The Process Improvement Guidance Tool

Abstract

Strategy Question: How should we approach our internal cost reduction/value enhancement efforts?

Summary: Cost reduction and process improvement techniques are everywhere. The tools all work, but how do you know which tool to use when? You can waste precious time and demotivate your teams if the wrong approach is chosen. But where to start? It is a dilemma for all of us. This chapter discusses the basics of each improvement approach. It is in no way a comprehensive treatment of each, but it is thorough enough to steer the user to the right approach. The tool provides guidance regarding proper selection among numerous methodologies and techniques currently ubiquitous in business literature. Overviews of three major cost reduction/process improvement approaches are discussed, (1) Seven Basic Quality tools, (2) Lean Manufacturing, and (3) Six Sigma. The Process Improvement Clarification Tool helps direct the user to the appropriate approach based on the user’s knowledge of the process state. Real-world examples are used to help users select the right technique for the right situation.

Citation

Fairbanks, S. and Buchko, A. (2018), "The Process Improvement Guidance Tool", Performance-Based Strategy, Emerald Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 189-196. https://doi.org/10.1108/978-1-78743-795-120181015