Where do you want your CI initiative to go in 2010?
In the ever-changing world of continuous improvement (CI), we must always remember to walk our own walk. If we, as CI leaders, are teaching and coaching people in the PDCA (Plan, Do, Check, Act) process, we too must ensure that we are leading by example. We must not vary our process from this cycle of improvement that works so very well.
Too many companies that I have talked to and worked with get so focused on the DCA part of the equation that planning is completely left out or, at best, an afterthought. We do, check, act - do, check, act over and over again so many times that we are working really hard in several different directions.
As we start moving into 2010, I ask you to be very deliberate in the planning process for the coming year. Since I am focused on CI, I am writing this note from that perspective. What exactly do you want to accomplish through the application of continuous improvement?
While that is a pretty broad topic, try this instead:
Q, C, D, S, M and G
Quality
Cost
Delivery
Safety
Morale
Growth
Thinking as specific as you can, lay out quantifiable goals for each of these topics so that the organization has a clear signpost to follow, as well as a quantifiable progress report for the fiscal year you are confronting.
Most of this is clear if you go through an enterprise-level value stream map. If that is not the model that you follow, at least spend time with the CI process to define where you are trying to take the organization.
Once you have decided your high-level goals under each of these topics, then you can set out with the tactical plan for how to accomplish those goals using Pareto analysis, value stream maps and other tools. The point is to define where you want to go before you embark on the 2010 trip.
As someone once told me, “If you don’t know where you are trying to go, the best map in the world won’t help you much.”
No related posts.
If you enjoyed this post, please consider leaving a comment and subscribing to the email alerts or RSS feed.
Filed Under: Featured, Lean Manufacturing | Tags: business management, change management, Lean Manufacturing, quality, workplace safety
Comments
By Alan Rice on October 8th, 2009 at 4:55 am
Excellent article. I totally agree, PLAN; PLAN and PLAN again if necessary. My experience has been the age old saying ‘He who fails to plan, plans to fail’. Sometimes, genuine over enthusuiasm can lead to forgetting the ‘P’. But also, the know it all ‘lone ranger’ manager is often he cause with ‘just get it done’
Great Article, well done,
Alan
By Beau on October 9th, 2009 at 10:26 am
Thanks Alan. The other one that comes to mind is:
“Proper planning prevents poor performance.”
I will be sending in a follow-up article this week with a little more tactical flavor.
By Rob Apelgren on October 20th, 2009 at 3:19 pm
I think this is great. I really believe in the Value Stream Map. If you don’t know your process you can’t improve it.
By Todd Shadburn on October 30th, 2009 at 11:25 am
Great article!! I am also in a CI role and very appreciative my organization is moving in this direction!! Again, nice job with the article!!!