Lean Leadership BASICS

Chapter 6

Jidoka—The Logical Extension of Improving Business Practices

DOI: 10.4324/9781315155227-6

We are still in Step 2 of our Leadership Development Path (see Figure 6.1). On the shop floor or in an office environment, abnormalities should be clearly and immediately visible in the workplace and fixed in real time. This requires defect-free processes to support a one-piece flow (or just-in-time, JIT) system; thus, our number one goal is built-in quality at the design stage. If this is not possible, then we need 100% defect prevention at the source. If this is not the case, then the system breaks down and delays occur. The only way to prevent defects from escaping to the customer is to inspect 100% of the parts at each operation by a machine, ...