Hack:
Work Less - Get More Done

In any business process limit the amount of work in process (WIP). In production cut WIP in half. In project environments - do the same. Don't forget that many environments not normally considered production or project oriented are still analogous to one or the other of these two. For instance the sales process is like a production process. To achieve a quick success the cut in WIP must be immediate and deep.

 

The result in most environments will be lead-times cut in half, priorities will become much clearer, some capacity will be gained and delivery reliability will improve. The sum of all these will be a greater ability to compete.

 

The challenge is getting an organisation to agree to try this medicine. Resistance is fear of what could happen if it does not work because the suggestion goes almost entirely against common practice. Managers try to keep all resources busy (a resource standing idle is a major waste) - if the suggestion is followed some resources will be idle some of the time. Supply Chains lengthen lead-times when demand is high while not recognizing their high level of wIP is often production that is not needed yet. Big batches lead to high WIP, long lead times, missed due dates and production that is not needed - often for quite a long time.

 

Uses Little's Law of Professor Little MIT