Nearly every finished product we encounter is the result of a complex manufacturing process. Many of the steps in that process are manual tasks performed by people. After all, despite factories being augmented with robots and algorithms, human hands are still needed to operate machines, program the robots, and give the finishing touches that make many products unique. But like anything human, all processes are prone to error.
Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) are the foundation of a well-oiled manufacturing process. They provide standard guidelines for your team members to complete a given process. SOPs are often used to ensure that operations run smoothly: with cohesion, performance uniformity, and in compliance with safety measures and regulations.
On-the-job training is equally important to mitigate the risk of errors. Companies shouldn’t simply train new recruits and then forget about skill building. Most of the information gained in traditional onboarding and training is often insufficient or quickly forgotten.
Distrust, control, and micro-management are all human behaviors that can deteriorate collaboration and team spirit. Motivate instead of control. When your team is empowered with the right tools and encouraged to propose improvement ideas, they will be more engaged in their work
Involve your team in shaping your standard operating procedures, so they can make meaningful contributions to the business. Create a strategy to capture your team’s knowledge and expertise and reward those who contribute. It’s ideas and feedback that drive continuous process improvement.
Our Nvolve platform offers a variety of ways to motivate employees, from our Employee Improvement ideas section to our Employee of the Month Dashboard.