Defining Process Improvement-Improve and Control

More Technical Approaches to Process Improvement

This is the fifth in a multi-part series on process improvement written by Polly Walker and Amy McKee.

The strategies and people side of sustained and meaningful process improvement will be the focus and we welcome your feedback about this series.

By Polly Walker

We have covered the “D- Define”, “M- Measure and A – Analyze” steps in previous issues of Leading Edge. This week we will discuss “I – Improve” and “C – Control”.

STEP FOUR: IMPROVE

10. Create the to-be workflow based on the recommendations and analysis conducts in the “Analyze” step.

11. Create a recommendations summary document, which includes:

a. Recommendations
b. Action Plan (including who is implementing each action item from the recommendations and an item for continued data gathering and recheck in 3-6 months)
c. Estimated Savings/benefit calculation
d. Exhibits (Graphs/charts to illustrate supporting data, as-is and to-be workflows, new policies, procedures (control documentation) and communications plan to support the new, to-be process, etc.)

12. Provide presentation to Project Sponsor for any recommendations approval that the workgroup was not empowered to implement.

STEP FIVE: CONTROL

13. Conduct follow up 3-6 months after project completion to determine if action plan items have been implemented and performance metrics are meeting target. If not, a follow-on continuous improvement project may be needed.