12.07.2006

Follow-Up: Management Roadblocks

The comments people have posted so far, responding to my request yesterday for examples of roadblocks to lean caused by management, certainly reveal some of the difficulties and frustrations in the workplace.


            One theme I see in several of the comments has to do with management engaging in the wrong kinds of behavior because they focus on the wrong metrics or on incorrect beliefs about performance. Some have to do with managers simply not understanding what lean is all about.


            Here and in future posts, I’ll discuss specific comments. I encourage others to do so as well, adding to what I say, offering alternative suggestions, and letting me know if you think my ideas are all wet.


            (I’ll intersperse these with other posts of news, research and trends about lean, the main focus of this blog.)


            The first comment comes from chess000, who writes:


 


            My biggest challenge with my middle manager is trying to agree on the conditions that make up a product family. It is difficult to have someone change their mindset on what has traditionally been classified as a family. Many times, we have determined this by size or function rather than by the process steps and cycle times. Our facility makes nearly 2000 different products and determining which of those fit into what families has proven extremely difficult.


 


            Often, it helps to go back to the fundamental reasons for a lean practice. Why do we classify products into families? By grouping products with similar process steps and cycle times, we can create manufacturing cells capable of performing those process steps, and therefore capable of producing all products in that group or family.


            I don’t know whether chess000’s company already has cells or is trying to create them. And I certainly don’t know whether the middle manager can be persuaded to see the light.


 


            But here’s one thought: Often, I find that HOW an issue is communicated has a significant impact on how that issue is addressed.


One communication strategy here might be to forget about discussing product families. Simply speak with management about cells – ‘I’m creating this manufacturing cell to produce this product, and I believe it could also be used to produce these products because they involve similar process steps.’ Highlight the benefits of being able to produce numerous products in a single cell.


That’s a small suggestion, and while it may not be the solution to this problem, I hope it might help.


Other ideas?


 

9 comments:

Ralph Bernstein said...

12/7/2006 3:46:52 PM
Re: Follow-Up: Management Roadblocks
By: dcbliss

I agree with Ralph - another angle may do the trick. It's tough for some people to look at things from a process perspective. Another thought might be to create a couple simple process maps to show the flow of material from place to place. The material flow view may be a way to show how things would work without even introducing the "product family" terminology. It could also show the commonality of material or process in a more visual way.

Obat Anak said...

Very interested in the contents and articles are published here.
Obat Jantung Lemah Anak
Obat Kejang Demam
Obat Kencing Berdarah
Obat Kelenjar Payudara
Obat Ginjal Kotor
Obat Pembesaran Limpa

Obat Balita said...

Consider the following health article :
Obat Diare Anak
Obat Campak Anak
Obat Batuk Anak
Obat Ginjal Bocor Untuk Anak
Obat Demam Anak
Obat Infeksi Telinga Anak
Obat Alergi Anak

Cara Mengatasi Vagina Gatal said...

New article :
Obat Penurun Darah Tinggi
Obat Keputihan Untuk Ibu Hamil
Cara Mengatasi Flu Tulang
Cara Mengobati Maag Kronis

Obat Sembelit said...

Information :
Obat Luka Knalpot
Tips Mengobati Asam Urat
Obat Infeksi Ginjal
Cara Mengobati Hepatitis
Obat Alami Penyakit Liver

Obat asam lambung said...

Sukses selalu untuk website ini.. kami menunggu postingan selanjutnya!!

obat asam urat said...

terimakasih untuk informasi nya,,,

Anonymous said...

Consider getting some Fb advertisement. It is possible to customize the ad in order that only folks of certain age or perhaps gender criteria notice. There are usually no long-term responsibilities required. You can easily stop the ad away from whenever you would like to
http://www.oceanictuna.co.uk |

http://www.fordschoolipe.org |

genesis-forwarding.co.uk |

www.justoffthefasttrack.co.uk |

http://www.multimediacollege.org |

rebeccaomonira.co.uk |

www.thewebconfessor.co.uk |

uniportbilbao |

www.mysupportcenter.biz |

process-spi.org |

Anonymous said...

That is one option, but I think they would need pretty much constant pruning if I leave them in their current spot. Most likely I'll transplant them, just can't decide whether to transplant them further back in the foundation bed or out to the backyard where they can climb a tree. But I appreciate your impassioned defense of the vines!!
http://www.toursofwicklow.com |

www.perusoutherntours.com |

kieslerautosucks.com |

emrsoftwaresite |

http://www.backtohealthnow.com |