Takt Time or Not to Takt

Six Sigma spin on Lean's Takt Time My research this morning on improving operations of a manufacturing facility lead me to this post on calculating Takt Time. In which the author states:

"... in order to accurately determine the optimal crew size..."

Okay so far. Once you arrive at the optimal crew size, what next? Send everyone else home? Hire more people? Or simply do more calculations? The reason Constraints Management Model is important (dare I say crucial?) to effective business strategy should now be clear: businesses rarely operate under optimal conditions! Look around your shop floor... is it getting better? Or worse? More importantly, how can you tell? Ever win each and every challenge only to loose the race? In the Marine Corps we had to pass a physical fitness test every six months. My last test, just prior to discharge, I wanted to be cute. In case you are not too sure, the Corps does not do "cute"... all Marines are first trained how to follow orders, then how to kill people (in that order). Then, you get occupational specialty training. Every enlisted recruit goes through the same 90+ days of boot camp. Transfer in from another branch? Fine, after you complete USMC basic training. Well, I decide to do the minimum in each of the three events. Three pull ups. In 1975 it was 40 sit ups and run three miles in less than 33 minutes. The problem? Hitting the minimums will not give you enough "overall" points to pass! Again, the Corps (rightly so) does not have a sense of humor. So I had the privilege to do the test over the next day. Yes, I passed. In business, everyone hitting their individual goals is not enough. Local optima is not a strategy that will provide success in the business world. Bottom line? Do the Takt calculations but don't stop there... what are the requirements of the whole? As in a holistic or "systems approach" to success? Not sure? Call me. Together, we can plot a path to success. -ski P.S. Before its too late. ---- Jeff 'SKI' Kinsey, Jonah Strategy, Tactics & Execution Dover, OH | Hilton Head Island, SC | Las Vegas, NV Cell: +1 330.432.3533 tag: Constraints Management Model ©2008 Throughput.us LLC. All rights reserved.