Recently we received a question about Standardized Work.  What exactly is Standardized Work?  In a nutshell Standardized Work is like work instructions on steroids.  It includes very specific details on how the work is performed, and it is usually developed with takt times and an understanding of machines and tooling capacity all rolled together.  Standardized Work is commonly used in Toyoda production systems.  They are an excellent tool for planning, load balancing,  and insuring smooth product launches.  Their weakness would show in highly dynamic and changing processes due to the necessary resources to properly develop these tools.  When they are utilized properly they offer a systematic approach to many industrial engineering philosophies which are often otherwise overlooked.