How We Do IT

Initial Engagement

Site Visit:  A site visit will be completed to gather necessary process data needed to identify and choose the business process that should have the best margin impact given the project timeline chosen.

Process Selection: Business financial information will be analyzed to aid in making a mutual decision for process selection that should provide a positive impact on business margins if improvements are made.

Value Stream Mapping:  Using the process data collected, the main process backbone (major process steps) for the process Value Stream will be constructed.  The current state and future state Value Stream Map’s will be created during 1 or more mapping session.

Problem Identification:  Process issues will be defined during the construction of the current state Value Stream Map.  Upon completion of mapping, defined problem statements for the major process deficiencies will be constructed.

Base Monthly Support

Opportunity Analysis: Potential improvement opportunities will be uncovered, and the entire team will provide an impact estimate based upon their respective expertise.  A difficulty assessment of the required implementation for the opportunities will be finished.  Problems and potential improvement opportunities will be linked together. forming “Kaizen Opportunities”.

Solution Development:  Potential options to deliver the defined improvement opportunities will be documented.  The solutions can range from manual procedures to automated equipment needs.

Project Selection:  Each opportunity will be placed on a 4-quadrant grid and will be voted on as part of the “Action Method” to select the projects needed for completion to reach the Future State Value Stream.

Extended Packages

Project Set-up and Scope:  The potential process impact of each project will be articulated (i.e. cycle time, yield, inventory).  The project measurement system will be finalized, and historical trends shown if available.

Project Map & Execution Help:  Working with the client’s staff, the projects will be prioritized in order of completion timing.  The completion map will be determined based upon project resource availability (people, funding, etc.).  Progress checks every 2 weeks (teleconference reviews).

Kaizen Consultation:  8 hours of LEAN Kaizen training prior to implementation as part of the initial engagement activities.  Lead the completion of Kaizen pre-work activities defined by the project map.  Lead 2 Kaizen events and provide back-up facilitation for 1 additional Kaizen event.   Provide execution assistance 2 times per month (via teleconference or in person as needed for a total of 16 hours each month).

Make IT Stick Solution:  Provide leadership to track and close action items remaining after Kaizen event completion, and identify potential IT based or automated solutions that would eliminate manual steps.