Tips from the Hub Incubator: Standardizing Work
Making Work Sustainable
Quick Guide
Are you ready?
- You are making money on sales
- You have employees
Map out key business processes
- Start and end with the customer
- Identify key steps necessary to deliver value
- Sequence those steps using a SIPOC
Save the good
- Identify systems already in place
- Mark where they are used in the processes
Standardize
- First, Implement 5S
- Identify repetitive tasks
- Have the people doing the work determine the best way to execute these tasks
- Create a sequence
- Test it
- Train everyone
- Begin continuous improvement
Why Standardize Work?
Work Smarter
Do you wish there were more of you? That you could be just a bit smarter and more productive? Every startup is an “all hands on deck” experience, and people get used to solving every problem through hard work and know-how.
At some point, however, you need to start working smarter. The first step is to standardize work where possible.
Empower Your People
Everyone likes to talk about empowering employees, but real empowerment comes from having a purpose, the skill to do good work, and the authority to do it. Standardizing ensures that everyone knows why they’re there and are working toward the same purpose.
Make More Money
Standardizing speeds up operations, and cuts cost. The result is that you have more time and money to solve the hard problems that really need your attention, and with those problems out of the way, you’ll make more money. Standardizing is the key.
The Quality Journey
Standardizing is just the beginning. Quality Management System registrations signal a level of competence to customers and can drive new business.
How We Help
We’ve standardized work at startups, and implemented quality management systems. We've experienced the benefits that even small improvements can make.