwhelmed rather than starting the day fresh and energetic.

Janice likes to have her day planned out ahead of time. She would start off feeling comfortable, knowing what to do. Her problem was that she would begin her day by doing tasks such as checking her e-mail, checking her sales, and looking at her finances. Even though she had a to-do list, she didn’t get to it right away. She got sidetracked many times during the day with unexpected issues that popped up. She ended up with a lot of work that needed to be done but was not as important as her daily tasks.

Self-employed people often find themselves behaving this way. With no one watching over you, you get sidetracked. This article will help you move in the right direction.

If you want be on a daily routine, then plan it in advance. If you don’t plan, you’ll end up getting sidetracked with anything and everything that comes up. I’m not saying that you should ignore those issues, but you have to determine the difference between issues that should be taken care of immediately and issues that can be postponed until later. A simple plan works best, here is a sample plan you can use.

Step One:
Start by creating a list of tasks you must do every day.

Step Two:
Set the priority for each of the tasks on your list.

Step Three:
Rewrite your list in priority order, and leave a space for a checkmark by every item you complete. In the upper right-ha [Read more →]

Tags: , , Leadership, Inspiration, Management, Organizational Culture by Chris Russell
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