8 Wastes & 3Ms
This module helps teams identify the difference between what is Value Added to a product/service/final deliverable and what is not value added. In order to improve the work processes, one must eliminate the 8 wastes and the 3Ms = Muda (waste), Mura (unevenness), Muri (Forcibly).
Value Stream Mapping (VSM)
A Value Stream is a key business process that adds value to a product or service. Value Stream Mapping allows you to identify the Current State of your key value stream, identify wastes in your processes, and use real data to identify measurable targets for improvements. A Value Stream Mapping exercise allows you to visualize the “big picture” of a high level process and identify key “kaizen” event improvements to target to improve the process towards a measurable Future State.
Kaizen Event Process
Kaizen involves breaking down a process, removing any unnecessary elements, and then putting it back together in a new and improved way. The process should now work more smoothly and fully utilize the skill sets of everyone involved. A kaizen event is a five-day team workshop with a specific goal or set of goals for an area that needs improvement. This event will be led by a team leader and will include training, data collection, brainstorming, and implementation. At the end of the event, the team leader will create a follow-up plan and a report to be submitted to management. Many people are familiar with the term “kaizen”, which is Japanese for “change for better”. In business, kaizen refers to any activities that improve the function of a process.
6S & Visual Management
One of the critical elements towards a Lean working environment is an emphasis on Safety, while creating a Visual Control in order to satisfy other critical requirements of the business, such as Quality, Delivery, Inventory, Productivity, and Engagement. 6S, which stands for “Safety, Sort, Set-in-Order, Shine, Standardize, and Sustain” is a framework for creating a visual, controlled environment to deliver products/services at an expected output level. This module will review the requirements and installment for a sustainable culture using 6S and Visual Controls.
Problem-Solving System
Often times, teams and companies will find themselves firefighting the same problems over and over again or are stuck as to how to resolve a problem. Most often, a problem is poorly defined or nebulous in nature! Associates will gain experience with our proprietary Problem-Solving System (PS2) using real problems brought in as pre-work and provided case studies. Skill development will be the focus for the 2 days, where you will learn AND apply new and unique approaches to solving problems such as: developing your “burning platform,” clearly and succinctly defining your problem, and breaking down your problem into its largest causal contributors.
Standard Work / Leader Standard Work
This program will train on concepts of Standard Work and apply to a real live problem at the client site. Final deliverables will include SW confirmed and finalized, associates trained on the new SW, and a Leadership report out of impact to gap.
Transactional Process Improvement (TPI)
Once improvement priorities are identified (typically identified in a Value Stream Map), TPI is one tool Lean Focus uses to help clients build stronger processes and tools. It helps identify the more detailed level process mapping in its current state, identifying process breakdowns, try-storming new improvements, and implementing towards a future state with clear, measurable deliverables and impact to the process.
Daily Management
Daily Management is the most important tool/process in a successful lean transformation. Daily problem-solving across key performance metrics in the various business functions will enable the business to achieve its strategic objectives over the long term. Real business results will be realized during this event.
Visual Project Management
A Visual Project Management module will help your team with a project that may require cross-functional participants, significant resources, and/or longer term project management with a clear timeline for delivery. An Obeya Room (meaning “big room” in Japanese) is utilized to bring together critical resources that drive the “project” forward, used to house the daily management, reviews, and problem-solving needed to drive a project forward according to expected timelines.