I think another very important “passing of the baton” happens every day in every one of our processes – whether manufacturing or non-manufacturing. This would be the hand-offs that occur between individuals, processes or departments. Just as in a relay race, problems rarely occur when somebody is in possession of the baton. Try to pass it so somebody else though, and bad things can happen.

So in the lean world we try to look for hand-offs because we understand they’re inherently problematic. Because of that, we try to eliminate them or make them as seamless as possible. Poka Yoke and Visual Controls are great tools here.

Tom