Lean Training - the "ILU" Chart

Much of what the Toyota Production System has taught us, has now fallen under the "Lean" umbrella. There is a ton of great material on Lean Manufacturing, Lean Projects, Lean methodologies for all types of activities. Lean Cuisine for business! Yes - Lean is big!

However, do a search for Lean as it relates to people training, and you don't find much.

Two key principles of Lean are VISIBILITY and SIMPLICITY. When you apply these to people development and training, there is nothing leaner than the ILU Chart.

This is something that I learnt a long time ago, and have applied many times. Simple to understand, simple to implement and very, very effective. To explain the ILU Chart, you have to understand the idea behind the original ILU Charts. Think of a matrix with skills along the top and people down the side. The chart below is an example of what an ILU chart would look like to a work team that manufactures replacement panels for automobiles.



"I" (the first 'stoke' on the chart) indicates that the person has undergone training for the skill and can perform the task with some level of supervision.

"L" (second 'stroke' on the chart) indicates that this person can now execute this task solo within the standard time.
"U" (3rd stoke on the chart) indicates that this person is an expert at this task and able to train others.

In the above example, you can see that Mary has recently joined the team and is building up her skills. Kelsey seems to be the expert in the group, and is probably the team lead/ trainer.
The ILU Chart SIMPLY and VISIBLY shows where people's expertise and deficiencies lie.

How can you use the ILU Chart as a Lean tool in training / people development?



1 comment:

Anonymous said...

You can even improve on this method by using the "I" as having some knowledge, the "L" as undergoing training, the "U" as can do unassisted, a "Box" as can do unassisted and train others and a "Box" with a dot in as can do, train others and problem solve

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