Technology Doesn’t Create A Competitive Advantage

In some cases, it can make teams more unproductive.

It took me nine months to implement a new ERP system from one we’d been using since the 1980s. It would make the team more efficient, mobile and automate redundant administrative activities.

But it exposed our weaknesses.

Technology aids waste.

When people use technology, “it brings all the waste along with it,” says Ed Constantine.

As we migrated to our new ERP system, it exposed waste within our processes. Waste became a part of the technology.

The goal is of any productivity improvement is first to eliminate waste, not use technology to put on an artificial patch.

Sometimes you need the right tool, technology, to get the job done, but not without first eliminating waste.

Technology assumes humans will get it right.

People still have to enter data into a system. Technology assumes people won’t screw up.

If you have wasteful processes or inadequate training, technology will make things harder.

Technology also assumes that suppliers will deliver everything on time in a perfect world, so when you need it, you have…