SA08 - Continuous Improvement Flashcards
Continuous Improvement (CI)
the strategic, never-ending, incremental refinement of the way we perform our duties and responsibilities.
LEAN targets the eight types of waste. You can easily remember the eight types of waste by using the acronym
DOWNTIME
DOWNTIME
DEFECTS, OVERPRODUCTION, NON-STANDARD OVER PROCESSING, TRANSPORTATION, INTELLECT, MOTION, EXCESS INVENTORY
DEFECTS
Defects that cause rework or scrap are a tremendous cost to organizations and have a direct impact on the bottom line
OVERPRODUCTION
Producing an item before it is actually required
WAITING
Whenever goods are not moving or being processed, the waste of waiting occurs.
NON-STANDARD OVER PROCESSING
Often termed as “using a bazooka to swat flies,” many organizations use expensive high precision equipment where simpler tools would be sufficient.
TRANSPORTATION
Moving product(s) between processes is a cost that adds no value to the product.
INTELLECT
Not recognizing skill sets people bring to the job. Any failure to fully utilize the time and talents of people
MOTION
unnecessary movement of data, files, tools, or equipment. Excessive motion to get the job done i.e. (bending, walking, lifting, reaching, etc.)
EXCESS INVENTORY
Having more files than can be processed during a specified period of time
AFSO21’s Five Desired Effects
- Increase productivity of our people: Doing more of the right things with the same or less effort.
- Increase critical equipment availability rates: All assets available at a greater rate from aircraft, to information technology, to range, space, etc.
- Improve response time and agility: Quicker response time to the Warfighter
- Sustain safe and reliable operations: Reduce injury rates, increase people safety and safe use of materiel assets
- Improve energy efficiency: Make energy conservation a consideration in everything we do2
AFSO21’s Three Levels of Priorities
The three levels are Just Do It, Rapid Improvement Events (RIE), and High Value Initiatives (HVI).
Just Do It
This is a quick fix to a process irritant; a simple answer to an obstacle in an individual process. A ―Just Do It‖ typically does not involve formal process reviews, teams, or an improvement event.
Rapid Improvement Events (RIE)
These events usually last a week or more and apply a series of problem solving steps to determine root causes of problems and to eliminate waste, set improvement targets and establish clear performance measures to reach desired effects.
The four components of a successful RIE
- Strong Leadership
- Knowledgeable participants
- Focused Event Scope
- Implementation Plan and Result Metrics
High Value Initiative (HVI)
These initiatives produce significant returns against key Air Force challenges. HVIs typically require four to six months in order to successfully define and implement the required process changes.
AFSO21 problem solving incorporates 4 approaches
Lean, Six Sigma, Theory of Constraints, Business Process Reengineering
Lean
A systematic approach to identify waste, focus activities on eliminating it, and maximize (or make available) resources to satisfy other requirements.
Six Sigma
A strategy that increases efficiency by statistical process control. Six Sigma relies on a repeatable 5-step problem solving method to project management and problem solving.
Theory of Constraints
A philosophy and methodology for addressing logical thinking, scheduling and controlling resources and measuring performance. The philosophy emphasizes that a single constraint or bottleneck exists in any process and controls the output of the entire process.
Business Process Reengineering
A management approach that examines aspects of a business and its interactions and attempts to improve the efficiency of underlying processes. Major and sometimes radical changes are sometimes associated with business process reengineering
Eight-Step Problem Solving
- Clarify and validate the problem
- Break down the problem/identify performance gaps
- Set improvement target
- Determine root causes
- Develop countermeasures
- See countermeasures through
- confirm results and process
- Standardize Successful Processes
Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) Cycle
Plan – Recognize an opportunity and plan a change
Do – Test the change by carrying out a small-scale study
Check – Review the test, analyze the results and identify what you‘ve learned
Act – Take action based on what you learned in the check step. If the change did not work, go through the cycle again with a different plan. If you were successful, incorporate what you learned from the test into wider changes.
