Standardized Work ◾ 69
sales and cycle times, allow us to see our production condition at a
glance. Are we ahead or behind? Is there a problem?
3. Organizational learning: Standardized work preserves know-how
and expertise. If a veteran employee leaves, we won’t lose his or her
experience.
4. Audit and problem solving: Standardized work allows us to assess our
current condition and identify problems. Checkpoints and vital process
steps are easy to track. We are able to ask important questions:
a. Are team members able to do the process smoothly or are they fall-
ing behind?
b. If they are falling behind, by how much and in what job elements?
c. How can we improve these elements?
5. Employee involvement and poka-yoke: In the Lean system ...