What is One Piece Flow? – Best Lean Management Tool

The true method of knowledge is an experiment

William Blake

One Piece Flow is also known to be called continuous flow. It is a lean production method that mentions to the way products progress from one step to another in the process. Moving the products in efficiency by planning in a sequence of workflow on the basis of the products and it needs, in place of the organization or equipment.

One piece flow is tend to be more speedy than the batch and queue process. This rapidness factor allows to hold-up for longer period of time for scheduling of the order (and in spite of everything deliver it on time). So, In due course we in better way able to answer to last gasp changes from the consumer.

One Piece Flow is basically a lean manufacturing concept. It objectifies to attain a discrete flow of work opposing to the batch production method. In simple language terms it describes one by one processing of the product. Further, It had come after the old saying – one step at a time.  

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Example of One piece flow, Single piece flow 

We will here undertake a simple example of the process of making peanut butter sandwiches. 

Under the basic circumstances of the batch and queue process of making a peanut butter sandwich. I would start with taking 3 pieces of bread (with the motive of making 3 lunches). Then set peanut butter on it. 

After that I will let the 3 pieces of bread with peanut butter sit, as of now I will take 3 other pieces of bread and put jelly on it put both of them together (peanut butter bread and jelly bread). And I will complete the process of making 3 sandwiches.

If I undertake the process of Single-piece flow for the same objective, I would take one piece of bread put peanut butter on it. Take another piece of bread put jelly on it, join them together and repeat the process for 3 times.

• The single-piece flow process method is finer and preferable as to the fact that there is no waiting engaged. Furthermore, The cyclical time of the process is shorter as I am completing the process at each motion. And I can practically see what I have completed.

One of other example of One Piece Flow is: Software

Most of the software is built in small components or to be said is built modularly, where one class of the consumer consumes or uses the services of the other modules.

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Practically, modular code is of the correct size so that the engineer can build each module to fulfillment that also includes dependent modules. Instead of building various modules in parallel, which will lead to task switching, which will be a waste.

One piece flow approach is to go along with the brisk method by creating user stories. Sizing them by striving and prioritizing them. Then unboxing each story into small units that in a simple language we call ‘tasks’ with time connected to it.

Each and every task undertakes take-one put-one approach and applies it to the continual process of software development. It is the fact that task switching for software stimulates a huge negative impact on the productivity.

Do you know at Amazon it is taken as a compulsion to complete an order at a time, rather than completing several orders at a time. The employees had difficulty understanding this concept until they were made understand that the batch-and-queue method leads to mistakes of putting the wrong item in the order. 

One piece flow method avoids these kinds of complications in the process. And as a whole cut short the cyclical process, enabling the order to reach the customer on time.

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Key Takeaways

• The Best Lean Management Tool empowers organizations to optimize processes, resulting in cost savings and increased productivity.
• By prioritizing employee engagement and leveraging data insights, businesses can achieve sustainable Lean practices.
• Continuous improvement becomes a shared responsibility, making Lean principles an integral part of the company’s DNA.