Mistake Proofing Overview

Mistake proofing is a technique for eliminating errors. It is based upon the premise that it is good to do something right the first time; it is even better to make it impossible to do it wrong the first time. The idea is to make it impossible to make a mistake. One may also hear the term, Poka-Yoke or Error Proofing applied to mistake proofing. Mistake proofing is rooted in a deep respect for the intelligence of workers. It is a principle that seeks to take over repetitive tasks or actions thereby freeing a worker's time for creative and value-adding activities. Its objective is zero defects.