Workplace 'Why' Series Day 4: Why do we use pointing and calling?
In the workplace, you may be told,
“Let’s use pointing and calling.”
It is used in many situations,
such as inspecting equipment,
checking slips,
verifying items before shipment,
and checking power sources.
However, have you ever thought,
“I can see it just fine,”
or “Isn't checking it in my head enough?”
Have you ever thought that?
So, why do we use pointing and calling?
—
Reason 1: To prevent 'assuming you've seen it'
Even when people think,
“I looked at it properly,”
they may actually have overlooked something.
For example,
product numbers,
shelf numbers,
or quantities on a slip.
Similar numbers or characters
can be misread due to assumptions.
This is called
“assuming you've seen it.”
By pointing and
calling out to confirm,
you use not only your eyes,
but also your fingers and ears to verify.
As a result,
you can reduce oversights.
—
Reason 2: To increase concentration
When doing the same work every day,
people get used to it.
Getting used to it is not a bad thing in itself.
However,
habituation can sometimes lead to
“skipping checks.”
Pointing and calling is also an action
that shifts your consciousness to,
“I am performing this check right now.”
Because you can focus on the object being checked,
it becomes easier to prevent mistakes.
—
Reason 3: Because it communicates to others that you are checking
Pointing and calling
is not just for yourself.
It also conveys to those around you
that “I am performing this check right now.”
This makes double-checking easier,
and makes it easier to notice abnormalities.
In the workplace,
it is more important to prevent mistakes as a team
than to be perfect as an individual.
—
'Checked' and 'Successfully verified' are different
At work,
we often hear the phrase,
“I have checked it.”
But,
has it really been verified?
Checks done only in one's head
are prone to assumptions.
On the other hand,
when you point and
call out to confirm,
the accuracy of the check naturally increases.
Therefore,
pointing and calling is not just a formality.
It is a method to improve the quality of your checks.
—
What I feel on the front lines
In improvement activities,
I sometimes hear,
“I checked it, but I still made a mistake.”
When I look closely,
it is often the case that they only thought they had checked,
but actually overlooked it.
Conversely,
in workplaces where pointing and calling is a habit,
shipping errors and missed checks tend to decrease.
Just a few seconds of checking
can prevent major trouble.
—
Today's 'Why'
We don't use pointing and calling
just because it's a rule.
It is to prevent 'assuming you've seen it'.
To increase the accuracy of checks.
To prevent mistakes as a whole team.
And,
to create a workplace where everyone can work with peace of mind.
Once you know the reason,
you will understand that pointing and calling is not a tedious task,
but a verification method to protect yourself and your colleagues.
—
Next time preview
Why do we write down near-misses?
It is too late after an accident has occurred.
So, what can we do before an accident happens?
Let's think about the 'whys' in the workplace together next time as well.