Devoted to Managers and those that seek to improve their management skills

Norman Bodek wrote a great post a few days ago concerning the great value that our employees give us if we’ll only learn how to tap into it.

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He tells an inspiring story of taking a walk through a manufacturing plant for the purpose of discovering ways to achieve zero defects.

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This is how he tells us he did the job:

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“I simply went over to one operator after another and asked,”What defects have been recently found from this operation?"  I also asked them to give me examples.   Amazingly, information and examples poured out.  Since I teach Quick and Easy Kaizen I asked them to write each problem down on our Kaizen form; then I asked them to suggest ways to eliminate those defects and ideas poured forth.”

I know we probably have all heard the phrase ‘managing by walking around’ (mbwa) before, and here is an excellent example of Norman applying that principle.

When you learn to treat your employees with respect and ask for their input, you will be surprised at the amazing value they can add to your company through improving your products and services.

Norman concludes with this:

“What I learned was that these people have great ideas, but you have to ask them.  And we want them to come up with Poka-yoke ideas that absolutely prevent defects from occurring.  I am hopeful that quickly we will have hundreds of poka-yoke devices implemented by the operators themselves.” 

It is a wonderful journey for me to find such "jewels," in the average worker.  You must ask and not tell.

Value and treat your employees with respect and who knows what tremendous results you will get.