Standard work is a simple written description of the safest, highest quality, and most efficient way known to perform a particular process or task by a single operator. Standard work reduces variation, increases consistency, productivity and is continually improved.
Standardized work is created by using these steps:
1. Define the extent of the process for which you are creating standard work, the start and endpoint:
- Determine the steps and function in each multi-function process
- Employees doing the same job will use the same standardized work templates and processes
- The start and end points of a process need to be standardized
2. Gather the required information:
Observe employees doing the same work to determine how much variation there is from task to task and employee to employee. Compare this with the benchmarks of leading competitors.
3. Determine the standard work requirements to include in the standard work document including:
- Task or process title
- Document location and ownership
- Work area
- Document author
- Document revision date
- Work sequences
- Cycle times
- Process Takt time
4. Create the standard work documents based on your known data and benchmarks.
5. Train supervisors on the standard work they are the “owners” of the process and must understand it in order to train others to do it correctly.
6. Train the employees to do the standard work. Each employee must be able to demonstrate their ability to perform the standard work correctly.
7. Run the process after establishment of the standard work and observe the results. Once employees are trained start the process and make observations to look for improvements.
8. Determine any waste and make adjustments and modifications to the standard work. The standard work document is a living document and should be changed based on your observations.