Standard Work – tentatively translated as Work Standards. The term “Standard Work” has various definitions and is sometimes interpreted differently.
Standard Work is the best method currently identified for performing a task, an operation, or a process.
(Source: isixsigma.com)
Standard Work is a verb, not a noun.
(Standard Work is a verb, and not a noun.)
This point was emphasized multiple times by Ms. Martha Purrier (author of Getting to Standard Work in Healthcare) during a specialized seminar on Hospital Quality Management held at Tu Du Hospital in 2014.
Most of us tend to assume that Standard Work refers to documented guidelines written in the form of processes, SOPs, or Work Instructions (in accordance with ISO systems). These documents are often stored on computer servers or in document files. In practice, when are these documents typically used? They are commonly used for new employee orientation training, for review by evaluation bodies, or for audits conducted by partner organizations. In many cases, Standard Work documents are created long ago and remain unchanged over time.
In essence, Standard Work should be understood as a theoretical foundation (a hypothesis), meaning an assumption that a particular method may be effective. It serves as a “theory” used to verify its effectiveness and to assess whether individuals are consistently following the same method at all times.
From this perspective, Standard Work is analogous to a clinical trial (in the healthcare field). It is implemented through a defined process, a method of consideration, an approach to handling or decision-making, or a specific instruction, with the purpose of evaluating whether a new method is better than the previous one (i.e., whether a new way is better or not).
By repeating the same method multiple times, output results are collected and evaluated to determine whether they meet the required standards. During this process, issues, deviations, and obstacles may also be identified in actual work conditions. The more frequently this experimentation is conducted, the faster process data can be collected, and the more rapidly the effectiveness of the new method can be monitored.
Standard Work must be supported, respected, trained, and strictly implemented by all relevant stakeholders (especially managers and direct supervisors through training activities and gemba walks at the workplace). Otherwise, Standard Work does not carry meaningful value or provide tangible benefits. This is because employees may continue to perform tasks in their own ways, variations will persist, and results will remain unchanged. This constitutes the most challenging aspect.
Standard Work has several key characteristics:
- Standard Work is not the final outcome; rather, it is a means to establish stability and reduce variation (while enhancing the ability to detect and address deviations in a timely manner).
- Standard Work aims to capture accumulated experience and learning, representing what may be considered the current best method.
- Standard Work serves as a critical foundation for the improvement process. This foundation enables the identification of new methods that are safer, more accurate, and more efficient, while preventing regression.
An important note is that Standard Work is not solely the product of engineering or management levels, nor is it merely stored in document form.
Standard Work is an integral part of operational processes and encourages employee participation. In this way, it promotes engagement, understanding, compliance, and continuous improvement among those directly involved in daily work.
A common misconception is that once Standard Work is documented and issued, it becomes fixed and cannot be changed. As a result, Standard Work may become a barrier that hinders creativity, innovation, and efforts to identify new solutions.
The PDSA cycle (Plan – Do – Study – Act) is a method used to establish Standard Work and to experiment with improvements in order to continuously identify better practices.
When establishing Standard Work, the following factors should be considered:
- Consulting reference materials with clear and reliable sources
- Clearly understanding input standards from suppliers (materials and resources)
- Understanding standard operating conditions and equipment parameters
- Evaluating storage conditions and layout arrangements
- Ensuring that employees know how to perform tasks correctly – a highly effective method is Job Instruction (ensuring that employees perform work correctly, safely, and with commitment)
In conclusion, it is important to recognize that Standard Work serves as the bedrock for systematically capturing the best available knowledge (best practices), thereby preventing regression, variation, and instability. However, it is essential to avoid assuming that Standard Work is absolute and unchangeable, as this may create a “barrier effect” that inhibits questioning, exploration, improvement, and change.
Standard Work provides the foundation for continuous improvement and forward progress.
Image source: http://www.deming.org
If you are interested in exploring Work Standards, Standard Work, and Standardization in greater depth, please contact us.
