Comments on: UPS Reducing Driving Waste http://www.leanblog.org/2007/04/ups-reducing-driving-waste/ Mark Graban's leanblog.org - Lean Healthcare, Lean Thinking, Lean Manufacturing, Toyota Production System Thu, 09 Feb 2012 22:59:58 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Mark Graban http://www.leanblog.org/2007/04/ups-reducing-driving-waste/#comment-28478 Mark Graban Sat, 07 Jan 2012 19:45:29 +0000 http://leanblog.bigbigdesign.net/2007/04/ups-reducing-driving-waste/#comment-28478 I'm sure that UPS has considered all of the tradeoffs involved, between gas consumed while driving, idling, etc. I’m sure that UPS has considered all of the tradeoffs involved, between gas consumed while driving, idling, etc.

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]]> By: Chris http://www.leanblog.org/2007/04/ups-reducing-driving-waste/#comment-28474 Chris Sat, 07 Jan 2012 01:00:59 +0000 http://leanblog.bigbigdesign.net/2007/04/ups-reducing-driving-waste/#comment-28474 YES YOU DRIVE LESS MILES BUT....HOW LONG ARE YOU IDLING AT LIGHTS AND STOPPING AT STOP SIGNS/RR TRACKS, OR YIELDING FOR THAT MATTER. YES YOU DRIVE LESS MILES BUT….HOW LONG ARE YOU IDLING AT LIGHTS AND STOPPING AT STOP SIGNS/RR TRACKS, OR YIELDING FOR THAT MATTER.

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]]> By: The making of a UPS driver — Lean Blog http://www.leanblog.org/2007/04/ups-reducing-driving-waste/#comment-22861 The making of a UPS driver — Lean Blog Thu, 28 Jul 2011 03:40:28 +0000 http://leanblog.bigbigdesign.net/2007/04/ups-reducing-driving-waste/#comment-22861 [...] is known for specifying small details, such as avoiding left turns (which are slower and cause delays). I actually saw my neighborhood UPS driver waiting to make a [...] [...] is known for specifying small details, such as avoiding left turns (which are slower and cause delays). I actually saw my neighborhood UPS driver waiting to make a [...]

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]]> By: Mark Graban http://www.leanblog.org/2007/04/ups-reducing-driving-waste/#comment-2818 Mark Graban Fri, 23 Nov 2007 18:50:00 +0000 http://leanblog.bigbigdesign.net/2007/04/ups-reducing-driving-waste/#comment-2818 Thanks for the comment, Dennis.<br/><br/>That raises a question I find fascinating: Is it better to have people following the rules or to do what works? The driver is talking about driving less, saving gas, but is he also considering time? I'm not saying he's wrong, I don't know, I'm not there.<br/><br/>It makes me think back to the principles of Standardized Work that say we're not trying to create unthinking robots who just follow our standard practices. Standardized Work should be followed unless there is a good reason, right? The challenge is getting agreement on what the "good reasons" might be. It can't be used as an excuse to not follow the Standardized Work, to say we always have good reasons.<br/><br/>The same question comes up quite often in hospitals, as well. We're not doing the same 45 second Toyota assembly line job over and over, so we need some leeway to use judgment in deciding exactly how we do the work, at times, that's what people will say.<br/><br/>From my perspective, I would be happy that a driver is "breaking the rules" to save money for the company, at least in this case. Speeding or breaking the law would obviously NOT be a good violation of the Standardized Work. Thanks for the comment, Dennis.

That raises a question I find fascinating: Is it better to have people following the rules or to do what works? The driver is talking about driving less, saving gas, but is he also considering time? I’m not saying he’s wrong, I don’t know, I’m not there.

It makes me think back to the principles of Standardized Work that say we’re not trying to create unthinking robots who just follow our standard practices. Standardized Work should be followed unless there is a good reason, right? The challenge is getting agreement on what the “good reasons” might be. It can’t be used as an excuse to not follow the Standardized Work, to say we always have good reasons.

The same question comes up quite often in hospitals, as well. We’re not doing the same 45 second Toyota assembly line job over and over, so we need some leeway to use judgment in deciding exactly how we do the work, at times, that’s what people will say.

From my perspective, I would be happy that a driver is “breaking the rules” to save money for the company, at least in this case. Speeding or breaking the law would obviously NOT be a good violation of the Standardized Work.

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]]> By: Dennis http://www.leanblog.org/2007/04/ups-reducing-driving-waste/#comment-2817 Dennis Fri, 23 Nov 2007 18:38:00 +0000 http://leanblog.bigbigdesign.net/2007/04/ups-reducing-driving-waste/#comment-2817 Yeah well, it may save time in one sense but I still think it is faster driving straight. The system is not that smart so you end up delivering two blocks, make a right, deliver two blocks, make a right, etc... Too many right turns if you ask me and people in the neighborhood think we are lost, driving in circles. When I do it my way, I drive less miles and that is cheaper for UPS. Yeah well, it may save time in one sense but I still think it is faster driving straight. The system is not that smart so you end up delivering two blocks, make a right, deliver two blocks, make a right, etc… Too many right turns if you ask me and people in the neighborhood think we are lost, driving in circles. When I do it my way, I drive less miles and that is cheaper for UPS.

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