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Services / Lean / VSM / worked example

Shorten the handoffs

Follow a request from arrival to completion.

Take the full example with youPhotos. People. A practical plan.

Project timeline, actions for every S and checks before completion.

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Learn it, then try it

Understand the method
behind this example.

Two illustrated lessons with practical steps, a question to try and feedback. Read online or follow the teaching pages in the full report.

A clear starting point

Make the problem
small enough to work on.

Map the work, the wait and the release signal.

Sample baseline40.6 hestimated request-to-completion time
Proposed goal16 hbusiness-hour goal

Illustrative starting figures. The goal has not been achieved.

Services / Lean / VSMOPEX field notes

Shorten the handoffs

Map the work, the wait and the release signal.

Sample starting point40.6 hestimated request-to-completion time
Goal to work towards16 hbusiness-hour goal
01

Current route

Intake > Verify > Setup > Confirm

02

Current time

40h wait + 36min touch

03

Information flow

Release when ready

04

Proposed route

15h wait + 35min touch

05

Check

End-to-end time and rework

Follow one requestSpot the queuesTry a better flowCheck end to end

A worked example to learn from. Sample figures and people; targets are not achieved results.

People, timing and a clear finish

A plan the team can follow.

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Project completion timeline

Planned finish · Day 30
  1. Trace the routeAlex · Coordination

    Day 1–5 · Use one calendar and keep queue time separate from touch time.

  2. Agree ready rulesRiya · Service

    Day 6–9 · Practitioners share one usable readiness definition.

  3. Try smaller work batchesMilo · Operations

    Day 10–16 · Record end-to-end time, rework and downstream workload.

  4. Verify the whole flowJune · Management

    Day 17–30 · Check the 16-hour goal without moving delay to another team.

Proposed timing and fictional owners. Close each action after its check is met; a date alone does not prove completion.

Actions for each S

Planned finish · Day 30
  1. SortSeparate ready requestsAlex · Coordination

    Distinguish ready, incomplete, duplicate and exception requests while preserving required records and approvals.

    Day 1–5 · Each sampled request has one status and a documented disposition; nothing is silently deleted.

  2. Set in orderGive each queue an ownerRiya · Service

    Arrange visible request states and handoff cues with one receiving owner and an agreed release signal.

    Day 6–9 · A request can be traced through every queue with its age and next owner visible.

  3. ShineReset the shared work areaRiya · Service

    Clear obsolete printouts and duplicate working copies; route recurring workspace or equipment faults to the support owner.

    Day 6–9 · The shared desk and working folder are usable; required records remain retained and accessible.

  4. StandardizePublish one ready-to-start ruleMilo · Operations

    Trial the completeness check and consolidated clarification on one service route without removing required decisions.

    Day 10–12 · The downstream team accepts the same readiness definition and records rejected handoffs.

  5. SustainReview the whole routeJune · Management

    Review end-to-end time, stage queues, completeness and workload together through the day 30 decision.

    Day 13–30 · Waiting is reduced across the route rather than shifted to another team; actual timestamps support the decision.

  6. SafetyProtect access and workloadJune · Management

    The service manager reviews information access, escalation and manageable work release before the pilot.

    Day 1–30 · Required approval and privacy controls remain in place; workload concerns have a receiving owner.

Proposed timing and fictional owners. Close each action after its check is met; a date alone does not prove completion.

Bring the idea back to your work

Start the conversation with your team.

Use the report to choose one area, name the next action and agree how you will check it. Try a photo from your own workplace, then turn the possibility into a practical plan.

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