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Competing Ideas:
Different Approach, Different Result
In this month’s column I compare the results of two companies
that set out to improve workplace organization. Although the two
companies began in a similar manner, their efforts followed distinctly
different paths and yielded very different results.
Forward Co., Inc. began its organization effort with 5S
technique training (sort, set in order, shine, standardize, and sustain)
for workplace organization and standardization.
Following the training, Forward Co. selected an area to
pilot the program. A small group of employees spent three days sorting
items that were not needed; creating lines, labels and signs to identify
locations for the things that were needed; and developing a cleaning
schedule showing who was responsible for cleaning, what was to be
cleaned and when. Next, the team agreed on a series of workplace
standards applicable to all who worked in the area. One of the standards
was a daily 10-minute cleanup to be performed at the end of each shift.
Another standard established a designated location for staging material
needed for upcoming jobs. Everyone committed to meeting these workplace
organization standards. A questionnaire checklist was developed that
would objectively measure the effectiveness of the workplace
organization. Area employees agreed to complete this checklist every
week and post the results in a visible location for review. It was also
agreed that a fixed amount of time would be set aside once a month to
allow for corrective action on recurring problems that were noted on the
checklist.
One year later, Forward Company’s pilot workplace is
well organized and the 5S program has been put into effect in other
departments in the company.
Stayput Corp. started its program in much the same way
as Forward Co. After investing time in 5S training, employees selected
an area for the organization pilot program. Unnecessary items were
sorted out and locations were established for storage of the items
needed in the area. The area was thoroughly cleaned and sufficient
cleaning supplies were made available to keep the area clean.
Organization standards were developed and the employees even planned a
periodic audit of the workplace. Everyone seemed to buy into the program
and improved organization seemed achievable.
Unfortunately for Stayput Corp., the activities
completed during its three-day 5S event were the first and the last to
be completed with regard to workplace organization. One year later, the
5S program is just a memory and workplace organization has not improved.
Many employees wonder whatever happened to the program.
Why did these two companies have such different results
after applying the same workplace organization program?
Forward Co. insisted that the workplace organization
checklist be completed and posted every week. A schedule was made
showing who was to complete the checklist for a particular week.
Managers showed interest in the scores and would inquire if the
checklist was not up-to-date. The company also supported the 10-minute
end-of-shift cleanup that the area workers felt was important and
allowed time once a month to address the organization problems
discovered by the area workers. The company showed visible interest and
periodically thanked the employees for keeping the area clean and
organized. Forward Co. followed through on its commitment.
Stayput Corp. did not encourage area workers to take
ownership of the area and allowed non-compliance to agreed-upon
workplace organization standards to go unchallenged. Managers did not
check whether the area audits were being performed and eventually,
everyone forgot about the time and effort expended to get the area
organized in the first place. Perhaps the biggest problem was that the
company did not believe an organization effort would be successful in
the long term, creating a self-fulfilling prophecy of failure.
If your company is considering implementing a
organization effort follow the approach of “Forward Co. Inc.” while
learning from the mistakes of “Stayput Corp.”
Article courtesy of MMS Online.
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