Process improvement PI

PROCESS IMPROVEMENT, PI

Process

A process is any interrelated group of work activities that receives input from a supplier and blends resources to transform and add value to the inputs in order to produce a product, a service or information to meet customer needs and expectations.

Functional vs. process approaches, PI principles

There is a customer driven orientation & culture.
Everyone is a customer and a supplier.
Process improvements, PI, are data driven with the objective of reducing variation.
PI requires total involvement and teamwork.
Management's "job" is to improve processes.
Management systems and climate support & encourage PI activities.
Continuous PI is a DISCIPLINE!

Process improvement, PI - 7 deadly sins

1. Process Improvement (PI) not tied to the strategic issues the business faces

2. The PI effort does not involve the right people

3. PI teams are not given a clear, appropriate charter and are not held accountable

4. The top management team thinks if it is not doing away with the existing organization it is not making significant improvements

5. PI designers do not consider how the changes will affect the people

6. The organization focuses more on redesign then implementation

7. Teams fail to leave behind a measurement system and other parts of the infrastructure necessary for continuous PI