Principles of Socio-Technical Design

"The cell brought us together as a team."

Video Available

 "The Human Side of Lean Manufacturing" 

 1.0 Social System 

1.1 There is no optimum organization. As the environment, culture, people and technology change, so should the organization. 

1.2 When selecting people for a workgroup, strive for homogeneity in their backgrounds and work attitudes. 

1.3 Reduce wide variations in knowledge levels and variety through cross training. 

1.4 Achieve High performance through commitment rather than minimal compliance. Use more carrot than stick. 

1.5 Build commitment by involving people in the shaping of their future. 

1.6 Provide opportunities to satisfy unfulfilled higher order needs. Use the intrinsic motivators. 

1.7 Adult learning occurs primarily through experience. Integrate learning on the job through advisors, facilitators, and guided application.

1.8 Maintain ability for normal conversation between all members while at their workstations with compact layouts and noise control.

2.0 Technical System · 

2.1 Control variances at their source.

2.2 Ensure that the detection of a variance and the source of that variance occur in the same work group.

2.3 Maintain quality by detecting variances in the process rather than in the final product.

2.4 Monitor inputs as carefully as outputs.

2.5 Size work buffers large enough to allow problem solving but small enough to prevent problem avoidance.

2.6 Match technological flexibility with the product mix.

2.7 Match technology scale with production volume of the work groups.

3.0 Integration

3.1 Design  the Socio and Technical systems simultaneously and jointly.

3.2 Give workers larger and more varied tasks and increase cycle time.

3.3 Integrate support functions within work groups to the largest possible extent.

3.4 Optimize the system rather than the system's components.

3.5 Begin and end a work group's technical boundary at a discontinuity in the material transformation process.

4.0 Managing The System

4.1 Allow teams to manage the daily work.

4.2 Coach and facilitate rather than supervise.

4.3  Coaches should manage the team boundaries.

4.4 Upper management should set goals, supply resources and manage the culture.