Changes within company processes are a critical part of adapting to new environments and developing structures that allow for growth. The analysis of these changes often look simple on paper, but the implementation of changes require an approach that eases in this change on a shop-floor level. In developing this approach, it is critical to ensure that both the process change as well as the implications on the shop-floor level are understood in depth.
The following ABCs can assist with providing questions that guide decisions around change management on the shop-floor:
Adaptability
How adaptable are the processes that are currently in place? When making changes, it is important to use the existing processes as building blocks for future processes. This allows employees to develop their current skills rather than requiring completely new skillsets. Adaptability, however, goes both ways. Besides adapting existing processes, the proposed changes should also be adaptable. It is critical to establish the main business objective achieved by individual process changes and to be able to develop adaptable approaches to reaching this objective. These practical adaptations can allow for a clearer perspective on the actual status of processes on the shopfloor and assists with identifying continuous improvement opportunities.
Beneficiality
How are these changes beneficial to different teams and their processes? Clarifying the benefits of change on various levels within the business structure ensures that all involved parties are working towards the same goal. A significant portion of shopfloor processes are performed as part of daily habit and breaking these habits require a conscious effort to achieve something better. Benefits are the driving force behind change and communicating the benefits achieved within each team motivates teams to drive their own change and simplifies the change management process.
Comprehensiveness
How comprehensive is the solution that is being implemented? Change management includes a cyclic approach between problem identification and solution development. It is beneficial to run through multiple iterations of the solution development before identifying the final solution that will be implemented. This ensures that the final solution can be implemented as a comprehensive change, rather than a series of fragmented changes. The shop-floor processes are thus subjected to stable change management which allows a smooth transition from one process to the next and minimises interruptions on the shop-floor.
Ensuring that solutions are adaptable, beneficial and comprehensive can simplify shop-floor change management and assist with a smooth transition between existing and improved processes. There is a diverse range of approaches available within solution development and businesses can leverage the variety to drive business growth within changing environments.
At SupplyGenix our knowledge is built on a strong business engineering foundation which empowers us to offer our clients technology solutions that are practical, scalable and realistic to all levels in your organisation.