There are a few ways to save time from a process engineering perspective:
- process efficiencies
- task efficiencies
- load-balancing tasks
Task vs Process
Firstly, let’s explain what a process & task is. A process is a stream of tasks that, when completed, achieves a certain goal. The below is an example of the process of cooking dinner.
It isn’t only cooking the food itself but also getting the ingredients, combining it pleasantly, serving it as a meal, and cleaning up. These individual steps are “tasks.” Of course, these “tasks” can be further divided into “sub-tasks.” For example, the Cleaning Dishes task could be divided into carrying dishes to the sink, washing dishes, drying dishes, and then putting away dishes.
Task Efficiencies
Doing tasks more efficiently can save time. This can be done by using appliances or gadgets to automate or assist the work. Assigning someone who is skilled at the task can be another method.
In the above example, using a dishwasher can help to save the time spent on the last task. (It would not be eliminated as you will still need to carry the dishes from the table to the dishwasher, and put away the cleaned dishes)
Process Efficiencies
Efficiencies for a process can be achieved by eliminating tasks by completely removing them or reducing their frequencies.
Usually, these types of efficiencies have a larger impact on time efficiencies than that of individual tasks.
For example, ordering take-out food could eliminate the first two tasks of purchasing ingredients and cooking meals (but perhaps this would not be a permanent solution for every day).
Reducing the frequency of certain tasks within a process can help to reduce time spent. For example, the task of purchasing ingredients could be made more efficient if it were not done every day (as is the norm here in Japan), but on a less frequent basis.
Load Balancing Tasks
Further, not all time is of equal value. Ten minutes in the weekday morning rush before everyone gets ready for work/school is much more valuable than the same ten minutes on a lazy weekend afternoon when everyone is relaxing. Scheduling tasks to be done at times less busy to save time during peak hours can be helpful.
In these notes, I will dissect time-consuming household chores and share some ideas that might help you save time too!
