Continuous Improvement Part Deux

Continuous Improvement Part Deux

The following are 11 steps that we utilize for our continuous improvement initiatives. Feel free to borrow/steal or add comments.

Step One
1. Find a common area.
2. Set up a white board to publish issues, results, steps, comments.
3. Use the board to communicate the issue to the company and drive the schedule.

Step Two
1. Define the problem.
2. The most important step.
3. Ensure you are highly focused.
4. Implement the KISS principle.
5. Indicate a means for measuring results.

Step Three
1. Take notes.
2. Map the process.
3. Identify bottle necks.
4. Identify duplications, issues, opportunities.
5. Quantify time and $.
6. Mark rework, wip, idle times.
7. Google: PERT and implement some ideas.

Step Four
1. What’s the Objective?
2. What are the expectations?
3. Timeline?
4. Metrics?
5. Get buy-in.

Step Five
1. Analyze Data
2. Google: Cause and Effect and implement some ideas.
3. Google: Root Cause
4. Use brainstorming and pareto charts to identify issues and concentrate on heavy hitters.

Step Six
1. Develop several solutions
2. Team effort here.
3. Look under every rock and listen to every opportunity.
4. We are not looking for the root cause but a solution, look at all possibilities.

Step Seven
1. Test the solutions.
2. Pilot tests.
3. Identify areas of measurement and analyzing the results.
4. Look at cost effectiveness, cycle time reduction, quality improvement and process/outcome measures.

Step Eight
1. Implement the best solution.
2. Compare and evaluate all solutions.
Look at:
i. Cost
ii. Value
iii. ROI
iv. Implementation time
v. Commitment
vi. Change required
vii. Google: Force Field Analysis
viii. Apply to top 2 solutions
ix. Select the best solution
x. Implementation plan
xi. Training
xii. Implementation

Step Nine
1. Track Progress
2. Monitor and fine tune, are you getting what you expected
3. Collect data, chart data

Step Ten
1. Take Notes
2. Continue documenting the process
3. Effort, time, people, money, resources
4. Savings: hard and soft
5. Efficiency

Step Eleven
1. Present the Results
2. Win the organization over
3. Illustrate the win and build support for future projects
4. Highlight the how and communicate the project, other project may result, the process might be ‘usable’ in other areas.

Any Questions?