the first thing you should do in approaching any process is to map the value stream following the circuitous path of material (or paper or information) through your process. It is best to walk the actual path to get the full experience. You can draw this path on a layout and calculate the time and distance traveled and then give it the highly technical name of "spaghetti diagram." Even people who have worked inside a factory for most of their adult lives will be amazed at the results of this exercise.
