Operations Director Rob Mays presents the fundamentals of 5S to a group of receiving associates. Notice that none of the associates are sleeping! A positive sign!
A group of associates from production and delivery are working on the 5S word search exercise. This exercise is comprised of a series of six word search puzzles and demonstrates the power of what 5S can do when applied and sustained. 5S principles work whether applied to a word search, and simulation, or real life distribution work.
Associates are drawing houses as part of an exercise designed to demonstrate the power of using visual controls to achieve a standard outcome. A picture is worth a thousand words!
As expected, associates adapted to the training in different ways. Few showed outward resistance, but comments sometimes betrayed their skeptical thoughts. A few associates were quickly enthusiastic supporters of these newly introduced principles, they see the power! Most associates are taking a wait and see approach ... if they begin to see value, they will become supportive of our LEAN effort.
Culture is the biggest obstacle in Phoenix. Many long-term associates want to continue to work in the same processes as in the past. For some, change is a challenge in itself. While our associates are changing at different speeds from one another, they are changing. Little by little, people are learning to see things differently, through new eyes. Ideas are beginning to bubble up from the front line people. As we execute those good ideas, more will come forward as associates develop the knowledge and confidence that they can indeed make a difference in their work place and the performance of their team!
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