Ray Carter coined the mnemonic STOPS WASTE to remind buyers of 10 cost-reduction ideas they can ask for themselves and their suppliers in any situation when considering a key purchase input. Stop Waste by:
Standardisation - is there a standard specification?
Transportation - is the inbound transport classification appropriate
Over-engineered - is the specification too tight?
Packaging - can packaging be reduced or eliminated?
Substitutes - is there a cheaper substitute material
Weight - is there opportunity to reduce weight of the product?
Any unnecessary processing - is there any unnecessary design or feature?
Supplier’s input - are suppliers able to assist with the cost reduction
To make - is it more economical to make or buy?
Eliminate - if no one uses the feature, can it be eliminated?
SAMOA is a useful acronym for checking and testing the information gathered from the Internet:
Source
Audience
Methodology
Objectivity
Accuracy
OWN-IT is acronym for 5 steps in the process of collecting and analysing the data and information needed in any field:
Outline
Wide search
Narrow search
Increase your stockpile of information
Transform your stockpile into new knowledge
A SMART goal is used to help guide goal setting. SMART is an acronym that stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Time-bound.
