I had a really interesting conversation at the end of a workshop yesterday. The person I got talking to was concerned that although they now knew how to implement the changes they were unsure as to when they would be able to do the work - it just seemed like too much.
The basic application of the Takt Time approach, that follows, was how we ended the conversation.
First, the person I spoke to assessed the work content and estimated a work content value in hours.
Second, we determined how many weeks were left on the project's timeline.
Third, we divided the number of weeks into the work content, to give us a 'work hours per week' figure.
The problem of when the work will be completed had now become tangible for this person. This is just one approach to use when implementing projects is a struggle; there are other approaches, but this use of the Takt Time idea can help many people to progress their improvement plans. If they look 'too big' they can often just sit there, never becoming more than a plan. It's the results we want and therefore any strategy that helps us to implement the change is worth considering.
If you are struggling with getting your projects moving, once you have figured out what to do, then why not try this simple approach and see what happens?
Giles Johnston
Author of Business Process Re-Engineering
The basic application of the Takt Time approach, that follows, was how we ended the conversation.
First, the person I spoke to assessed the work content and estimated a work content value in hours.
Second, we determined how many weeks were left on the project's timeline.
Third, we divided the number of weeks into the work content, to give us a 'work hours per week' figure.
The problem of when the work will be completed had now become tangible for this person. This is just one approach to use when implementing projects is a struggle; there are other approaches, but this use of the Takt Time idea can help many people to progress their improvement plans. If they look 'too big' they can often just sit there, never becoming more than a plan. It's the results we want and therefore any strategy that helps us to implement the change is worth considering.
If you are struggling with getting your projects moving, once you have figured out what to do, then why not try this simple approach and see what happens?
Giles Johnston
Author of Business Process Re-Engineering