The Complete KIT Concept

=> Interactive Simulation (Source)

Usually a job is started before all its requirements for its uninterrupted completion are available at the right places. This is done under the assumption that we may make progress while waiting for the outstanding requirements to arrive. Ironically, careful examination results in longer task completion time of the prematurely started task compared to the later starte but with fulfilled requirements.

Any local action that improves the local result may deteriorate it if the other actors act similarly.

This usually happens because man does not estimate the effects of one unit in a highly dynamic system: Any actor of the system searches for a local action to optimize his local result. Since he does not evaluate the dynamics of a system where most actors act like him, he simply does realize that his local action actually deteriorates the overall systems result. As the system's result deteriorates further while the local actor believes he is bettering the situation, he feels pressed to increase the action that actually causes the negative dynamics. While such a system operates a vicious cycle it is neither stable nor realize its full potential.

If one starts a task before having all its requirements:

  • he rewards task owners for posting tasks with less requirements
  • consequently more time is used for communicating and switching between tasks
  • total time available for actual task completion drops, thus throughput
  • with less throughput, pressure increases to complete tasks
  • "If the task takes too long, we should start it as early as possible."
  • task completion time increases alike cost of rework (since errors more likely occur under stress conditions) and working capital cost
  • he reinforces a vicious cycle wherein the system consumes more and more resources while delivering less

Defining a Complete KIT results in:

  • maximizing available time for task completion (by minimizing switching and communication time)
  • determined task completion time
  • minimized cost of working capital and cost of rework
  • establishing process stability
  • delivering more with less (stress, resources)

The beauty of the Complete KIT concept is for it improves process stability, employee morale and financial results without any major investment besides instituting process changes.

For this I can support you in:

  • defining a complete kit
  • awareness creation through simulation game
  • system change

The concept is not only useful in physical material flows and assembly lines, even more so in non-physical work flows (software development, order management, issue management, etc.) since flow medium is invisible.