What is MDI in Lean Manufacturing?

In lean manufacturing, Managing for Daily Improvement (MDI) is often called the missing link. Organizations that implement MDI as part of their business strategy take the opposite approach of many companies. Rather than running their organizations from a top-down approach, companies use MDI in the opposite way by producing change from the ground up.

What is MDI?

Managing for Daily Improvement is a mechanism used by organizations that facilitate key performance indicators (KPIs) and visual management strategies at the bottom level. While many organizations and business philosophies focus on improvement at the top, MDI strives for improvement first with daily activities before anything else. The guiding principle behind MDI is that ultimately individuals want to succeed and do well. They will do so when they have the right opportunity. MDI is used at C Tek and in other companies to improve their manufacturing processes for a more efficient and productive business all around.

MDI in Action

Understanding how MDI works is easiest if you apply the principle to a business operation. An example of business operations using MDI is that first, operations teams in the company meet each day to talk about the goals for the previous day and the results that they ultimately achieved. If there were any blockages or issues that prevented the team from reaching its goals that day, the team members can look at the problems that caused them to avoid reaching their goal. They can address those problems to try to find a solution that ultimately improves the process and helps them reach their end goals. The team members can then delegate responsibility to one another to find the right solution and ensure that it is documented so that everyone on the team is aware of what the solution is. Then, the team sets out to accomplish its goals by giving each team member responsibility for helping to achieve the solution within a certain time frame. If issues arise that cannot be addressed at the team level, the problem is then presented to management or leadership to help find an amicable and productive resolution.

Ultimately, the team-building principles behind Managing for Daily Improvement help to boost employee morale. They are also designed to improve performance, productivity, and efficiency. The goal of the philosophy is to make employees feel empowered and understand that they can produce change from the ground up. The team learns self-management and becomes a group of proactive thinkers and problem-solvers.

Lean Six Sigma

Managing for Daily Improvement is used in combination with the Lean Six Sigma (LSS) approach, which operates on the philosophy of continual improvement. LSS works to eliminate problems and defects that can prevent a process from reaching its ultimate performance goal.

For more information on managing for Daily Improvement and how it can help your business thrive, contact C Tek today.