> Continuous Improvement Strategies

A part of your job is harder than it should be.

Last updated by Jeff Hajek on September 11, 2019

In any job, you will encounter difficult aspects of the work. Lean companies are no exception. Fortunately, in a Lean organization, there are established methods for both dealing with the problem tasks, as well as for justifying the need to make the improvement.

Problem

A part of your job is harder than it should be.

How this affects you

You start fuming whenever you have to do a particular task and you avoid it until it absolutely has to be done.

In some cases, the task might be physically uncomfortable, like having to press a tight part into place with your thumb; or it might be dangerous, like having to install a heavy part above your head. It could also be something upsetting, like having to tell a demanding customer about yet another delay in the shipment of his product.

Action to Take

Ask for a project to fix the problem. If it is small, you might get some time freed up to work on it or even some assistance. If it is a big issue, you might get a kaizen to resolve it.

You have a better chance of getting a project if you can talk about it in a way that emphasizes what is important to the company: bottom-line results, higher productivity, fewer defects, and of course, safety. Be specific.

Why this works

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


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