Is it just me, or do quality assurance professionals juggle many responsibilities? In order to do our job well, we not only need to be knowledgeable of the duties unique to the lab or quality department, but we also are expected to monitor and enforce the plant's food safety policies, HACCP plan(s), GMPs, Allergen Control, and other quality programs. I'll be honest. It is not easy juggling all this information and executing all the duties, but it is not impossible. How can I make the best use of the little time I have with each person but still make the time valuable and memorable? How do we get the people on the lines to internalize the information so that they think about what they are doing?
Graphic Organizers... A good visual representation of the work duties is priceless. I have learned that graphic organizers can be more effective than written instructions in some situations. Long bullet lists of reminders are usually not received well. It gives the operator the impression that someone is trying to tell them how to do their job. In addition, it is easy to lose a "to do" list, and it is difficult to read from a distance. Graphic organizers are great for those "on-the-fly" coaching sessions and training follow-ups.
In the lab environment, it is common to find lab rules/friendly reminders listing the following:
Graphic Organizers... A good visual representation of the work duties is priceless. I have learned that graphic organizers can be more effective than written instructions in some situations. Long bullet lists of reminders are usually not received well. It gives the operator the impression that someone is trying to tell them how to do their job. In addition, it is easy to lose a "to do" list, and it is difficult to read from a distance. Graphic organizers are great for those "on-the-fly" coaching sessions and training follow-ups.
In the lab environment, it is common to find lab rules/friendly reminders listing the following:
- Remove materials/equipment that is no longer needed, outdated, or expired.
- Store tools and materials where they are used/in the appropriate locations.
- Clean up your own mess and keep your workplace clean.
- Follow protocols and procedures.
- Handle equipment and chemicals safely.
Below is a 5S graphic representation of what I listed above.
I personally prefer to read this graphic organizer instead of the list. It is simple, memorable and positive. It is not hard to find graphic organizer templates online. Most educational websites offer them for free and can be adapted for manufacturing topics. There is also a website called Edraw where you can download a free trial of their Easy Graphic Organizer. Visit my Resources Tab for links to these websites.
Have any of you used graphic organizers? Do you have a template to share?
Let's keep this discussion going. Your comments are welcome.
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