“A” Is For Acceleration

We’ve all heard the expression “cheaper, better, faster.” Let’s focus on the “faster” aspect.

“Faster” is critical as nothing gets better with additional time. “Faster” means:

• Costs are lower
• Processes are built with speed of execution in mind
• Information to support critical processes is readily available–the need to track down subject matter experts is a rarity rather than the norm
• Capacity increases as a function of acceleration–you can do more with the same staffing level, factory floor space, etc.

Here are some questions you should be asking:

• Where are there bottlenecks in your processes or supply chain that negatively impact acceleration?
• Are your product lead times and service levels competitive? How do you know if they are competitive?
• Are your critical processes accelerating or decelerating year-over-year?

Thought for the week:

“Life is like a ten-speed bike. Most of us have gears we never use.” – Charles M. Schulz