Your team can’t agree on who should be timed when developing Standard Work

One of the realities of creating standardized processes is that they need standard times. This is generally done using the Time Observation Sheet. The challenge, though, is that there are a few different strategies you can use when selecting the person who should do the work when being timed. If the person is slow, most people will be standing around when they do the process. If the observed individual is one of the most proficient, others will struggle to keep up.

Watch Our Standard Work Video

Problem

Your team can’t agree on who should be timed when developing Standard Work

How this affects you

Who should be selected? If the team picks someone too fast or too slow, things can get difficult down the road.

Action to Take

Do timing with an “average” person performing at a “normal” rate.

Remember, it is the process that is being timed for Standard Work, not the individual. It is a subtle difference, but that difference goes a long way in taking the pressure off people to perform “well” for a time trial.

Accuracy, not speed is the desired result of time trials. For that reason, you and your team should make sure that the resulting time is repeatable by the whole team.

Obviously, if a fast person is used, the rest of the team will…(This “action” section was short, so we included part of the “Why This Works” section. The rest is only available in the print version of Whaddaya Mean I Gotta Be Lean?)

Why this works

The Why this Works section is only available in print copies of Whaddaya Mean I Gotta Be Lean?