Coming to SeeHidden Factories5 ways to shine a light on what is really happening in our activities and processes

Created by Tom Curtis 2012Blog: www.onimproving.blogspot.comPresentations: on www.slideshare.net/onimproving Email: ideamerchants@gmail.comTwitter: @onimproving

What is a Hidden Factory?

The unseen and unknown world of what is really happening in processes and activities.

Not all that one finds in a hidden factory is wrong or bad. In some cases it is better

serving the customer than the “official process”.

The problem is that it is different than the official.

but why?

Why is different a problem?

The negative possibilities The positive possibilities

unsafeunsound

costlydefect producing

brokendamaging

unsustainable

more productivemore efficientmore current

more innovativeprogressivemore skilledmore robust

These are still an issue.

Why are positive possibilities an issue?

The positive possibilities

more productivemore efficientmore current

more innovativeprogressivemore skilledmore robust

1. May not be done by everyone2. May require special skill3. May require better understanding4. May be usable elsewhere as well

The Issue?Can change without us knowing.

(This can be really really bad.)May not be as good as it might be.

Good or Badwe

mustunhide

theHidden Factory.

If you do not think you have one,

it is

LARGE and THRIVING.

5 ways to shine a light on a hidden factory

Trust is a

must and without it any attempt will be a

bust.

But

First ..

..

Think mission of

understandingnot raid.

SeeGo and...

Be

Re

Free

We

SeeGo and...

Be

Re

Free

We

Trust is a

must and

without it any

attempt will be a

bust.The goal is to understand.

These are

not a seq

uence,

but ofte

n used in

concer

t.

SeeGo and...Go and See is to watch and observe. To spend time required to understand what the purpose of the process is,

how the process works, and what the people do. This necessitates an

investment to both understand the standard or expectation and the current process. We need to be careful to ensure what we see

reflects what happens all the time.

FreeGo and...Go and Free is to remove barriers in

discussion with those who work in the area. To provide freedom to be open

and honest about what happens. This requires trust and time. This is important because it helps to reveal

aspects that cannot be seen and can provide the why it is done, backstory, and insight into the thinking behind

the changes. We will set free.

BeGo and...Go and Be is to attempt or try. We

can “work the line” or “build the report”. In learning by doing we will

gain an appreciation for what is done. We will understand how well the

standard or expectation fits the task. We will see ways we would do it

differently. We may understand why the standard was not updated or

adjusted. We will experience.

WeGo and...Go and We is to work together. We

will not find the hidden factory if there is a feeling of us and them. There

must be a feeling of we. We can work to understand why the standard is not followed. Is it too hard, not realistic, not sufficient, too old, unknown, non

existent? We can come to understand and improve together. We must avoid the urge to believe that the

difference is disobedient in nature.

ReGo and...Go and Re is to do the RE words-

Review, Reset, & Research. Review-What is the Standard?

Reset-What is the current state?Research-Why is the process functioning in the way it is?

In the RE’s we can find understanding of the gap between the standard or

expectation and reality.

Now What?

Get it Straight:

Corrector

Update

Correct-Bring back to Standard. Make adjustments necessary to meet requirements.

Update-Make adjustments to the Standard. Help the new standard the become current.

Repeat often.