“Stop the Line manufacturing is a technique introduced by Taiichi Ohno (of Toyota Production System fame)  in which every employee on the assembly line has a responsibility to push a big red button that stops everything whenever they notice a defect on the assembly line.”

Initially, people did not understand the idea as the dogma at the time was to keep the line moving at all costs. Taiichi’s idea was by stopping the line and fixing inefficiencies you were proactively building a better process.

Some managers took up his idea and some did not. The managers that took up the idea their productivity dropped by a shocking amount. They were spending so much time fixing defects on the line rather than producing cars. The managers that did not take up his idea thought they were vindicated for taking their stance.

Before long though, something strange started to happen. The managers that took up Taiichi’s ideas and fixed the defects on the line as they went, started producing their goods faster, cheaper, and more reliably than stubborn conservative managers. To the point where they caught up and out performed them. This went on to make Toyota one of the leading car manufacturers in the world.

Now, imagine if we did that for all our conversations? Where we all could push an imaginary big red button during our conversations when ever we felt offended by someone’s behavior. Where we could adjust and fix, in real-time each others behavior processes, during conversation, that were causing offense and defect in communication?

I am suggesting that Object123.com is that BIG RED BUTTON for Stop the Line Conversation