Results-Based Improvement
Considering the preceding discussions, results-based continuous improvement is a necessity for creating a productive and profitable environment that is free from losses. Improvement initiatives are intrinsically challenging efforts. Therefore, commencement of a successful improvement initiative requires the following conditions:
- • Clarity of targets
- • Clarity of time and budget
- • A well-designed change process
- • Most importantly, the active commitment and support of top management
- • The top person in the organization serving as the active change sponsor
- • Involvement and training of all employees to enable them to contribute
- • Public recognition and reward of the desired new behavior
- • A high level of respect for the change agents and drivers of change in the organization
- • Assurance of communications throughout the organization from the top to the bottom, without allowing it to get lost in the middle
Improvements are necessary to
- • Adapt to changes in strategies and goals, enter new business fields, be ready for business mergers, and so forth
- • Perform efficiently in meeting the requirements of internal customers
- • Gain competitive advantages
- • Reflect technological developments
- • Minimize variabilities
Results-based improvement requirements are
- • Commitment and support
- • Active participation of all senior management
- • Patience and ability to persist
- • Top-down commitment and involvement
- • Common well-understood sets of metrics—defects and cycle time
- • Goal setting
- • Provision of required education
- • Spreading the success story
- • Sharing the rewards with those who contributed
- • Using methods and necessary techniques for reaching success
- • Developing the correct corporate culture
- • Identifying the customers
- • Setting stretch goals for reducing defects
- • Cleaning up the obvious issues first
- • Going for small as well as large improvements
- • Encouraging continuous improvement
- • Reporting progress at all levels
Basic tools for results-based improvement are
- • Simple goals and strategies
- • Simple management policies
- • Common well-understood sets of metrics
- • Necessary methods and techniques
- • Uninterrupted organization
- • Extensive training
- • Teamwork
- • Different wage incentive plans
- • Visionary control
- • Employee satisfaction surveys
- • Communications management
- • Prize-premium systems
- • Recommendation systems
- • White-collar employees in production
- • Defined corporate values
- • Reduction of layoffs
