Standard Work
Standard work is the documented, agreed best-known method for performing a task, specifying the sequence, timing and required resources. It creates a stable baseline from which improvement can be measured and sustained.
Without a standard there is nothing to improve against, only variation. Standard work captures the current best way to do a job — its steps, cycle time, takt and standard in-process stock — so that everyone performs it consistently and deviations become visible. It is deliberately a living document: each improvement updates the standard, locking in the gain. Standard work underpins quality, training, problem detection and continuous improvement alike.
Related terms
Where this applies
Standardising line changeovers · Implementing a line-clearance procedure