Small improvements once again

     Todays post is about wasted movement and just how much wasted movement we as individuals infuse into our processes.  While at work this week I have been observing this precept of a Lean lifestyle, which is to eliminate wasted movement and infuse every movement with value added motion to the end product.  Wow, my eyes were opened again.
     I've always considered myself a keen observer, with hobbies and such that require fine attention to detail, this cowboy thought he knew it all.  Well folks I'm here to tell you once again I don't, and will promptly admit fault to it.  My personal Yoda has challenged me quite a bit this week in the process aspect of my operations, and in true form I was enlightened when I observed.
     My team and I have been doing 60 hour weeks now for about 4 months due to customer demand outstripping supplty provided by a 40 hour work week.  All "senior team" hypothetical managment questions aside, it is our job to produce a quality product while driving out all waste possible.  This is difficult when faced with potential burnout and fatigue.  So what does the Lean Cowboy due to combat this.  He observes each and every process, looking to drive out the small bits of waste first.  The small bits of waste add up in seconds, seconds add up to minutes and minutes add up to hours.
When we decided to use screw aprons to hold our screws instead of bending over each and every time to get a hand full of screws, shoot them with an pneumatic screw gun, drop some on the floor, pick them back up with a magnet, etc.  We drove out quite a bit of waste.  No we didn't totally elimante dropping screws on the floor, but we significantly reduced it.  We also eliminated the constant need to reach into a box of screws below waist level.  Hence we reduced fatigue somewhat and eliminated movement.  Is this a huge win, not in the big scheme of things; yet it is a win none the less which drives out waste and increases our productivity.
     On our journey I'm learning something quite important, it isn't the homeruns you hit in the ninth inning that win the game.  It is the singles you hit during the game, it is the practice you put into the game during off time, it is the future vision you have of your workspace.  These are the things I'm learning that truly help one win the game.  The bonus to this is change and shift in culture.  My team is becoming engaged to look for these base hits and recognizing the value they are adding to the process of being a team of continious improvement zealots.  The small ideas we implemet and the results we are seeing improve morale, and that is what needs to maintained during 60 hour weeks.
     Well folks that is what I bring to the table this week from my time on the front line.  The small improvements we continue to make today, add up to improved overall processes in the future.  I'm not a Lean Jedi like Yoda, but my team and I are learning.

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