Improving Business Performance With Lean

Chapter 7

Standardize

Standardizing a process means to define a set of steps that are followed every time the process is executed. We argued in chapter 5 that it is important these definitions be as detailed and comprehensive as possible. In particular, these aspects of processes can be defined and standardized:

1. Order of process steps
2. Order of tasks within each process step
3. Tools, equipment, jigs, and fixtures used
4. Workstations where particular tasks are performed
5. Materials used
6. The environment in which the process is executed
7. Specifications that define when a task is completed successfully
8. Locations where materials, tools, and equipment can be found
9. How materials are presented to workers (e.g., location and orientation)

A value stream map ...