Is Continuous Improvement (CI) a fit for our organization?

What is Continuous Improvement (CI)? 

CI is a way of thinking about your business, centered on the systematic on-going improvement and development of your core product & services, methods, people and equipment. 

The core definition of CI is: Provide the most value from the customer’s perspective while consuming the fewest resources and utilizing the talents of the people who do the work.

Should you consider Continuous Improvement?

You should consider CI if you organization is interested in

• Improving quality
• Increasing productivity
• Expanding capacity within your existing footprint
• Growing without capital investment
• Reducing accidents and injuries
• Minimizing variability and “fire-fighting”
• Expanding margins

How do I know CI is right for our industry?

CI principles have been successfully applied to a broad host of industries including manufacturing, service, healthcare, pharmaceutical, distribution, transportation, logistics, IT, and construction.

Will CI fit our company? Our culture?

First, evaluate your culture and values as a fit with CI principles, such as:

• “Customer First” – Value is determined by the customer, our processes and product development are centered on meeting customer needs
• “People as an Asset” – Our people are integral to serving our customers and to the consistent growth and development of our company.  We must engage them, develop them and keep them safe
• “Shop Floor Focus” - Our highest priority is the processes and functions that touch the customer
• “Plan, Do, Check & Adjust” – We embrace the scientific method for problem solving; we repeat the cycle until we get the desired result.  Then we make the successful solution our standard process.

If these principles match your organization’s aspirations and values, what’s next?

As a leader or leadership team, you will introduce your organization to these principles.  Many organizations hire a coach or consulting firm to help guide them through this process.

How have successful organizations realized the benefits of Continuous Improvement?

The optimal approach will depend on the culture, size and structure of your organization.  If you have a single site, the logistics of your CI implementation will be different than a global organization with multiple sites.  However, the key steps and milestones will be very similar.

Once the leadership team communicates their commitment to this process, you must engage your managers and directors in the process of adopting these principles and make them “the way we work.”

CI implementation Approach:

• Executive / Senior Leadership Introduction and Alignment
• Review key principles in a workshop setting facilitated by a qualified firm or coach
• Discuss the fit with our culture and identify any questions that require research
• VP / Director Team Training and Alignment
• Review key principles in a workshop setting facilitated by a qualified firm or coach
• Finish the workshop with a planning session
• Initial Training and Implementation
• Identify a key location or product / service line
• Complete a Continuous Improvement Planning Session
• Apply lessons learned to the plan for your full roll-out
• Company-wide Roll-out Plan
• Develop goals and objectives
• Develop metrics
• Identify a team member that is a high-potential for leadership to lead the effort
• Chose a coach or firm to guide and support you through the process
• Create deployment plan – What, Who, When, Where

Let’s get your team to the next level!

For more information, please email john.blaseos@averdus.com or call 773.255.7943.