Discover the power of digital TCards in facilitating lean catchball

What do we hate in a catchball game? Misses.

What makes the game exciting? Bounces.

What makes it fair? An uncompromised opportunity to get the ball at least once.

This is precisely what lean thinking borrowed as food for thought. In this collaborative game, action plan, and instant responses take centre stage, while misses and delays play in the background – much like a shop floor.

Every shop floor is a playground (figuratively speaking), and we’re the lean experts who ensure you don’t get played! We design, build, and develop lean visual tools where you can:

• See through processes clearly
• Decide when to pass communication notes
• Halt at critical issues
• Handle bounces of downtime or inefficiency

A lean catchball is a collaborative communication, feedback management, and decision-making process used in lean management. Ideas, problems, and solutions are “bounced” back and forth between different levels of the organisation. Employees from various departments engage in open dialogue and feedback to ensure all perspectives are considered. This process leads to better problem-solving, improved solutions, and stronger team alignment. It’s a continuous exchange that builds shared understanding and commitment to final decisions or action plans. Master the art of improving task tracking with digital TCards!

Do we really need a digital workflow tool for lean catchball? Imagine recording every communication exchange manually, delayed task tracking, and inefficient reporting. This highlights the need for a digital workflow tool that enables lean catchball to foster consistent communication, collaboration, and continuous improvement. Are you in search of digital tools to improve lean management practices? Implement real-time feedback management with digital TCards! Unlock the powerful benefits of digital TCards in lean management with us!

Here’s a side-by-side comparison of two shop floors:

Aspect	Without Digital Workflow Tools	With Digital Workflow Tools (e.g. TCards)
Communication	Relies on verbal discussions, paper notes, or emails, leading to missed or delayed feedback.	Real-time updates and notifications ensure no feedback is lost.
Task Tracking	Difficult to track assigned tasks; tasks may be overlooked.	Tasks are prioritised, tracked, and linked with accountability.
Transparency	Limited visibility into actions and progress.	Centralised dashboards offer complete workflow visibility.
Feedback Management	Scattered and informal feedback.	Feedback is systematically stored and categorised.
Time Efficiency	Manual processes slow down resolution.	Automated workflows save time and streamline actions.
Problem Solving	Poor prioritisation and unclear evidence.	Tools enable data-driven decisions with prioritisation.
Scalability	Hard to replicate processes across teams.	Easy scaling of workflows across teams and locations.
Reporting	Tedious and error-prone manual reports.	Automated reports summarise trends and progress effortlessly.
Engagement	Teams feel disengaged due to unclear ownership.	Gamified visual tools keep teams motivated and engaged.

Practising lean catchball in an organisation involves fostering continuous communication and collaboration across the team. TCards can facilitate this through: Explore enhancing team decision-making with lean catchball tools. Streamlining workflows using digital TCards for lean management of shop floors can accelerate task tracking and move closer to the continuous improvement practices. Discover the most effective collaboration tools for lean catchball implementation.

• Real-time collaboration: Enables continuous communication between departments with comments and feedback.
• Task assignment: Assign specific tasks with deadlines, ensuring clarity and accountability.
• Visual data sharing: Simplifies sharing reports and updates with an intuitive visual interface.
• Prioritisation: Highlights critical issues with colour-coding and feedback loops.
• Centralised communication: Keeps all feedback and actions in one place for seamless tracking.
• Actionable insights: Generates real-time reports to track progress and decision evolution.

We have designed and developed TCards encasing the best practices for shop floor management with lean catchball.

Step	Action	TCards in Action
1. Identify an issue	The assembly line slows down due to screw shortages.	Create a TCard: “Screw Refill Problem – Assembly Line Slowdown”.
2. Share the problem	Supervisor shares the issue with the team for suggestions.	Team adds ideas like “Install low-stock sensors” directly to the TCard.
3. Collect feedback	Operators suggest training staff on inventory checks.	Feedback is logged with a voting system to prioritise solutions.
4. Plan an action	Decision made to implement a sensor-based system.	TCard evolves with assigned tasks: “Research sensors”.
5. Implement and review	Screw shortages drop by 80%; the team reviews and celebrates!	TCard is marked as complete, with emoji reactions for celebration.

Digital TCards make practising lean catchball effortless by streamlining communication, enhancing accountability, and fostering a culture of shared decision-making. Whether you're tackling shopfloor challenges or aligning strategic goals, TCards ensure every voice is heard and every action tracked.

Ready to transform your workflow? Sign up for a free trial or contact us today and experience the power of Digital TCards!

1. What is lean catchball?

Lean catchball is a collaborative communication process where ideas, feedback, and decisions are "bounced" between team members to foster shared understanding, improve solutions, and drive continuous improvement.

2. How do digital TCards enhance lean catchball?

Digital TCards streamline communication, enable real-time updates, and provide a centralised platform for tracking tasks, feedback, and decisions, making the lean catchball process more efficient.

3. Can TCards help track tasks during lean catchball?

Yes, TCards allow you to assign tasks, set priorities, and track progress, ensuring accountability and timely resolution of issues raised during the catchball process.

4. Why is transparency important in lean catchball?

Transparency ensures that all team members have access to the same information, fostering collaboration, trust, and alignment toward common goals during decision-making.

5. How can I start using TCards for lean catchball?

You can easily integrate TCards into your workflow by signing up for a free trial, exploring its features like real-time collaboration, visual task tracking, and centralised communication.