Process Improvement
Process Improvement is to analyze existing business processes within an organization, identify possible optimization opportunities, and improve the process performance like boosting quality, speeding cycle times and reducing costs. There are different approaches of process improvement, examples are benchmarking or lean manufacturing. Each approach focuses on different areas of improvement and uses different methods to achieve the best results.
Process Improvement projects include:
• Defining the specific organizational process
• Gathering information about the problem to be solved and establish a process base line
• Analyzing process and financial data, including revenue, expenditure, and employment reports
• Developing solutions or alternative practices and recommending new systems, procedures, or organizational changes
• Conferring with managers to ensure changes are working and ensuring that process is maintained through monitoring and evaluation
Lean Six Sigma
Lean Six Sigma is adding value for your customer by identifying non-value-added tasks while maximizing value-added activities. In addition, Lean "Thinking" incorporates change management & leadership to build on soft skills for your organization.
Six Sigma is the relentless and rigorous pursuit of the reduction of variation in critical processes to achieve continuous and breakthrough improvements. The result is a direct impact to the bottom line, while increasing customer satisfaction and improving employee morale.
Various tools used with Lean Six Sigma projects include:
Continuous Improvement Projects (Kaizen Events)
Understanding the role change with a culture of continuous improvement
Learning to see using Value Stream Mapping
Utilizing the 5S methodology:
o Sort: Sort out unneeded items
o Straighten: Have a place for everything
o Shine: Keep the area clean
o Standardize: Create rules and standard operating procedures
o Sustain: Maintain the system and continue to improve it
Leading projects using Six Sigma with a goal of: DMAIC
o D = Define: What is Important?
o M = Measure: How are we doing?
o A = Analyze: What is wrong?
o I = Improve: What needs to be done?
o C = Control: How do we sustain our gains?
Supply Chain System Optimization
Supply Chain Optimization is to identify the optimal supply chain operation through comprehensive review and evaluation of tradeoffs in supply chain, including delivery times, inventory availability, transportation costs, facility costs, inventory investment, and sourcing strategy. The ultimate goal is to provide the highest customer service and satisfaction at lowest supply chain cost.
Supply chain optimization decisions include but not limited to:
•Supply chain strategy
•Location decision, which determines the number and location of your facilities
•Inventory optimization decides the level of inventory investment (raw materials, work-in-process and finished goods)
•Distribution network, including the choice of transportation mode and design of the routing system
•Strategic sourcing decisions