This presentation is the annotated version of a talk given at the South Tyneside Manufacturing Forum event in September 2012. The theme of the presentations was 'business improvement' and this section, process improvement, covered three ideas that many businesses miss out on that can significantly improve the results gained from undertaking process improvement projects.

1. Taking the frustration out of on time delivery
3 Ideas to Improve
“Process Improvement”
Giles Johnston

2. Taking the frustration out of on time delivery
Process Mapping
Process mapping is something most people have experienced,
but with mixed results.

3. Taking the frustration out of on time delivery
3 Ideas
• This presentation will share three ideas:
– Using your brand as a compass to define the most
appropriate improvements.
– Using demand calculations to identify the right
magnitude of change.
– Using visual management tools as a way to instil
the right habits and disciplines (to help your new
process to work).

4. Taking the frustration out of on time delivery
Operational Brand
Excellence?
The gap between what you want to be known for and what you
actually do can tell you what changes you need to make first.

5. Taking the frustration out of on time delivery
Takt
t
d
= takt
Use takt to identify the work content of a process. t = time available
for a process, d = demand during that period. Design for less than
the takt time.

6. Taking the frustration out of on time delivery
Kamishibai
A Kamishibai board uses ‘t’
cards that are red on one
side and green on the
other.
List the tasks required on
the cards.
Red = task incomplete.
Green = task complete.
Locate somewhere highly
visible.

7. Taking the frustration out of on time delivery
Additional Notes
• Your brand as a compass:
– Use customer feedback to help get the feedback
you need, but reflect it against your brand. If you
want to be known for technical excellence, what
are your customers saying about this?
– Use your own internal KPIs to help inform these
comments.
– Prioritise your process improvement work
accordingly.

8. Taking the frustration out of on time delivery
Additional Notes
• Using demand calculations:
– If you need to move people between functions
but aren’t replacing the staffing levels in one area,
use takt to define a new process work content.
– The thinking to reduce a process from 7 days to 5
days is different from going from 7 days to 2 days,
so aim for a lower takt time if in doubt.
– If you have a large variety (products or services)
then use generic families to employ this approach.

9. Taking the frustration out of on time delivery
Additional Notes
• Using visual management:
– Define your daily / weekly routines in their
entirety when creating a Kamishibai board.
– Support your team if you find red cards that still
haven’t been turned over in a timely fashion.
– It is quite hard to cheat this system, people usually
trip themselves up if they do!
– Once in place, don’t forget about it. It’s delegation
not abdication of responsibility.

10. Taking the frustration out of on time delivery
Additional Ideas
Where do you need more
discipline and better
habits?
Available from:
iTunes
Amazon
Smashwords

11. Taking the frustration out of on time delivery
Additional Ideas
How much of a change do
you need to make?
Available from:
iTunes
Amazon
Smashwords