Core answer
What is standard work?
Standard work describes the best known way to perform a task or process. It is not an endpoint, but the basis for seeing abnormalities, training people and improving deliberately.
Practical view
Why standard work is needed
Why is standard work not bureaucracy?
Poor standard work can become bureaucratic. Good standard work is visual, practical and helps people work safer, better and more consistently.
What is the link with Kaizen?
Without a standard, improvement is hard to recognise. Kaizen changes the standard when a better way has been proven.
Who creates standard work?
People close to the process must be involved. Leaders help by removing obstacles and using the standard consistently.
Deepening
Anchoring standard work
How do you keep standard work alive?
Use it in training, daily start-up, observation, problem solving and audits. Update it when learning proves a better method exists.
Which training helps?
Green Belt provides a basis in standard work and continuous improvement. Coaching helps teams sustain new routines in practice.
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