Comments on: Kaizen Your Workspace For Ultimate Productivity

By: Brad Isaac

Brad Isaac — Tue, 24 Jul 2007 18:47:57 +0000

Joejean, thanks for pointing that out, I’ve corrected it. Currently, I can’t afford a copy editor for this blog, but I appreciate the suggestion.

By: joejean

joejean — Tue, 24 Jul 2007 17:17:13 +0000

“For everything needs *its* place.”
Not it’s……

In order to continuously improve your writing, copy editors are worth the price– that is, if you want your piece to be taken seriously.

By: Jim

Jim — Mon, 04 Jun 2007 21:46:12 +0000

Brad,

Of course… if it’s going to irritate you then don’t do it. Assuming your a one person show the effort may not make that much difference and you should do what makes sense. Take the scenario for your typical “mail room” though and try to find something, with drawers and cabinets it’s really difficult and if every item doesn’t have a defined location in plain sight they tend to wander and drift.

Here is how I look at an area when I walk in: Without asking someone at a glance can I tell what the status is or whats going on? What supplies need to be replenished (from raw materials to office supplies like paper), how much work (queue) does a person or machine have? These questions can typically be answered through solid 5S activities and visual controls.

-Jim

By: Brad Isaac

Brad Isaac — Mon, 04 Jun 2007 14:23:47 +0000

Hi Jim, thanks for stopping by. Yes, I can do some of that, but can there be a balance between style and substance and still be lean?

By: Fran

Fran — Mon, 04 Jun 2007 05:15:51 +0000

I think there are also disadvantages with labeling. One would be for snoopers. If the things in your office are well labeled, they wouldn’t have any problem finding things. Either way, the main point is to find things in our office or home more faster.

By: Jim

Jim — Sat, 02 Jun 2007 17:14:33 +0000

Brad,

Glad to see you are putting the information in the course to action! Now I would challenge you to step up your office 5S by not putting tools that you need/use in drawers or other places (remove cabinet doors) that are not in plain view. For loose items cheap clear plastic bins or small totes work extremely well.

It’s all about productivity and reducing waste, if the tools a person needs to perform a task are not at their finger tips it’s wasting time having to look for them…

-Jim

By: Brad Isaac

Brad Isaac — Sat, 02 Jun 2007 10:51:47 +0000

Here's how to add a little Kaizen to your life - for beginners only! http://tinyurl.com/3xtxbn

By: Brad Isaac

Brad Isaac — Fri, 01 Jun 2007 20:05:23 +0000

One other advantage of labelling stuff - especially around the house - is kids and spouses alike can get the hang of where stuff goes. Melanie, as I work through I'll be sure and post experiences. I don't know a whole lot about Jim Sansi except he runs The Kaizen Business Blog - which is an interesting read.

By: Melanie

Melanie — Fri, 01 Jun 2007 06:48:19 +0000

Great article. I love to use my LabelWriter (office and home), too. Alas, my LW model doesn’t work with Vista which means I have to boot a second computer to print them at home. Once you get a solution for a problem, the next problem immediately comes up.

When I went to the Lean System Business Course site, I started wondering about the little info on it about the author and what I’d get for the money. Yes, I peeked into the video (not the whole though). Can you give more information as you did the course?

By: Alan

Alan — Fri, 01 Jun 2007 01:27:59 +0000

I also have the same thought about labeling things in the office. It may sound ridiculous and that it will also be a waste of time to label everything, but it’s indeed useful, especially when you are in a hurry and you forget where you put it.