Comments on: Time Observations – without Rigor, It’s Just Industrial Tourism

By: markrhamel

markrhamel — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 01:36:50 +0000

Hi David,

Thanks for the comment! Oh, I can pretty ticked off at times, but I usually keep it in check.

The important thing is that we all learn from our experiences – PDCA, everyday. In the specific situation that you’re referencing (a little inside information here, folks), I think it’s more a challenge in participant technical know how. So, we need a bit more rigor in the teaching and practicing and with that, demonstration that the skills and necessary insight are resident.

In any event, Ireland and Guinness rocks!

Best regards,
Mark

By: David

David — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 20:15:21 +0000

Mark, have to agree 100% with you, I’ve not seen you this passionate about a topic before and I understand your frustration. As with all processes we need standard work around everything and this is probably one area that gets over looked far too often. I know in the future it’s an area where we need to improve and I for one will be much stricter in this area when it comes to our kaizen prep work. Without these observations we are wasting everybody’s time!

By: markrhamel

markrhamel — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 18:55:50 +0000

Hi Brian,

“How can I help you develop patience?” Excellent, I love that! Nice coaching technique.

I think no patience = lack of humility or at least a gross lack of appreciation for direct observation. That’s a non-starter for any potential lean leader. I wish you luck with the conversion process.

Best regards,
Mark

By: Brian Buck

Brian Buck — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 17:03:30 +0000

Not too demanding at all.

I recently caoched a new leader who told me she intellectually understood the need to go to gemba but stated she “just doesn’t have the patience to stand and watch something”. I think I suprised her by asking what I can do to help her develop the patience. I was not going to let her keep that excuse to avoid gemba.

By: markrhamel

markrhamel — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 11:48:27 +0000

Hi Dale,

Thanks for your comment! Sounds like we both share the same perspective. You have articulated my “pain” very well…because you have experienced it.

Sounds like you are a great lean coach.

Best regards,
Mark

By: Dale Savage

Dale Savage — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 11:23:43 +0000

Too demanding? Absolutely not. This is also one of my pet peeves. It is frustrating to everyone involved, especially the operators of the processes, when time studies are not done correctly. Sometimes it is know-how, which can be corrected with training, but more often I find it to be an issue of pride – the person doing the study “already knows” what is happening and what the improvement items should be. That is when changes are made to a process based on assumptions that actually do not deal with the reality of the situation. In turn that creates cynicism in the associates which results in lack of trust in those who are proposing changes. This increases opposition to change overall, something which does not need any encouragement. So, it can be seen that lack of attention to time studies can have long-reaching effects. Again, are you too demanding? ABSOLUTELY NOT.

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Mon, 26 Jul 2010 06:53:32 +0000

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