Continually Improving Continuous Improvement

Always moving, always progressing.

Our Quality & Continuous Improvement Manager, Barbara Wester, recently undertook a new project within the Printed Specialties walls. Her main goals with the company is exactly stated in her title: to monitor the overall quality of how this business is ran, and to continually improve the structure and methods for optimal performance. About a month ago she set out to take every employee's picture at their workstation, print them out, have them laminated, then post those pictures back at the employee's station. The idea behind this project is simple, and makes perfect sense for any business with several shifts and has a manufacturing-type environment.

Sample shot of employee photos on equipment.

First, it is designed to boost employee and overall company morale. Something about seeing people's faces around the shop even when they're not physically there adds a sense of personality as well as a human touch to the atmosphere and machinery. It also helps with name recognition and association to newer employees, people in a different department, or maybe even visitors, but more on that in a second.

Secondly, it increases the understanding of each employee's personal responsibility. Their face is on that piece of equipment over the duration of their shift. They know that is their area, but now with the pictures in place, so does everyone else. Reliability and duties are justly assigned. And no one wants their work area to look bad, right? By placing direct responsibility on the employees, the entire shop area will be more clean and kept up, leading to a more sustainable and efficient work environment.

Our own superhero pressman, Dean Couch.

Lastly, these pictures do not only benefit us internally as a company, they are also there for our customers. When customers or potential clients come into our plant for a press check or to take a tour, they'll easily be able to see that we take pride in what we do. "Those are our machines; they are our responsibility; and this is our best work." Putting the customer's mind at ease, allowing them to trust us to do their job at the utmost highest quality is one of our main goals.

While some may scoff and wonder why or how this could even benefit such a small company such as Printed Specialties Inc., I leave them with this thought: Small changes gives way to larger changes.

Have any thoughts or suggestions on how to better a business' morale or continuous improvement ideas? Feel free to sound off in the comments section.

Be well,