Use cuts, reordering, and speed adjustment to refine the elements organized in STEP3 and create a waste-free work video. You can always check the before and after comparison in the graph at the bottom right of the screen.
This article is part of the Work Analysis series, STEP4. For the full overview, see Work Analysis overview and getting started.
3 types of edits available in STEP4
- Cut: Exclude an element from the output video (remove waste)
- Reorder: Change the order of elements (optimize workflow and preparation)
- Speed adjustment (Correction speed): Set playback speed (0.5× to 2.0×) for each element (compress Standard time)
In STEP4, the display switches to "After rearrangement" mode. The Gantt chart shows the improved timeline after cuts and speed adjustments are applied, and the element list displays in reordered sequence.
Cutting elements
- In the element list on the upper right, click the cut toggle (scissors icon) for the element you want to cut
- The cut element appears grayed out and is excluded from the Gantt chart and output
- Click again to restore it
Reordering elements
- In the element list, drag and drop to change the order
- In the Gantt chart (After rearrangement), you can also drag to reorder. Cut elements retain their array position, and only showing elements move
Adjusting speed
In the speed control of the element list, set the Correction speed for each element (for example: 1.5× to shorten, 0.75× to emphasize). Standard time is calculated as Measured time ÷ Correction speed and is reflected in the graph immediately.
Record why you improved (Improvement note)
You can write down what changed and how for each element. Click the speech bubble icon in the element list to enter your note.
- Improvement category: Remove (eliminate) / Combine (consolidate) / Reorder (change sequence) / Simplify (make easier) / Other
- Free text: Describe what changed and how
Your written notes appear in the Reduction column of STEP5 Verify and in the "Improvement" sheet of the Excel export. Later, you can trace back why you removed an element. You can write just the category, just the description, or both.
Verify results with the before and after improvement graph
The Work structure graph (Before → After) appears at the bottom right of the screen.
- Left bar = Before (baseline confirmed in STEP3)
- Right bar = After (current edit)
- A connecting line links the boundaries between the two bars, making it clear at a glance how each of the 3 categories increased or decreased
A results card on the right shows the time saved.
- Green = Improvement (time saved)
- Gray = No change
- Red = Worsened (time increased)
The card also shows "Measured → Standard time," "change in waste time," and "change in waste rate."
Reset edits
The toolbar at the bottom of the screen allows you to perform the following operations.
- [Revert to baseline]: Cancel all STEP4 improvements (cuts, reordering, and speed), and return to the same state as before (baseline)
- Undo / Try again (Ctrl+Z / Ctrl+Shift+Z): Undo/Redo edits within this step
Moving to STEP5
Click the [Next] button at the bottom center of the screen to move to STEP5 (Verify).
Tips for effective use
- For efficiency, start by cutting all red (waste) elements first, then move on to speed adjustment and reordering of incidental work
- If you speed up too much, workers on the floor won't be able to follow the movements. For Training and standard work, 1.0× to 1.5× is a good guideline
- For detailed movements (for example, safety-critical points), emphasizing at 0.75× is also effective
- Optimizing workflow with reordering increases perceived efficiency beyond what the waste rate suggests