ECRS

ECRS stands for Eliminate, Combine, Rearrange, and Simplify. This Lean technique is primarily used to reduce or remove wasteful steps entirely from anything regarding manufacturing processes or even office procedures. It might even be helpful to put together a value stream map as well to identify necessary and complex steps within production lines. When implementing ECRS, complex and time-consuming tasks are reviewed with the goal of successfully applying any one or all of the strategies in the ECRS acronym. The end result aims to streamline any process for workers and create a more efficient business as a whole. The four methods are:

1. Eliminate – Identify the steps in a process that can be eliminated without decreasing production value. Ask questions such as:
   • Can we eliminate the root cause?
   • What is the problem with this situation currently?
   • Do we need a new process?
2. Combine – If nothing can be eliminated, see if any steps can be combined. Ask questions such as:
   • Can the same person do both steps?
   • Can we merge this step with another?
3. Rearrange – Rearranging steps may make the process faster, easier, or safer. Ask questions such as:
   • Is this the best sequence of progression?
   • Can we rearrange the process steps, process flow, or training?
4. Simplify – Simplifying steps can make complicated tasks much easier to understand. For example, this can be done by providing visual aid or better equipment. Simplifying a process has the potential to improve completion times and improve accuracy. Ask questions such as:
   • Why do we need this detail?
   • What is the objective of the process?
   • How do others do it?

The ECRS Lean technique emphasizes fast application of new ideas after brainstorming potential improvement opportunities with those who perform the task. With that being said, most newly framed processes don’t require money to be spent, it should just be about restructuring and making improvements upon old procedures. The beauty of ECRS is its flexibility, if something doesn’t work it can be changed without overspending on an unproven solution.

Additional ECRS facts:

• ECRS is a lean tool used to analyze a process and remove the non-value added steps from it. It stands for Eliminate, Combine, Rearrange, and Simplify. Source: https://www.leansixsigmadefinition.com/glossary/ecrs/
• ECRS can be applied to any process, whether it is manufacturing, service, or administrative. The goal is to make the process faster, easier, safer, and more efficient. Source: https://www.benchmarksixsigma.com/forum/topic/38281-ecrs/
• ECRS can be used in conjunction with other lean tools, such as 5S, value stream mapping, kaizen, and standard work. ECRS can help identify the root causes of waste and eliminate them. Source: http://ieomsociety.org/proceedings/2021indonesia/553.pdf
• ECRS can be implemented by following four steps: 1) observe the current process and record the work elements, 2) ask the 5W1H questions (Why, What, Where, When, Who, How) for each work element, 3) generate improvement ideas using ECRS principles, and 4) test and validate the new process. Source: https://www.easyproblemsolving.com/ecrs
• ECRS can also be used as a creative problem-solving technique, by applying the TRIZ method. TRIZ is a Russian acronym for Theory of Inventive Problem Solving, which is a systematic approach to generate innovative solutions. Source: http://ieomsociety.org/proceedings/2021indonesia/553.pdf