Stop Firefighting and start Hunting & Farming effectively - a useful Continuous Improvement metaphor

When it comes to managing operational improvements, I really like the metaphor of the hunter and the farmer. But there's an important distinction to make: firefighting isn't the same as hunting. In firefighting, you're reacting to an immediate threat, something both hunters and farmers need to do to survive, but it’s a different mindset from strategic hunting. Hunting is a targeted, skillful activity requiring planning and precision to bring in quick results. Farming, on the other hand, is a longer-term investment that takes patience to yield returns. Both are essential, and while farming builds up systems over time, hunting keeps your organisation competitive in the short term.

In industrial settings, firefighting can be necessary when things go wrong, but over-reliance on it points to systemic issues. A strong hunter strategy, like a well-implemented Focused Improvement pillar, seeks out major loss areas and addresses them head-on with skill and planning. It's not about impulsive actions; it’s about leading your team to the biggest opportunities and sustaining those wins for the future. Meanwhile, the farmer approach—through pillars like Autonomous Management—focuses on cultivating broader, long-term improvements that ensure a stable foundation for future success.

The balance between hunting and farming is key for any organisation, but don’t confuse hunting with firefighting. They require different skill sets, and both are critical in eliminating the need for constant crisis management.

#ContinuousImprovement #OperationalExcellence #tpm
   • Stop Firefighting and start Hunting &...  

00:00 Introduction to the Hunter vs Farmer metaphor
03:38 Firefighting isn’t hunting
05:34 Good hunting requires skill and planning
08:46 Farming for long-term growth
09:56 Balancing both approaches for success

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