Monday, March 2nd, 2026
🌟 AT A GLANCE

✅ Upcoming Events
✅ How Standard Work Works
✅ Precision Meets Process: Lean Standard Work: CO Aerospace Case Study
✅ Closing

Welcome to the March edition of the Colorado Lean Network newsletter!

This month, we’re leaning into a real truth: high-performing teams don’t rely on luck – they rely on Standard Work. Standard Work is the foundation that keeps processes stable, predictable and ready for improvement. You can jump to the article, explore our aerospace case study, or grab the Standard Work template to start applying these tools right away.

Interested in hosting an upcoming Colorado Lean Network event, presenting on a topic with us, or sharing a tool you’ve found helpful? Visit the Lend A Hand page here!

And don’t forget: Our Monthly Lean Coffee is just around the corner with a chance to connect, learn and grow with fellow Lean practitioners across Colorado.

Join the Colorado Lean Network for our free monthly Virtual Lean Coffee – a relaxed, engaging space for Lean enthusiasts and practitioners of all experience levels to connect, learn, and share ideas. Each session is discussion-based and participant-driven, but there’s no pressure to speak – you’re always welcome to simply listen in and learn. Whether you’re brand new to Lean or a seasoned practitioner, you’ll gain fresh perspectives, practical insights, and peer learning in a supportive, low-stakes environment. Come curious, bring questions if you’d like, or just tune in and absorb.

🗓️ Wednesday, March 11th
⏰ 12:00 – 1:00 PM MDT
💻 Sign up on Eventbrite to receive a link!
REGISTER HERE!

Standard Work: The Backbone of Predictable, High‑Quality Performance

In Lean, stability is the foundation of excellence. Without it, variation creeps in, quality fluctuates, and improvement becomes guesswork. Standard Work provides the structure teams need to deliver consistent results — not by restricting creativity, but by making the work visible, repeatable, and improvable.

Standard Work is built on three essential elements:

1. Takt Time — The Pace of Customer Demand

Takt time tells us how often a unit must be completed to meet customer needs. It helps teams:

• Balance workloads
• Identify bottlenecks
• Maintain flow
• Align staffing with demand

When takt time is clear, teams stop relying on “working faster” and start focusing on working in rhythm.

2. Work Sequence — The Best‑Known Method

This is the agreed‑upon order of steps that produces the safest, highest‑quality outcome. It reduces variation, improves training, and makes abnormalities visible.

3. Standard Work‑in‑Process (SWIP)

SWIP defines the minimum amount of material or information needed to keep the process flowing. It prevents overproduction, reduces waiting, and stabilizes flow.

Standard Work Template

For a high-level standard work template created by the Colorado Lean Network team, click here!

How a Colorado Aerospace Team Reduced Assembly Time by 28% Using Standard Work Tools

A Colorado aerospace manufacturer producing high‑precision sensor assemblies struggled with inconsistent assembly times and unpredictable throughput. Despite a skilled workforce, cycle times varied dramatically.

The Problem

• Cycle times ranged from 52 to 89 minutes
• Frequent rework
• Long onboarding time for new technicians
• Bottlenecks at inspection

The issue wasn’t capability — it was variation.
 

The Improvement Approach

1. Establishing Takt Time

Customer demand required one completed assembly every 60 minutes. Actual cycle times were far outside this range.

2. Creating a Work Combination Sheet

The team documented:

• Manual assembly time
• Machine curing time
• Walking time
• Waiting time

Findings:

• 18% of time was spent walking to shared tools
• 12% was waiting time that could be overlapped
• Machine time wasn’t synchronized with operator work

3. Building a Standardized Work Chart

The chart revealed:

• Excessive back‑and‑forth movement
• Inconsistent tool placement
• SWIP levels unclear
• Inspection station too far from assembly

The team reorganized the layout, added visual controls, and standardized tool placement.

The Results (90 Days)

• Assembly time reduced by 28%
• Rework decreased by 22%
• On‑time delivery improved from 91% to 98%
• Training time dropped by 35%
• Technician satisfaction increased

No new equipment. No added staff. Just clarity, visibility, and disciplined Standard Work.

For a high-level overview of Work Combination Sheets and Standard Work Charts, click here!

As we wrap up this month’s focus on Standard Work, we’re reminded that in Lean, luck isn’t a strategy – clarity, consistency, and continuous improvement are what truly move teams forward.  When we build processes grounded in Standard Work, we create a kind of stability that makes success feel almost like a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.

We hope this month inspires you to create the kind of systems where “good luck” is simply the natural outcome of a good design.

Thank you for being part of the Colorado Lean Network and we will see you at our March event!