I-K-I-G-A-I (Huh?) in 2020…
- Marty Schad
- Jan 2, 2020
- 2 min read
Welcome to 2020, Happy New Year!
Today, we have a “clean slate” for 2020; the whole year stretches out before us.
So…let’s think about 2020 and how we can consistently and enjoyably build robust manufacturing processes that WIN.
Okinawa, Japan has the highest ratio in the world of people over 100 years old. Interestingly, they do not have a word in their language that corresponds to “retirement”. Amazingly, they do not even understand the concept of retirement!
Their word for what we call retirement is ikigai, I-K-I-G-A-I. It (roughly) translates as the reason you get out of bed in the morning.
Ikigai is the reason the Okinawans have people 110 years old still spearfishing, and 95 years old and teaching boxing. They have a reason to jump out of bed in the morning!
Some of my own igakais for building great manufacturing processes are…
To create” bulletproof” processes that the customers can trust and use without hesitation or second thought. These are the types of processes I want to depend on.
To help move promising research concepts forward quickly. This helps the researchers have the satisfaction of seeing their ideas come to life. If the idea does not pan out, the researchers can move on to the next project while using the learnings to do better each time.
To help the operators who run these processes day-in and day-out. They love it when a new shift is added to make a great new product that could not be made before. Everyone benefits from this progress.
To improve the bottom-line contribution, which makes the executives job’s easier. Process Stewardship generates tremendous ROI, resulting in a stronger company.
This work results in less energy usage, more efficient material utilization, and decreased waste. This is inherently useful and makes these efforts and products more sustainable, durable, and “built to last”.
To have the satisfaction of reliably producing what was impossible to make before. This is a great and rewarding feeling for everyone involved.
My main learning from thinking about ikigai and building great processes is how this work creates win-win situations for all the stakeholders. Everyone benefits: the operators, the technical staff, the executives, the shareholders, and, the customers. True win-win situations are the bedrock relationships and efforts that positively compound over time, creating real and lasting value.
An acknowledgement: thanks to Neil Pasricha for pointing out the concept of I-K-I-G-A-I!
CHALLENGE TO READERS
Please think about you and your organizations’ current projects for both new and existing processes…
What is your personal ikigai for building great manufacturing processes? Has this changed over time?
Discuss the concept of ikigai with some of your teammates on a current project. Finding shared motivation and enthusiasm can help you build a stronger and faster team effort.
How does the concept of ikigai resonate with you? I’m interested in your reaction to the idea of ikigai and building great manufacturing processes. If you email us, we will get back to you promptly. Thanks!
All the Best,
Marty
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