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The Greatest SMED Transformation! How F1 Pitstops Revolutionized Changeovers

by Laurence Gartside
Jun 24, 2025
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One of the most inspiring aspects of working in business operations is to be able to see progress. However efficient and productive the system is today, it can always be better, and there will always be new problems but it's only when we compare it to what it “used” to look like that we can appreciate the progress.

This is one of my favourite ever clips. A youtube clip of a Formula 1 pitstop in 1950’s vs the modern era.

 

Studying a process, understanding its parts, evaluating them and redesigning the process to be more efficient - a crucial aspect of “Operations Improvement”. 

Have you heard of “SMED”??  It’s the methodology used to make this kind of process transformation! It's one of the topics in my video training course on “Lean Manufacturing A-Z: Operations Management & Six Sigma”

Want to make a step change on your key processes? Start simple. Take a video! Watch it, and again, and again. Map out the steps - use post-its, show it to the team members who do the process. Work together.  What “should” it look like with the current process vs what is “really” happening…. Then it's time for some of that SMED!

 

If you're ready to dive deeper into these concepts and gain continuous, in-depth learning on operations management, consider joining our Operations Management Academy!

As a member, you'll get access to four ops courses including our flagship course "Advanced Operations Management". Start your journey today and take the operations in your career and business to the next level!

 

Crack On!

Laurence Gartside

Rowtons Training

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