How long does it take to make a Makigami?
It is FAR more faster then a software implementation trying to organize complexity
The Makigami Method is simple. But bare in mind, the mapped process can be quite complex!
The duration of a Makigami Analysis depends on the complexity of the process and the experience of the participants.
When correct facilitated, it will take app. 3 to 10 days to perform a full Makigami Process Mapping. This now includes a draft implementation plan and ToDo list.
The actual team-based analysis takes some (simple) preparation.
How fast can we have these improvements?
Preparation
Selecting teammembers, scheduling the ‘makigami week’ and doing some basic data-gathering takes the most companies 4 to 8 weeks. It takes just a couple of hours of work.
Performing the analysis and redesign
When performed in one block of time, this stage takes 3 to 10 days. 80% of the teams finalizes within one week (5 days).
Implementation
With the support of the management, the implementation ussually is done within 100 days (3 months). In more complex situations, a second 100-days plan will be presented and executed. So in between 3 to 6 months the new proess should be live.
Kaizen after implementation
After this breakthrough improvement, the process can be fine-tuned and continuously improved by ‘kaizen activities’. This shoul be an ongoing process in your organisation to keep up to the latest new situations.
Whats so Difficult?
Starting!
I have heard probably ALL excuses not to start… And it seems to be far more easy to invest huge amounts of money and time in fancy automation projects, then creating a solid base first.
Making a deep Loss-Analysis
After mapping the current process, it takes some courage to define many of those thinks you where so busy with, as a loss. Specially if you see no other way to do it. Here you may need an internal or external facilitator. The better this is done, the better the future state will be.
Dreaming the Future State
It is easy to declare why something can not be done. Our fear to let go the good old way we did things and to embrace new ways can be our biggest enemy! Startups still tend to be able to dream. We will have to dare this too…
Execute the implementation Plan
Executing the 100 days implementation plan takes a good deal of communication with all the involved parties. The new process usually is fundamentally different from the old one!
People tend to think in ‘tasks’ or ‘functions’, rather than in ‘processes’ or even ‘systems’. Also taking the perspective of value and particularly value to the customer usually needs a paradigm shift that may take a while.
Whether it will be a success or not heavily depends on the actual involvement of the management.
- Are you willing to practice what you preach?
- Are you willing to take the consequences of your decisions; whatever they are?
- Are you willing to trust your professionals on the shop floor?
When can we see Results?
Major changes can be achieved within 2 or 3 months. However the real change of attitude and internalization of ‘new behavior’ can take much longer. This needs an ongoing focus of the management.
When drowning in organized losses, this can be quite a challenge…
Consider this: When you can afford all those losses, you could not afford to eliminate them…?? Isn’t that the main task of being a manager? Just start doing it, it is worth while!
Do we need help?
A skilled facilitator can
- help the team to achieve a thorough future state AND 100 day implementation plan within a few days
- acquire involvement of support-staff and responsible management
- guide the team through the implementation-phase
- prevent from falling back to old behavior
- challenge the sustainability of the new way of working
When not skilled yet, investing in a good trainer and facilitator is worth while. A properly facilitated makigami analysis should have a ROI of at least 5 to 10 times.