JWMI550 Group Project Part B

Name:

Assignment: Assignment Part B Kaizen

Course: JWI550 Operations Management

Professor:

Submission Date:

Introductions, Setting Ground Rules and Expectations

• This kaizen event will focus on improving the bar end (scrap) removal process. The event that will be held the next three days and will last half the day each day. As reviewed during assignment 1, at the end of the saw process there is material left over that can either be returned to inventory to be used to make another part or the end is too short and is considered scrap. The bar end scrap is presently not being handled and the finance team just did a major cleanup of the scrap and system inventory to get it under control. Now that the cleanup is complete, we will be focusing on how to maintain the current inventory and ensure the scrap does not grow and get out of hand again. Currently, only a few saw employees will transact the scrap out of the system, others will put it back into raw material and others just put the scrap pieces in a random spot. The purpose of the kaizen is to identify the inconsistencies with the handling of the bar ends, brainstorm possible procedures, choose the best suited process and then discuss how to implement the new process.
• Bar End Kaizen Agenda
  • Day 1 – Orientation and Understanding of Current Process
  • Day 2 – Develop actions for resolving problems and develop future state Value Stream Map (VSM)
  • Day 3 – Finalize future state VSM, confirm teams action plans and report final presentation
• The facility is short staffed and we all were many hats within the organization. Our work load is intense and missing multiple days of work can be stressful. I thought it would be less stressful on the group to have half day kaizen meetings. This allows the team to worry less about the work load that is piling and focus more on the event itself. The sequence of the event was kept short and sweet but allows the team to successfully tackle the topics at hand. Below is a more detailed explanation of the agenda topics.

By having an introduction, it allows the facilitator to better understand their team on a personal level. It also allows the facilitator to get a better understanding of each teammates skill sets so action plans can be properly assigned to each teammate. Each teammate will be a supervisor of a department that in some way handles bar ends and scrap parts. By setting the ground rules and expectations of the kaizen, this clearly states to the team what is expected of not only them but the event itself. The team will have full understanding of the event, the issue at hand and why it is such a troublesome issue.

SIPOC

A SIPOC diagram helps define a project that may not be well scoped. By using this diagram, the team will have a better understanding of the process that is currently in place. The tool allows the team to look closely at the inputs of the process, so they can bet better analyzed.

Post-It Note (PIN) process map

By using the PIN process map this allows the team to easily and neatly develop and make changes to the process map as needed. The PIN process map allows for easy management and expansion of ideas. With post it notes being in multiple colors it is easy to distinguish different parts of the mapping process. For example, one color can represent the current process, another color can represent the process problems and so on.

Break

Sitting in a meeting for hours on end can be very daunting and teammates can lose focus. Having a break gives the team time to relax, stretch to get the blood flowing and regroup their ideas. It will help keep the team engaged and help them focus on the event.

C&E Ranking

By identifying and ranking the process problems, this will allow the team to get a better knowledge of the process and focus on the bigger problems in the process first. Focusing on the bigger problems first can either help also solve smaller problems or allows the team to focus on the more important parts if time becomes a constraint.

Consolidating findings and Reporting to the Sponsor

Consolidating the findings gives the team a chance to recap the work performed during the days meeting. It allows the facilitator to organize the days thoughts in a manner that then can be presented to the sponsor, giving the sponsor an update to the project.

Recap and Agenda review

Each meeting following the first day will consist of a recap from the previous meetings and a review of the agenda for the day. By having a recap, the team can be refreshed of the work previously performed and bring their attention to the kaizen. Reviewing the current days agenda will set an expectation for the current days’ work and outcome.

SMART Goals

SMART is an acronym to describe a goal setting and communication standard which have specific characteristics. By using this goal writing tool, the team can clearly write and understand the goals for the improved process.

S – be specific and clear

M – measurable goals

A -goals must be attainable or achievable

R – goals must be realistic and help to reach the end goal

T – goals must be time based and have achievable due dates

Spaghetti Diagram

Using a spaghetti diagram allows the team to branch off certain parts of the PIN process map, identify problems and room for improvements. The team will be able to create more detail for each step of the process and map it clearly. Using this tool, the team will brainstorm to generate a future state VSM.

Action Plans

When the future state VSM is finalized, the team is to identify actions that will help to get to the future state VSM. Each action plan will be clearly stated, assigned to the appropriate action owner and given a completion date. The team will create action plans and deliverables for the 30/60/90 day plans.

Prepare final presentation

At the end of the event the team will work with the facilitator to put together a final summary of the project. At this time the facilitator can receive feedback from the team about the parts of the kaizen they found efficient or needed improvement. All of the documentation over the last three days will get organized by the facilitator and put into a presentation that will be presented to upper management. The presentation needs to be clear, concise and brief. Upon giving the final presentation upper management will then approve or deny the implementation of the changes to the process.