Wealthsavy: The Home maker

We have all come across “Japanese Management Techniques” atleast once in our lifetime. The techniques include viz, KAIZEN, JUST IN TIME, 5S, KANBAN etc . When teaching students or employees, the belief was these concepts would not succeed as there was no exposure to japanese culture.
One day in an interaction with like minded people it dawned on us that while these concepts are universal , it is the japanses who packaged them. We realized that the ordinary indian home maker has been doing the same, day in and day out without a Japanese background or a degree in management.

The simple question to be asked to demonstrate this little known fact is, Do you have tea in the morning? If yes,  on how many occasions did your mother or wife announce that there would be no tea because she had forgotten to replenish the stock of tea or sugar or milk or LPG? The answer would make the world’s leading practitioner of the famous quality concept six sigma, Motorala, blush. Almost never.

Yet, do we see a sackful of tea leaves or sugar in the house, or barrel of milk? No, usually a small glass bottle which is magically replenished JUST IN TIME. The idea that one does not keep too much tea in the house and that it will lose its flavor is age old. This fact can be repeated for sugar or milk.  Adding another dimension, does the home maker run around the house to prepare the tea.  Or are the ingredients all placed in such a way that they are with arms reach.

If we are to draw parallels, then JUST IN TIME is the concept behind having a small quantity at a time, the tea once made will be just sufficient for the whole house hold, neither will it be less nor will it be more which would be a waste. The PEEP (Place for Everything & Everything in Place) formula of 5S ( a housekeeping technique) is evident with the ingredients needed frequently being kept close at hand and those needed one in a way, possibly in the store room a little distance away.  The bottles of masala are neatly labeled and the prospect of a wrong condiment finding it way into the food is far fetched.  As is a stock out, unless there is a shortage in the market itself.

This proves beyond doubt that the “homemaker” is a born manager. We will work with this natural manager to try and leverage this natural talent into a skill capable of ensuring the economic SAVVYness.  A home maker economically strong will automatically mean financial independence and greater emancipation.

Andrea : The last line is not according to me the best, u can rewrite it as I cannot do so till evening ie submit tomorrow