Continuous Process Improvement
Basic Quality Tools Workshop
Existing business processes are frequently plagued by problems and issues that negatively impact performance. Often these issues have existed for a very long period of time. Sometimes the organization is well aware of their existence, but is at a loss as to what to do. People involved in the process will “learn to live with” these problems over time, or “work around them” in order to get the job done. As a result, the organization accepts them as business as usual, and they become an integral part of the existing process.
Why does this happen? Is it that people do not want to address these issues and solve their problems? Not likely. More likely, there is another reason. Perhaps the organization is unaware of the very existence of the issue or problem (“I never realized this is what we have to go through day in and day out”), or the organization is unaware of the actual cost of the continued acceptance of the problem (“It’s no big deal. It only takes me a few extra minutes to straighten it out every time it happens.”). In other cases, the organization attempted to address the issue or problem in the past, and failed to accurately determine if it was indeed successful in its attempt (“I thought we fixed that problem six months ago. You mean it is still happening?”), or the organization attempted to address the issue or problem in the past, and failed to successfully resolve it. Ultimately the organization “gives up” (“We tried everything. I don’t know what else to do”).
What is missing is a basic Process Improvement methodology. Every company needs available to it a Process Improvement methodology. Further, every company must practice this methodology whenever opportunities arise. In this way, the probability of success of resolving the various issues that plague process performance will be increased. There are several methodologies available – all are effective when properly used. This workshop will make use of a seven step approach that guides an individual or group of people through a process improvement effort, in a simple, organized manner. Based on Deming’s Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) cycle this seven step approach takes “Plan” and breaks it into several easy to follow steps.
This workshop will also cover the basic quality tools such as: Process Mapping, basic statistics, Pareto Charts, Run Charts, Histograms, Cause and Effect Diagrams, Mistake Proofing and others. The approach and the specific tools are listed on the next page. The one day workshop can be expanded to include more application based exercises relating to actual processes and problems within a company.
Duration: 1 – 2 days
Who should attend: any person in any position of an organization can benefit by attending this workshop.
Change Management Associates
31 Lexington Court, Mount Laurel NJ 08054
Tele: 856-235-8051 • Website: cma4results.com