Does Shopfloor Empowerment Always Produce Results?

Shopfloor empowerment is one of the best current ways to get better performance indicators, get the people more involved in productivity, get the people involved in improvement, reduce accidents and make the people aware of their own job. Indeed there are several things to be observed in order to ensure the success of such management tools or programs like avoid rushing for results, ensure the first steps are going to result positive for every one, provide training where and when needed, provide tools to work with, explain situation very clearly, etc. There are only a few situations that empowerment can lead to a loss of control, but that only happens when control has not been provided. When these plans are assessed by outer consultants, the success rate and satisfaction is higher. Anyway, empowerment is needed when tools like 5S, TPM, SMED...from Kaizen, LEAN and six sigma tools and systems are implemented.

Hi Blog Initiator,

Yes, operators must given absolute no responsibility for the quality and the quantity. The owner of the business, the designer of the product and the work and/or the manager on the shopfloor are the responsible people.

Most importantly, they have to write down a complete and precise STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURS, train people that operators be able to do the work without difficulties by respecting a normal production cycle and deliver the designed quality. It's feasible and the best method to produce quality things at any shopfloor in linear, U-shaped or cellular system. Why? Because working people know what and how to do through training, having adequate tools and working equipment. That way operators are knowledgeable about every aspect of the work, the WHATs and HOWs.

Also, first, use FLOWCHART to design the work: equipment, tools, and workers with their places. Second, utilize PDSA cycle every time you want or need to change something, including raw materials, equipment and time.

The operator will follow the standard operating procedures and the company will obtain the designed quality product to the satisfaction of the company's customer.

I was during decades responsible to products (paints and coatings) made by people working under my supervision. The result was 700 gallons reworkable and sellable waterbourne paint with some aliphatic solvent in - the error - on a total of 8.25 million gallons. They, the operators are not responsible for quality or the product! I wish the same performance to anyone , Gil.