Apr 20th 2020

Covid-19: What work practices we can learn for later?

EI Faculty Member Steve Bell sent me a photo taken at a Trader Joe’s store in Oregon. With eyes for lean thinking and practice, he made several observations of how they’re operating as an essential business during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

In the photo, workers are shown outside the store sanitizing shopping carts between users. He reported a similar “changeover” process inside at the checkout. Moreover, Steve observed them allowing only twenty-five shoppers at a time who were asked to limit purchases to two per item. He claimed the simple level-loading was creating greater flow throughout the store. 

https://www.lean.org/LeanPost/Posting.cfm?LeanPostId=1145