Its a Jungle Out There!

Selecting your tools for your process improvement Safari

Thursday February 17th, 2011

Other presenters are discussing planning and MRP tools at our PDMs this season, so we will focus more on process improvement tools.  From basic data gathering through "trademark" tools (e.g. Six Sigma), there are some 300 "tools and techniques" available to operations professionals.  How do we choose amongst them?

There is no simple formula to answer this question; if there were, there would be a computer program for it!  So, we will approach the topic from a more thought-provoking direction.  To try and help, our presentation will (with varying detail) touch on these topics:

• What do we think of by "tool" and our reason(s) to choose one?
• Choosing and using a tool - an interactive skit!
• What impact can the business environment have on our choice?
• Eli Goldratt's question to Carol Ptak (that we should all ask ourselves)
• Communications and assumptions - labels, information, or knowledge?
• Some challenges to using a chosen tool.
• A competency-driven tool selection approach.
• A one-page handout with additional ideas on growing your competency.
  

Terry will also outline three concepts developed during his preparation:

• An OMBOK user spectrum
• 720 Degree feedback
• An OMBOK-mindset grading system

As well his newly-enhanced communications "SCRAMBLE" mnemonic will be included.

(Warning: There may be an assignment at the end of the presentation.)