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Plan my session

Plan a concrete work block with agenda, roles, preparation, and a copyable result artifact.

Method session1-2 days per process sectionWorkshopStandard Work Sheet

Session: Standard Work Analysis

The plan translates the method into a concrete facilitated work block. Your inputs flow directly into the session brief and work artifact.

Derived automatically

Method session with 2-6. The plan uses the existing method logic and the runsheet.

Runsheet
Participation logic
Team round, shared work and alignment

Use the session for shared understanding. Contributions are collected visibly, assumptions are aligned, and open differences remain traceable in the artifact.

Outcome logic
Finish artifact

The session works directly toward Standard Work Sheet. After the session, the artifact should be shareable, reviewable, or reusable.

  1. 1

    Phase 1: Review target standard

    30-60 min

    Read currently valid standard, extract step list, write down target cycle times per step. If no standard exists, document explicitly and repurpose observation as baseline capture. Hint: If the standard only exists as onboarding slide, it is not an operational standard. Separate written target from lived target.

    FacilitatorStandard Work Sheet
  2. 2

    Phase 2: Observation

    4-8 h

    Observe at least three runs per operator. Note actual cycle time and deviations from standard per step. Document anomalies in sequence, tool choice, pauses, rework. Hint: Operators will work more slowly when they feel observed. Behavior usually normalizes after 30 min. Discard first run per operator as warmup.

    FacilitatorDeviation List
  3. 3

    Phase 3: Variation analysis

    2-3 h

    Categorize deviations: a) operator-related (routines, workarounds), b) material-related, c) equipment-related, d) standard-related (standard unclear or wrong). Create Pareto per category. Hint: If standard-related deviations dominate, the standard is the problem, not execution. Ask operators which workarounds they already established.

    FacilitatorImproved Standard
  4. 4

    Phase 4: Recommendations

    1-2 h

    One concrete measure per top-3 deviation cause: sharpen standard, improve visualization, training, change equipment. Define owner and date. Hint: Measure 'train operator better' is usually a symptom. If three operators independently develop same workaround, change standard, not person.

    OwnerTraining Needs
  5. 5

    Publish artifact

    10 min

    Check the artifact for completeness, define location, set version or status, and name review recipients.

    OwnerStandard Work Sheet
Usable artifact

Session Brief

For invitations, boards, tickets, PR descriptions, or workshop notes.

session-brief.md

Session Brief: Standard Work Analysis

Goal

Artifact: Standard Work Sheet

Working Question

Which steps of the examined process are actually standardized, where are unwanted deviations, and which variation is useful?

Context

Currently valid standard or explicit statement that none exists; shift model and variations; known special cases; KPI state against targets.

Setup

  • Format: Method session
  • Duration: 1-2 days per process section
  • Mode: Workshop
  • Participants: One analyst (lean or process engineer); two to four operators whose work is observed (informed and consenting); one supervisor with mandate to assess deviations without tipping into evaluation of the person.
  • Owner: One analyst (lean or process engineer)
  • Participation mode: Team round, shared work and alignment
  • Outcome logic: Finish artifact

Participation Logic

Use the session for shared understanding. Contributions are collected visibly, assumptions are aligned, and open differences remain traceable in the artifact.

Outcome Logic

The session works directly toward Standard Work Sheet. After the session, the artifact should be shareable, reviewable, or reusable.

Input

Observation sheet with columns step, target cycle time, actual cycle time, deviation, note; stopwatch; camera or video function (with consent); current standard if available; KPI extract from last 4 weeks.

Preparation

Communicate observation with all operators (purpose and privacy). Plan at least three full runs per operator. Choose observation points so ergonomic position and material flow are visible.

Agenda

  1. Phase 1: Review target standard (30-60 min) Owner: Facilitator Action: Read currently valid standard, extract step list, write down target cycle times per step. If no standard exists, document explicitly and repurpose observation as baseline capture. Hint: If the standard only exists as onboarding slide, it is not an operational standard. Separate written target from lived target. Output: Standard Work Sheet

  2. Phase 2: Observation (4-8 h) Owner: Facilitator Action: Observe at least three runs per operator. Note actual cycle time and deviations from standard per step. Document anomalies in sequence, tool choice, pauses, rework. Hint: Operators will work more slowly when they feel observed. Behavior usually normalizes after 30 min. Discard first run per operator as warmup. Output: Deviation List

  3. Phase 3: Variation analysis (2-3 h) Owner: Facilitator Action: Categorize deviations: a) operator-related (routines, workarounds), b) material-related, c) equipment-related, d) standard-related (standard unclear or wrong). Create Pareto per category. Hint: If standard-related deviations dominate, the standard is the problem, not execution. Ask operators which workarounds they already established. Output: Improved Standard

  4. Phase 4: Recommendations (1-2 h) Owner: Owner Action: One concrete measure per top-3 deviation cause: sharpen standard, improve visualization, training, change equipment. Define owner and date. Hint: Measure 'train operator better' is usually a symptom. If three operators independently develop same workaround, change standard, not person. Output: Training Needs

  5. Publish artifact (10 min) Owner: Owner Action: Check the artifact for completeness, define location, set version or status, and name review recipients. Output: Standard Work Sheet

Closeout

  • Update result artifact: Standard Work Sheet
  • Define location, version, and review recipients.
  • Define owner, next step, and review date.
Usable artifact

Work artifact

Pre-filled starting point based on the matching template.

work-artifact.md

Standard Work Sheet: Standard Work Analysis

Working Question

Which steps of the examined process are actually standardized, where are unwanted deviations, and which variation is useful?

Context

Currently valid standard or explicit statement that none exists; shift model and variations; known special cases; KPI state against targets.

Participants

  • Owner: One analyst (lean or process engineer)
  • Participants: One analyst (lean or process engineer); two to four operators whose work is observed (informed and consenting); one supervisor with mandate to assess deviations without tipping into evaluation of the person.

Input

Observation sheet with columns step, target cycle time, actual cycle time, deviation, note; stopwatch; camera or video function (with consent); current standard if available; KPI extract from last 4 weeks.

Template

Standard Work Analysis Working Matrix

ElementDescriptionRatingEvidenceOwnerNext step
1
2
3

Output artifacts

  • Standard Work Sheet:
  • Deviation List:
  • Improved Standard:
  • Training Needs:

Decision or recommendation

What consequence follows from the matrix?

Completion Check

  • Standard Work Sheet is complete enough for review:
  • Location:
  • Version / status:
  • Review by:
  • Next step:

Next Step

  • Review result
  • Mark open questions
  • Schedule review or decision
Template base

Standard Work Analysis Working Template

View templateCompact working template for Standard Work Analysis with context, input, output artifacts, and next step.
spreadsheet

standard-work-analysis-working-template.md

Compact working template for Standard Work Analysis with context, input, output artifacts, and next step.

Standard Work Analysis Working Matrix

ElementDescriptionRatingEvidenceOwnerNext step
1
2
3

Output artifacts

  • Standard Work Sheet:
  • Deviation List:
  • Improved Standard:
  • Training Needs:

Decision or recommendation

What consequence follows from the matrix?

Ready to use when
  • Working question, owner, and target artifact are visible.
  • The result fits Standard Work Sheet.
  • Analysis date, shift sample and analyst in header. Use pseudonymized operator IDs (O1, O2, ...). Follow-up analyses as new version with comparison to previous version, old version archived not overwritten.
  • Open questions are noted as follow-ups.
  • The next review or decision point is scheduled.
ProfileRunsheet