Keep It Simple Stupid (KISS)

William Davies – Manager at IMIG Consultants

Keep It Simple, Stupid (KISS)! A saying I’m sure you’ve heard before or perhaps been told when you or someone you know whilst you were making something complex that should have been simple.

The world seems to be, and has been for over a hundred years now, accelerating at an incredible pace. The technologies of today are far beyond many of the wildest dreams of our ancestors, and perhaps that is why it has become so easy to overlook the KISS principle.

The History of the KISS Principle Explained

The term first originated in the US Navy, where a lead engineer at Lockheed Martin’s Advanced Development Program stipulated to designers that their designs should be simple enough to be repaired in the field using basic tools. If they were not, it could cost lives and cause equipment to become quickly obsolete and worthless.

The term is often used in manufacturing, and a notable pioneer of this mindset in the automotive industry was Henry Ford. When he introduced the Model T, he made it so simple that, in 1908, a car came off the production line every ten seconds. His famous quote that a customer could have “any colour the customer wants, as long as it’s black” – is a testament to the simplicity he strove for. Black was the cheapest colour at the time and did not require costly paint colour changes on the production line.

Applying the KISS Principle in Real Business Scenarios

In both business and life, we often overcomplicate things. In business, it is easy to spend time adding functionalities and processes that we think the client would like, only to present an all-singing, all-dancing system that ultimately becomes just “another new system.” In these cases, time, energy, and resources are often wasted.

Recently at IMIG, we have had some complex projects where multiple variations of car combinations had to be produced in the correct configurations, material specifications, and sequences. This was all happening while we were introducing a business-wide MRP (Material Requirements Planning) system. We tried to move with the system, and we tried building our own trackers, but our attempts were futile. In the end, temporary solutions that have worked for us have been the good old-fashioned whiteboard. Each day, we gathered around it, determined our priorities, and ticked off completed shipments day after day.

Why Simple Solutions Often Work Best

These experiences taught us valuable lessons; sometimes, to get through a situation, problem, or difficulty, it’s best to go back to basics. We often think, myself included, that the first port of call must be a new technology, system, or app. “There must be an app for that,” we tell ourselves. The idea of gathering around a drawing board can feel old school, but in some situations, knowing when to Keep It Simple, Stupid is exactly the right approach.

How to Simplify Processes Effectively

When designing, changing, or starting a process, system, or project, ask yourself:

• Do I need this?
• Is this what the client wants?
• Can I do this in fewer steps?
• Is it worth it?

Ensure that the required scope is clear and if not, don’t be afraid to go back and ask, time is money for everyone.

Why Simplicity Delivers Better Results

Conclusion

Complexity is attractive because it feels clever and advanced, but simplicity is often what delivers the best results. The KISS principle reminds us that the goal is not to build the most impressive system, but the most effective one. Whether in manufacturing, business, or everyday problem-solving, simple solutions are easier to understand, easier to maintain, and far more resilient when things don’t go to plan.

As seen in manufacturing history and reinforced through personal experience, progress is not always about adding more but it is often about stripping back to what truly matters. Technology and processes are powerful tools, but they should serve the problem, not complicate it.

By pausing to ask ourselves whether something is necessary, whether it matches client expectations, and whether the time spent designing it exceeds the value once complete, we give ourselves the chance to make more effective decisions and better use of our time. We are all trying to claw back time in our lives, right?

In a world that is moving so fast, we are constantly encouraged to enhance and make things better, but the discipline to simplify is a skill in itself. Simplicity isn’t old fashioned. It’s not lazy. It’s intentional, and when applied thoughtfully, it can be the smartest approach of all

Simplicity Is the Ultimate Sophistication

As Leonardo da Vinci said:
“Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.”

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