Poka Yoke (Mistake Proofing)
Japanese term that means mistake proofing. To avoid (yokeru) inadvertent errors
(poka).
A Poka Yoke device is one that prevents incorrect parts of a process from
being worked or easily identifies a flaw or error.
- Any method that can help caregivers or operators avoid mistakes
- The Lean Healthcare concept recognizes that the optimal location to prevent
or correct mistakes is at the point of creation of the problem.
- Late recognition of a mistake or defect is never as efficient and typically
has a cumulative effect.
Poka-yoke - 'mistake-proofing', a means of providing a visual or other signals
to indicate a characteristic state. Often referred to as 'error-proofing',
poke-yoke is actually the first step in truly error-proofing a system. Error
proofing is a technique of preventing errors by designing the process, equipment,
and tools so that a procedure literally cannot be performed incorrectly.
HPP’s Mistake Proofing Philosophy
- Believes that a zero defect process is possible when using Lean Healthcare tools.
- Promotes defect prevention vs. defect detection
- Recognizes that people forget and make errors; also machines/processes
fail and make errors
- Respect the intelligence of workers by taking the judgment out of repetitive
tasks where errors are likely to occur
- Utilizes people working in the process to mistake proof the work because
the own the process.