🏭 Factory Floor Focus
Welcome to the assembly line of improvement! Let’s inspect our project’s parts, spot defects, and fine-tune our workflow like a high-performing factory team. Ready to optimize for quality and speed?
Template Columns
⚙️ Smooth Operations
Share which processes and teamwork flowed efficiently, keeping our production line moving.
Base column: What Went Well🔧 Broken Machinery
Highlight bumps in the line—obstacles, miscommunications, or system breakdowns that slowed us down.
Base column: What Went Wrong🛠️ Upgrade Ideas
Suggest tweaks, automation, or new methods to supercharge our factory for the next sprint.
Base column: What We Want to ImproveAbout this template
The Factory Floor Focus retrospective uses a manufacturing metaphor to help teams review process efficiencies, identify bottlenecks, and brainstorm improvements for smoother project delivery.
When to use this template
Use this format when your team wants a clear, process-oriented look at how workflows, tools, and collaboration are supporting (or hindering) project outcomes. It’s especially effective after challenging sprints, or when routine process review is needed.
How to facilitate
Open by introducing the factory metaphor, encouraging everyone to think of your work as a production line with parts, processes, and team roles.
Review the three columns and invite the team to add notes individually: share examples of Smooth Operations, list any Broken Machinery, and contribute Upgrade Ideas.
Allow time for everyone to read through all contributions, grouping similar notes collaboratively and clarifying where needed.
Facilitate discussion, starting with Smooth Operations to recognize strong processes, then move to Broken Machinery for open exploration of blockers and recurring issues.
Transition to Upgrade Ideas, encouraging the team to focus on realistic, high-impact changes that could boost efficiency or quality in the next sprint.
Guide the team in selecting 1-3 improvements to turn into actionable tasks and assign owners, ensuring clear accountability.
Wrap up by reflecting on key insights and thanking everyone for their candid input and optimization mindset.
Pro Tips
Encourage the team to be specific—examples and data make process improvements more actionable.
Leverage the factory theme by using analogies (like conveyor belts for handoffs) to spark creative thinking.
If you spot recurring 'Broken Machinery', consider a deeper root cause analysis—invite the team to suggest ways to dig in further.
Timebox discussions to prevent over-focusing on negative issues and keep momentum towards solution generation.
FAQ
How can I get the team to contribute honest feedback in 'Broken Machinery'?
Model transparency as a facilitator and emphasize the focus on improving systems, not blaming individuals. Anonymous input options can help, too.
What if the team has too many 'Upgrade Ideas' to tackle at once?
Prioritize based on impact and feasibility. Limit action items to 1-3 per sprint and create a backlog of future improvements.
How do I keep discussions positive when facing lots of 'Broken Machinery'?
Balance the conversation by celebrating 'Smooth Operations' first and highlight the opportunity for growth in every challenge raised.
At a glance
- Duration
45–60 min
- Team Size
4-12 people
- Columns
3 columns
- Base Format
What Went Well, What Went Wrong, What We Want to Improve
Tags
Ready to get started?
Use this template to run your next retrospective