Process Improvement


Lean

Description

Lean is a systematic method for streamlining a process by identifying and eliminating unnecessary elements of a process that do not contribute value to the desired outcome or the product being created (also known as waste). The seven types of waste are: motion, defects, waiting, overprocessing, overproduction, transport and handling, and inventory.

Value-Added Analysis

Description

Value-added analysis is a method for identifying problems within a process. The analysis allows a team to examine individual process steps so it can separate the steps that add value for the user from the steps that do not.

5S

Description

This tool is used to improve performance within an organization. It demonstrates the five steps for organizing a workplace: sort, straighten, scrub, standardize, and sustain. Implementing this tool can provide numerous benefits including increased productivity, improved quality, error reduction, increased response time, improved morale, and increased professionalism.

Benchmarking

Description

Benchmarking is a process of evaluating metrics or best practices from other organizations (either related or unrelated to your own) and then applying them to your organization.

Benefits and Barriers Exercise

Description

A benefits and barriers exercise helps illuminate the benefits of a change proposal. It promotes buy-in to change on a group and individual level. It also identifies obstacles to change so they can be addressed during design.

Comms Usage Diagram

Description

A comms usage diagram (CUD) displays how teams in different geographical areas collaborate across their respective locations. The diagram also includes information about how and why the communication occurs, the specific technology being used, and the pros and cons of using that technology.

Cost-of-Poor-Quality Analysis

Description

A cost-of-poor-quality analysis evaluates the flowchart of a particular process to discover flaws. Cost of poor quality indicates costs accrued as a result of processes not being successfully completed. This allows anyone performing the analysis to find improvement opportunities by critically analyzing each step in the flowchart.

Goals, Operators, Methods, and Selection Rules

Description

Goals, operators, methods, and selection rules is a method derived from human-computer interaction (HCI) and constructs a description of human performance. The level of granularity will vary based on the needs of the analysis.

The goal is what the user wants to accomplish.
The operator is what the user does to accomplish the goal.
The method is a series of operators that are used to accomplish the goal.
Selection rules are used if there are multiple methods, to determine how one was selected over the others.

Groupware Task Analysis

Description

Groupware task analysis (GTA) is used to study teams in order to analyze their tasks and activities. The information collected is then used when designing or analyzing comparable team systems. The method focuses on two task models.

Task model 1: Describes the situation as it currently exists.

Hierarchical Task Analysis

Description

A hierarchical task analysis (HTA) describes an activity in terms of its specific goals, subgoals, operations, and plans. Once the analysis is complete, the task activity is described in detail.