Last Updated on March 19, 2023 by Ossian Muscad
The topic of standard work comes up frequently when discussing continuous improvement with leaders and managers. It serves as the cornerstone for improvement, so we believe it deserves a prominent position in the discussion. Without a current stable state, improvement cannot be monitored or assessed.
A Standard Work Checklist typically includes a list of tasks and detailed instructions for completing each task. It may also include images or diagrams to help clarify specific steps. The checklist should be easy to read and follow, with clear headings and instructions.
In addition to helping ensure consistent performance, a Standard Work Checklist can also be used to identify areas for improvement in a process. As a result, organizations can streamline their operations and improve efficiency by reviewing the checklist and looking for areas where tasks may be redundant or unnecessary.
In this article, we’ll explain what standard work is, what a standard work checklist is, and how to create one, and we’ll give you some tips for getting started with an automated checklist.
What is Standard Work?
Standard Work comprehensively describes the most recently recommended techniques for carrying out an activity or procedure. In addition, instructions, helpful visuals, and other elements are included in standard work documentation to guarantee that work is completed consistently regardless of who completes it.
The people who perform the job where it is performed have access to the Standard Work. As a result, four essential questions are often addressed by Standard Work:
- Who does what?
- When do you do it?
- How do you do it?
- Why do you do it that way?
Another traditional definition of standard work claims that it consists of three elements, which is especially accurate in manufacturing:
- Takt time: Takt time is the rate at which products must be finished to satisfy client demand. Take your available production time and divide it by the number of units your clients request for your takt time. You should balance takt time with cycle time while developing and documenting.
- Work sequence: Keep a record of the job task’s steps. An instrument known as a standard work chart is frequently used for this.
- Standard Work in Process (SWIP): It is the specified minimum quantity of content required to maintain the flow of your Standard Work. The job must also be balanced to the takt time and assigned to a single operator, among other things.
Why is Standard Work Important?
Anything that you want to enhance must first be understood as it is. It is difficult to improve and impossible to determine the effects of improvements if processes or activities are not carried out consistently. Other advantages to standard work exist as well. It makes onboarding new staff simpler. It guarantees that processes produce consistent outputs. Additionally, it lessens the chance of making a mistake.
Who Creates the Standard Work?
This is a significant query. Management should not establish the standard of work. Instead, it should be developed jointly by those who perform the work. The best people to understand how the work is currently done are those who perform the work. Participating in the standard’s development with them encourages them to care about the result and take an active role in its advancement.
What is a Standard Work Checklist?
A standard work checklist is a document or tool that outlines the steps or tasks necessary to complete a specific process or activity. It is often used in manufacturing, healthcare, and other industries where consistent and reliable performance is essential.
A standard work checklist ensures that every process step is performed consistently and accurately, regardless of who performs the task. It can also be a training tool for new employees, helping them learn the proper procedures and reducing the risk of errors or accidents.
What Should Be Included in a Standard Work Checklist?
A standard work checklist should include all the steps or tasks necessary to complete a specific process or activity and detailed instructions for each task. Here are some of the key elements that should be included in a standard work checklist:
- Task descriptions: Each task should be clearly defined and described in detail so that the person performing the task understands exactly what needs to be done.
- Task sequence: The tasks should be listed in the order in which they need to be performed so that the person performing the tasks can follow a logical and efficient sequence.
- Acceptance criteria: The checklist should include specific criteria for determining when each task has been completed. This may consist of measurable standards, such as time limits, quality standards, or output levels.
- Required tools and materials: The checklist should include a list of all the tools, equipment, and materials needed to perform each task to ensure that everything is available and ready when needed.
- Safety considerations: The checklist should include any safety considerations or precautions that must be taken when performing each task to ensure the process is completed safely.
- Quality control measures: The checklist should include any quality control measures that need to be taken during or after each task to ensure that the final product or output meets the required quality standards.
- Troubleshooting guidance: The checklist should include any guidance or instructions for addressing common issues or problems that may arise during the process.
By including all of these elements in a standard work checklist, organizations can ensure that their processes are performed consistently and accurately, with a focus on safety, quality, and efficiency.
How To Create An Automated Standard Work Checklist?
Creating an automated standard work checklist can help improve efficiency, reduce errors, and provide consistent, high-quality service. Here are the steps in creating an automated standard work checklist:
- Define the process: Identify the specific process or activity for which you want to create a Standard Work Checklist. Define the tasks, sequence, acceptance criteria, required tools and materials, safety considerations, quality control measures, and a troubleshooting guide.
- Choose a software platform: Choose a software platform or application that can help you create and automate your Standard Work Checklist. Many options include workflow automation tools, project management software, and checklist software.
- Design the checklist: Using the software platform, design the checklist based on the process definition. Add each task, along with detailed instructions, acceptance criteria, required tools and materials, safety considerations, quality control measures, and troubleshooting guidance.
- Add automation features: Configure the software platform to automate certain aspects of the Standard Work Checklist. For example, you may be able to set up alerts or notifications for specific tasks, automatically generate reports or metrics based on checklist completion, or integrate the checklist with other systems or applications.
- Test and refine: Test the automated Standard Work Checklist with a small group of users, and refine the design as needed based on feedback and performance data.
- Train and implement: Train the relevant personnel on using the automated Standard Work Checklist and implementing it in the relevant processes. Monitor the checklist performance and usage over time, and make adjustments as needed to ensure that it continues to provide value and improve efficiency.
By following these steps, organizations can create an automated standard work checklist that helps ensure consistent, high-quality performance while reducing the risk of errors and improving efficiency.
Why is DataMyte a Great Choice?
DataMyte provides various software solutions to help organizations improve their quality control and data management processes. Some of the key features of their software, Digital Clipboard, include real-time data collection and analysis, automated reporting, integration with other systems and applications, and customizable dashboards and interfaces.
One of the benefits of using DataMyte is that their software has low-code capabilities and is designed to be user-friendly and easy to use, with intuitive interfaces and clear instructions. This can help reduce the learning curve and make it easier for employees to adopt and incorporate the software into their daily work processes.
