SDCA (Standardize, Do, Check, and Act) with LEAN principles. The SDCA cycle is simply a refinement of the PDCA (Plan, Do, Check, and Act) cycle. The goal of both processes is to stabilize production. Many companies use this process to improve their product or service. Here is what your company may want to know about this process.
1. LEAN Marketing with SDCA
Marketing cycles can be improved with iterative processes. Customer value is most often the focus of LEAN marketing with SDCA. When companies use LEAN combined with SDCA, they often have a greater degree of success.
2. Keep in Mind that Standardization Requires Tenacity
Improving a process, even with automation, is never easy. Once a process is standardized, it can become the foundation for a subsequent improvements or kaizen activity. No kaizen process can be established without some sort of standard work first. When companies follow this process, they can accomplish things faster, easier, better, and cheaper.
3. SDCA Ensures the Entire Organization is Following Procedure
SDCA process involves auditing to ensure that the procedures followed are standardized. The process requires every employee across the organization to adhere to the principles that will yield standardized work. If the procedure is not followed, there may be countermeasures to restore the process to normal after the reason for failure or lack of adherence is determined. Some of the most common reasons why procedures are not followed is because of willful disobedience, and insufficient training.
4. Employees Need Patience to Successfully Execute SDCA
Most experts require that employers experiment with standardized work for a period of time before best practices are implemented in writing. This will ensure that the process is repeatable by whomever reads the instructions and follows the process. When everyone can be instructed on how to consistently execute th process, then the process may be disseminated across the company. This is why it requires patience to successfully execute SDCA.
5. Andon Teaches Employees to Respect the Process
If the process is not sufficient or it’s not consistently repeatable, some employers apply andon. The andon pull will solicit leaders attention and call them to escalate the process when necessary. Problem solving begins the andon process. If you respect the process, then you’ll have better results and better lean leaders.
6. Pay Attention to Sales SDCA
When you consider sales SDCA, you’ll recognize the areas where you can improve in your processes. This is an important part of creating a valuable product that has a high degree of consistency with the public. Tactical execution or SDCA may involve the help of a creative team, but its not the wisest decision. These processes are often more inefficient.
The SDCA Cycle for LEAN
The SDCA cycle for LEAN is necessary in any organization that values perfection. Companies like General Electric, and Motorola have implemented these processes and have improved their productivity levels and reduced their error levels significantly.
Even Toyota has benefitted from this process by producing a vehicle that outlasts most vehicles on the road. The vehicles have longevity that is not present with and other type of process available. Every company should strive to improve their processes and produce products that outshine and outlast the competition. This is what the SDCA cycle for LEAN can do for your company.
Study the basic principles of SDCA and learn how the process works for your company. Keep in mind that it will require patience and perseverance to implement the process. When the objectives are completed and the process is perfected, your company will run smoother, and your productivity levels will improve. A better product should yield more sales and increase revenue, and that’s what business is all about. Isn’t it?
Additional Resources
- An In-Depth History of the Kaizen PDCA Cycle– creativesafetysupply.com
- PDCA Cycle Tips– blog.creativesafetysupply.com
- The Principles Of Lean Manufacturing– lean-news.com
- Understanding Lean Principles– blog.5stoday.com
- The Benefits of Lean Manufacturing– iecieeechallenge.org
- Kaizen in the Workplace– babelplex.com
- Lean Manufacturing: Streamlining Operations for Optimal Efficiency– realsafety.org
- What Does A Company Utilizing 5s Lean Management Stand To Gain?– 5snews.com
- Lean Manufacturing with 5S– hiplogic.com