If we know the 6 reasons standards fail, we can work to prevent them.

1. 6 reasons
standards fail

2. Created by Tom Curtis 2012
Blog: www.onimproving.blogspot.com
Presentations: on www.slideshare.net/onimproving
Email: ideamerchants@gmail.com
Twitter: @onimproving

3. Standards often fail. If we can recognize major
reasons why, we can help them thrive and reap the
benefits of solid standards. To not do so creates or
at minimum allows waste. What follows are 6
reasons they fail. Let us learn them and keep our
standards solid. The success of our standards
depends on it.

4. Standards fail because...

5. they are not
standards
If it is not the agreed upon current best and safe way
something is to be done, it is not a standard. To want
something to be done a certain way does not make it a
standard. “Standards” are sometimes written without
the involvement of those who are to follow them. Such
are not standards. If we think are standards, but do
not meet the definition above, they are not standards.

6. they are not
important
If we do not make and keep standards important they
will fail. We show in our time, focus, and maintenance
whether standards are important. If we say one thing
and do another there is no standard. Standards that
are important are talked about, updated, kaizened,
trained, checked and used. Non important standards
create waste in processes and frustration in people.

7. they are not
trained
To not train affected individuals in the standard almost
guarantees failure. Not training will leave some
individuals unaware of the standard and others with
less than full understanding. A standard must be
trained to introduce and trained routinely to remind
and correct deviation. Remember telling without
practice along side, will leave the gap between training
and action wide. We must train and train again.

8. they are not
alive
Standards that are alive are current and in use. They
are updated upon kaizen or process change and the
affected employees are retained. This is not the case
for dead standards. Dead standards are like plants that
are not watered, they may still be there, but are no
longer performing their original function.

9. they are not
checked
If we do not check and audit frequently and then
correct, standards will erode. Checking may come in
many forms: auditing, visual control, or poke yoke.
Each of our activities may require something different
or a consistent approach may best suit our needs. The
important thing is to do it and do it often.

10. they are not
kept
When we think about Standards failing, this is where
many of us start. There is a reason this is number six.
This is often caused by the the prior five. This is not to
say this is not an issue, but it is rarely the most
important root cause. If we fix the more significant
reasons we will be properly positioned to help our
employees succeed in keeping the Standards. They will
feel respected, understand why, and have ownership.