Abstract: While slow is not necessarily bad, a continued delay at doing things that should be done has devastating long term effects. This presentation introduces the areas were FAST is needed to stimulate continuous improvement.

Damage of extended Delay

When a good idea comes forward, the inventor is excited about the prospects. If there is some delay in implementing the good idea, the inventor is puzzled. The inventor ponders, "Why don’t they jump on my good idea?"

If the inventory is puzzled for long, the inventor tries to help the idea along, through the queues towards implementation. The inventor wonders, "Why won't people listen and understand? The inventor becomes annoyed.

If the inventory is annoyed long enough, and hasn't been able to push the good idea through the queues towards implementation, the inventor becomes frustrated. "No one else seems to care. Why should I?"

If the inventor is frustrated long enough, the frustration will seek an outlet. Frustration will turn to apathy. "What difference does it make? Its not worth the effort to improve this place."

Anyone apathetic long enough becomes mediocre in performance.

If you are mediocre long enough, you fall way behind and will soon fail. Failure by individuals long enough becomes more wide spread and soon leads to failure of the whole system.

How can we overcome the devastating effects cause by 'delay'? Unchecked delay is a downward spiral to failure.

What should be the solution?

Value of Fast

If we have ideas and we are FAST, fast at evaluating the ideas relative to increasing Throughput, reducing Inventory and better management of Operating Expense, then we can tell ideas that should be immediately implemented from those of lessor value.

And, if we are FAST at implementing and have the capacity to do so, we can rapidly put the excellent ideas into place.

And, if we communicate effectively, in a timely manner, we should see quick benefits from our excellent ideas.

If we keep the 'Good' and 'Not so good' ideas in a separate library, and use our excess capacity to ponder and reevaluate the thoughts and creative contributions of people, we can possibly generate some Great ideas to add to our Continuous Improvement Process.

If we quickly communicate success to all involved, everyone's attitude improves. This gives positive feedback to those contributing great ideas and guidance to those with poor ideas.

And when people know what is needed, they will contribute 'more and more', 'better and better' ideas creating a systemic feedback loop!

Conclusion

IF :1. We know what is good, 2. Maintain the capacity to respond quickly, 3. And communicate correctly

THEN We have a powerful upward spiral!

Recommendation

• Don't Delay, Get Better Right Away!
• And above all, Keep thinking!

Copyright Washington State University 2002