The first step in improving a knowledge-work manufacturing process is defining the workflow. I have always understood that the steps and order of a process had to be defined, but I did not fully grasp the concept of flow (I have never been the smartest tool in the shed). Recently I read an article that contained one line that improved my understanding.
“Things must keep flowing, or bad things will happen”
When water is flowing it does not stop. This is the piece I was missing. The flow in a process should attempt to approach flow like water. An assembly line forces this.
Another way to think about flow in knowledge work is by reducing the time between hand-offs in a process (reduced cycle time). Instead of flowing like a river maybe it should be modeled as a bucket brigade.
Interesting News report about companies reducing work hours by becoming more efficient.: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Npoaq35UQUg