2023 Jul-Aug RETA Breeze

Managers, the moral of the story is simple but profound. Assigning general responsibility for a specific task is an act that is doomed to fail. General responsibility (“everybody’s job”) means that nobody can be specifically held accountable. There is a saying: “Many hands make light work”, but this is not the case if a task is assigned as a general responsibility. Ironically, the more members in the team receiving the generally assigned task, the less likely it is that any one person will lift a finger to perform the task. Individual responsibility is diluted proportionately to the size of the team. Sometimes it seems to be even worse if someone in the department steps up and takes the initiative to do the responsible thing. If others allow that to go on, resentment can develop and undermine department morale. Sustaining a 5-S system in a workplace requires scores of individual tasks. The floors have to be mopped. The trash has to be taken out. Hoses have to be rolled up and stowed. Oil has to be wiped up. These tasks are not glamorous, but they all make the workplace safer and more pleasant to work in. For the jobs that address general conditions (carrying out the trash and mopping floors), set up a system to distribute the work. Implement simple workplace rules, like: “If you get it out, you put it up”. Develop a system to assign tasks of a more specific nature. I work with a plant that assigns maintenance of individual compressors to individual technicians. The Technician’s name is posted on his or her compressors. The system works wonders. Inspect frequently and hold people accountable. Finally, be generous with your praise. Many of the tasks necessary to sustain a 5-S program are monotonous, but they should not be thankless. Let people know when you are pleased with their performance. Do it now. Many of these tasks have a time element to them. Management is no different, praise (or criticism) should be dispensed as immediately as possible. Remember: praise in public; criticize in private. Your whole team will ultimately be pleased with the result, and perhaps most importantly, you will too.

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Assigning general responsibility for a specific task is an act that is doomed

to fail. General responsibility

(“everybody’s job”) means that nobody can be specifically held accountable.

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