Playing an SOP Paper Folding Game game in class..

As usual this time in the Lean Operations class we brought in the activity style of pedagogy to teach an important concept in lean operations - Standard Operating Procedure.

Standard Operating Procedure - A standard operating procedure is a set of step-by-step instructions compiled by an organization to help workers carry out routine operations. SOPs aim to achieve efficiency, quality output, and uniformity of performance, while reducing miscommunication and failure to comply with industry regulations. Wikipedia

On Monday 20th of March 2023, I engaged the topic of Standard Operating Procedure with the fourth sem MBA operations students through a game. Earlier I had introduced the topic of Kaizen and continuous Improvement with the straw game.

Since the class strength was about thirty I asked for ten volunteers who were asked to stand with A5 paper in the different corners of the large classroom. It was the paper folding game. 

• Initially the students were given vague instruction on folding the sheets of paper and tearing off the corners. The results were highly variable, we got as many as 5 separate designs with one design taking a frequency of 3. 
• This got reduced as I gave more detailed instructions to the volunteers in different stages of the game.
• Finally in the last and fifth stage the volunteers were clearly explained what was meant by corners, edges, long edge, short edge etc and when the instructions were given, all the 8 volunteers gave an identical design.

The learning from the game was that if proper Standard Operating Procedure is given to the workers and if all the terminology in the SOP is properly understood by the workers, there is very less probability of working committing mistakes and all the output will be similar, zero variability, leading to high quality uniform output and customer acceptance and satisfaction.

There was no other way to practically demonstrate to the students other than through this practical insightful simple game on how SOPs can bring quality to the process and enhance customer satisfaction.

George..