Welcome to the first of our miniseries on saving time and money through workflow optimization in the IDD workplace! Every business on earth follows repetitive processes to get work done. Sometimes these processes are based on the way we were taught a number of years ago or were developed to accommodate a deficiency/problem in another system. In any case these processes become habit and we stop questioning why we do them. A perfect example of this is the woman who always cut her rump roast in half before cooking it because that’s how her mother had always done it. Years later she found out her mother had only cut it in half because she couldn’t afford a pot big enough to cook a whole one at the time. Unquestioned processes can cost you time, money and increase waste!

Some of us are aware of the term “process optimization” but don’t know what it is exactly, others know what it is but claim they don’t have the time to carry it out. Finally there are a small number who are masters at workflow identification, mapping, analysis and optimization (you’ll find out what they are just read on!).  You and your team have to perform work anyway so take the time to make it easier, more streamlined, faster and enjoyable.

Now if this was easy everyone would do it. So get ready to challenge your mind and put some effort into working on your business not just in it!