As we continue our paths toward achieving better companies, technology stands at the forefront of how we can amplify our current workforce and systems. The skilled labor shortage, both in the field and in the office, demands us to increase our effectiveness and better utilize our workforce to achieve improved results.

My recent acceptance of the CFO position at NAPCO Precast has offered me an excellent opportunity to reevaluate processes and systems. I have challenged the accounting and finance staff to examine every procedure and system to evaluate why things are done the way they are — “because that’s how we have always done it” is not a sufficient answer.

We’ve discovered many improvement opportunities by looking at all systems and seeing if there is a better way. We have found that some of the systems are solid, while others are definitely ripe for reimagining.

Our production departments are implementing and examining Lean principles, utilizing the framework from the book 2 Second Lean: How to Grow People and Build a Fun Lean Culture at Work & at Home by Paul Akers. Many of these same principles can be used in the office. Akers encourages you to begin making improvements by looking into “what bugs you.” There are generally many instances of waste in processes that just don’t seem right, such as excess processing of data, underutilization of talent, and rework.

I invite you to investigate this book and utilize the ideas of those who are closest to the processes to increase efficiencies and improve company health. By combining Lean principles with recent advances in technology, you can quickly boost results.