“Streamlining cross-company processes is the next great frontier for reducing costs, enhancing quality, and speeding operations.” http://processimprovementdaily.com/
1.Identify – The process of first defining and then selecting a process to be improved
2.Analyze – This step contains the essence of the basis for the improvement process itself. It generally begins with the development of process flow charts and diagrams and ends with a documented understanding of what an existing process is actually achieving,
3.Re-Design – Once an existing process is understood, evaluated and documented, re-design can take place. In most cases, this step is the most ambitious.
4. Implement – Possibly the hardest, most critical step on the road to process improvement, implementing changes in process flows, measurement metrics, and managerial responsibility can be traumatic. Without this step however, nothing accomplished in the first three steps matters.
5.Evaluate – The last but not “final” step in the improvement process, this step is continuous. It begins with the design of an evaluation plan but never ends. Rather, once the plan is accepted and implemented, it is continually updated and the process it is evaluating is continually changed and improved because of evaluative findings.
The concept of value
With regard to value, there are actually three types of tasks and activities found in any process.
Value-Added Tasks (VA)
… add something to the product or service that a customer would pay for
… represent a competitive advantage for the company or
… add a desired function, form or feature to the service.
Required, Non-Value-Added Tasks (RNVA) – Those tasks that add no value to the product or service but are present because they do one of the following …
…. Are required by business necessity
…. Would jeopardize the process if it was removed.
Non-Value Added, Waste tasks (NVAW) – Those tasks that are neither required nor add value to a product or service. Some commonly encountered waste tasks are …
- Rework
- Expediting
- Counting
- Handling
- Setup
- Storing
The Value Stream
The value stream consists of one or more processes that produce product or service value for the customer but consume resources in the process of doing so.
Ten Ways to Immediately Improve a Process
- Reduce errors
- Reduce duplication or fragmentation of tasks
- Combine similar activities
- Reduce handling
- Move sequential tasks and activities closer together
- Standardize forms, operations and instructions
- Automate
I like that definition. It has been a long time since I wrote in this blog, did I mentioned that I do have 2 blogs? Ups and looks like I can not write anything lately. I was thinking this morning after I finished my workout that I am so good planning and starting but not so good at finish long term processes or tasks, I get distracted I guess. I decided that I don’t want to be a good starting person, I want to be an achiever, I want to finish all the projects that for any reason my little gnome stole and put somewhere in my office. 
Today is the coolest day so far! I had to bring my sweaters and some gloves to keep my hands warm. Today was another computer day, I need to get up from the computer and start production. I have to make some cards, but this weather is not my favorite and makes me slower… 
