Speaker 1: Making workplaces more efficient is a huge subject with many philosophies trying to find the best approach. But what is the one concept that unites them all? The answer is continuous improvement. A continuous improvement strategy is a system that helps keep the focus on improving the way things are done on a regular basis. This could be through small incremental improvements or by focusing on achieving larger process improvements. Businesses that actively seek continuous improvement opportunities will have a much better chance of generating more value over time for both the customer and workers. Continuous improvement is an umbrella term that encompasses many methodologies. The first method on our list is the helpful concept of plan, do, check, act or PDCA. This is a cyclical process that continuously cycles through the four steps of improvement. In the planning phase, teams must measure current standards, brainstorm ideas for improvements, set objectives and create the plan of action. Next, the team must implement the plan that was created in the first step. This includes not only changing existing procedures but also adding training and support to accompany the changes. After implementing any changes, it's time to evaluate any improvements. The results must be analyzed and any corrective or preventative actions must be planned to achieve the desired changes. Finally, all of the existing data from the change is then analyzed by management teams to determine if the change will become permanent or further adjustments are needed. The next continuous improvement method on our list is lean. Implementing lean as a continuous improvement strategy allows the organization to eliminate waste throughout the facility. Waste is anything that doesn't add customer value. Traditionally, the eight wastes of lean are defects, products or services that don't meet company standards, therefore reducing value. Overproduction, producing too much of a product than demand requires, creating the need for more storage space. Waiting, the downtime between steps in a production process is wasted time. Non-utilized talent, not giving the employees the autonomy to succeed and help the organization explore new innovative ideas. Transportation, the unnecessary movement of materials in a production process. Inventory, stocking too much inventory wastes money in terms of storage space. Motion, excessive movement can involve people or equipment. This act wastes time. Excessive processing, steps in a process that don't add value for the customer but still cost the organization resources. In many ways, this continuous process improvement strategy works to eliminate problems rather than directly improve a process. The results are similar but by taking a waste focused approach, it is often easier to come up with goals from which improvement strategies can then be developed. Kaizen is a popular continual improvement strategy that has been around since the 1980s. This concept helps focus on improvements that are based on making a lot of small changes rather than fewer larger changes. A distinguishing feature of this method is that most of the ideas for change typically come from the frontline employees rather than management. Workers on the frontline are more directly impacted by problems and will be able to more easily identify where opportunities for improvements can be made. Kaizen can lead to a more engaged workplace and lead to long-term improvement. 5S is an organizational method that helps identify how a workplace should be organized to improve efficiency and effectiveness. This is achieved by identifying the requirements of each step in a process and ensuring all of the necessary tools are immediately available. The five steps are sort, set in order, shine, standardize, and sustain. Check out our dedicated video on 5S for more information. Having the right continuous improvement tools on hand is essential to the long-term success of any strategy. These tools can be anything that helps ensure the quality improvement process can move forward successfully. Floor marking tape is excellent for improving visual communication, which can help improve efficiency and boost safety, which is essential for improvement. Safety tack floor tape is durable and quick to install, making it a great alternative to messy, slow-drying painted lines. White boards can assist workers and management in formulating and monitoring plans for process changes. Facility labels and industrial label printers can help to organize equipment, ensure employees follow safety regulations, and improve process efficiency in the workplace. The LabelTac Pro X can print custom labels on-demand for safety, organization, and anything else your facility might need. Free label suite software makes designing labels from scratch easy. It also comes with helpful templates for barcoding, GHS, height marking, and much more. No matter your approach, continuous improvement is exactly what it means. Devising strategies and processes that help improve the way tasks are done on a regular basis. For more information, visit CreativeSafetySupply.com