Batching or grouping like tasks together in Lean processes is discouraged. Why? Because often when we group tasks, we end up not finishing anything. I’ve seen this on more than one occasion in offices where someone started cleaning the supply closet. Everything got taken out but an interruption happened and it was never finished and thrown back helter skelter into the closet. Typically, a project like this would be better done shelf by shelf or drawer by drawer or one flow processing; not batching. To decide if you will be more productive batching or not batching, try it yourself. Now, here is the challenge, identify in your office and life what enhances productivity by batching or not batching.
How do you identify some of the tasks as to Batch or not to Batch? How about invoicing? Or newsletter? Or laundry? Or cooking?
