5S is a structured means to organize the workplace to ensure that supplies and equipment are available without fail.

For 5S Resources, click here.

It all starts with “learning to see”. The 7 wastes are:…

1. Motion
2. Rework
3. Waiting
4. Overproduction
5. Inventory
6. Conveyance
7. Overprocessing

The 7 Wastes & Waste Wheel:

• The 7 Wastes & Waste Wheel

To learn to see waste in your work setting, watch this short video and jot down your observations. What wastes can you identify? (Please feel free to use the waste wheel provided above).

Do a “Waste Walk” in your work environment & note your observations… Make your own waste wheel :).

*For more information, click here. More A3 resources coming soon.

An andon is a visual method for signaling that a problem has occurred, alerting that assistance is needed.

• Example: “I have a concern” sign – coming soon.

Kanban is a Japanese word for “sign” or “signboard“. In lean, kanban systems are used to improve managing and controlling the movement in a system.

A Kanban Replenishment System is currently in a gemba (workplace) trial at Harbor-UCLA’s General Internal Medicine Clinic. The system includes these Lean concepts:

• Kanban (visual signal there’s work to be done)
• Just-in-Time Pull System
• Visual Management of Inventory/Supplies
• First In First Out

Standardized Work is the “current best way” on how to complete a process: safest, highest quality, and most efficient. The standardized work team utilizes the template and describe the step by step actions in the appropriate sequence on how to execute a work process. The team comes up with the steps and every member of the team is encouraged to make suggestions to the standardized work.

Creating Standardized Work

A team of people who do the work comes into a consensus on what is the best way on how to complete a process. The team utilizes a template:

• Standardized Work Template – One Column – used for standardized work that does not require additional details within processes.
• Standardized Work Template – Two-Column – used for standardized work that requires more details and subprocesses.

Standardized Work Training.

Once standardized work has been written, teams can use the document as a training tool as shown below:

Standardized Work Observations

“Where there is no standard, there can be no Kaizen (Improvement)” – Taiichi Ohno

Standardized work observations allow the team to identify opportunities for improvement. Below is an example how providers utilize standardize work observations to emphasize that if a step is missed (or frequently missed), the team is encouraged and empowered to provide suggestions on how to ensure that processes are safe and effective.

Standardized Work Auditing

Auditing validates the steps written in the standardized work while at the gemba (where the work takes place). It is a team-based way of identifying opportunities for improvement. Team members are highly encouraged to observe colleagues and provide value added feedback and their ideas for improvement.

Visual Management is a key lean concept to make work visible to all. It is a commitment to transparency– acknowledging that we may not be where we want to be yet, but working on how we get to our ideal state. A Visual Management Board huddle allows the team to create an ultimate goal, and routinely discuss team-specific key performance indicators (KPIs), standardized work observations, completed projects, problem-solving ideas & suggestions, appreciations, team reminders & updates, and projects, timeline, & capacity. This allows staff to have opportunities to become problem solvers.

Visual Management Huddle Board Resources:

• Coming Soon