5 Ways to Improve Efficiency & Productivity

Every business owner should be focused on improving efficiency.  Waste is a thief and should be eliminated. But before you run out and spend a fortune on an expensive consultant, try these 5 methods first. 

1. Training
   Teach people to work smarter with the tools they already have.  There are plenty of free online training resources so find some and get cracking.  Every hour you spend on training will pay you back within days.
   
   
2. Automation
   Mechanize or computerize repetitive steps that don't require any real thinking. Let human workers focus on tasks that only humans can do. Let machines do everything else.
   
   
3. Flowcharts
   Very few businesses have ever actually flow charted their work processes. Don't do this from the comfort of your office! Practice Genchi Genbutsu, or Go See For Yourself. Talk to the people doing the work and find out how everything really operates then flowchart it.  You'd be amazed at the inefficiencies you can spot with this bird's eye view of your processes.
   
   
4. Interviews
   Again, Genchi Genbutsu! Take the time to talk to the line worker about how to make her job easier, faster, cheaper. These are the people actually doing the job. You'd be amazed at how many insights you can pick up.
   
   
5. Incentives
   Set goals and offer rewards to maximize output. You'll see results in no time. Make the rewards worthwhile too -- I recommend cash. If you don't want to give cash, offer extra vacation days. Make it something you would want and you'll get results.

Efficiency and productivity go hand-in-hand.  Improve one and the other will rise too.

If these still don't work, then you'll need some extra help.  That's when you give us a call. To learn more about business process click here.