Checklists are one of those great continuous improvement tools that deliver great results and save your memory.
They improve consistency, speed up training and make life easier when you are trying to embed a new working practice.
Years ago I was helping a business with their ERP system. They needed to input quite a number of Bills of Materials (BoMs) but importing wasn’t an option. So, manual input was the way forward. And, it was seen as being a difficult task, so it was left to just one person.
Faster isn’t always better…
There were about six steps required to prepare the data and import it. The lady responsible for inputting gleefully told me, not long after they had started, that she had found a faster method.
Great I thought. Then I realised that she was missing half the steps. What she had done had to be re-done…
Checklists to the rescue!
So, their BOM inputting checklist was put in place. Now anyone could input the BOMs and by following the checklist it ensured that the BOMs were correct.
What was considered to be a faster method was wrong. And, taking the small amount of time required to write the checklist meant that the wider team could help. It no longer seemed complicated. People no longer had to try and remember what was required.
So, here’s the question for you:
Do you make best use of checklists, or do you try and remember it all?
Checklists can be used for all kinds of things, including one of my favourites, the daily sunrise meeting.
This process driven meeting approach is great for managing all of the checks and balances that lead to high business performance. If you want to learn more about that approach, check out my book of the same name.
In the meantime, get creative about the use of checklists. They could make a huge difference to your business’ results.
