Ever faced a part rejection… only to hear:
“Sir, this operator did it differently today.”
Or
“Last time your drawing didn’t say we need to deburr this side…”
If your supplier can’t repeat success, you’re buying luck — not process.
That’s where Standardized Work changes everything.
What Is Standardized Work?
Standardized Work simply means:
Everyone does the job the same way
In the same sequence
Using the same tools and checkpoints
It’s not about turning operators into robots.
It’s about turning quality into a habit — not a hope.
When every team member uses their own style, quality becomes a gamble.
But when Standardized Work is followed, every batch feels like déjà vu — and that’s a good thing.
Common tools used:
SOP (Standard Operating Procedure) boards
Step-by-step photos at workstations
Time tracking for each cycle
Visual checklists (before moving to next stage)
Real Example – Rajkot VMC Shop: 2 Operators, 2 Outcomes
A VMC shop in Rajkot ran the same aluminum part on the same machine.
Operator A finished in 11 minutes with flatness of 0.02 mm.
Operator B took 15 minutes — and missed tolerance.
Why?
One used the air gun before the second pass. One didn’t.
The fix:
They created a laminated 5-step SOP
Pasted it next to the controller
Both operators followed identical steps
Next 30 batches?
All passed with ±1 minute timing and zero rejections.
Real Example – Sheet Metal Shop Fixes Inconsistency With One Simple Board
A fabricator making mild steel panels kept hearing complaints:
“Parts are scratched”
“Chamfer is missing”
“Plastic film was still on during bending”
Cause: No one tracked small steps. Operators forgot them in mid-batch rush.
The fix:
Installed a “Did You Do It?” board
Steps included:
Film peel-off
Deburr edges
Check bend angle
Wipe clean before packing
Result?
Rejections dropped by 61%. QC team’s job became confirmation — not investigation.
Why Buyers Should Care
Without Standardized Work:
One good batch ≠ the next batch
New operators = new problems
QC becomes detective work instead of validation
With Standardized Work:
Output stays consistent
Lead time gets predictable
You know what to expect — every time
And in a high-mix job shop world, predictability is profitability.
What TheSupplier Looks For
Before we approve a factory, we ask:
Are SOPs visible, updated, and followed?
Can any trained operator pick up a job and do it right?
Are there in-process checks — not just final QC panic?
If yes — we take them forward.
If no — we hold back until they’re ready.
Because great machines don’t guarantee great parts.
Great habits do.
📣 Want Suppliers Who Repeat Success — Not Mistakes?
👉 Explore Our Capabilities
📎 Upload Your RFQ
📚 References
Toyota Global: https://global.toyota/en/company/vision-and-philosophy/production-system/
The Toyota Way – Jeffrey K. Liker
Field audits by TheSupplier (2023–2024)
