1. Improving the Process
of Workshops Hosted
by the Sumter County
Chamber of
Commerce
Ideas for today, tomorrow, and the future
By: Brianna Jackson, Di Yang, Mingyu Li - Group 3
2. Goal and Objective
• Our purpose is to use the DMAIC cycle to suggest improvements to the
current process the Sumter County Chamber of Commerce uses for
conducting workshops and trainings.
• The objective is for this improved process to cause an increase in the
demand for and the attendance at scheduled Sumter County Chamber of
Commerce Events.
3. Today’s Situation
• The SCCC currently conducts the workshops on an as-needed basis.
When a specific company requests a training, the SCCC will organize,
promote, and host the event.
• As stated in their 2014 Goals for Development, they would like to
“Provide Sumter Country with educational, training and development,
and leadership opportunities (Including the 7 Habits workshop, and
Customer Service, Entrepreneurship, and Financial workshops)”
• Upon doing an analysis of the Sumter County Chamber of Commerce,
we have defined the problem as the SCCC not hosting enough trainings
and workshops.
5. Who Do These Workshops Impact? (Define)
• Stakeholders: Civic/Nonprofit Groups, Community Individuals, Health
Care/Forestry/Automotive/Other Various Industries, Real Estate Agents,
Churches, Banks, Schools, Retail Businesses, Social Clubs, Professionals,
Recreational Organizations, and more.
• There is a very broad scope for workshops and trainings. Everyone can
benefit from learning about how to be a more effective leader and be
more responsible with their finances.
• From a business owners perspective, most companies need to improve
their current processes in terms of financing and daily business
operations.
6. What Do We Know? (Measure)
• From the survey conducted to determine what the Sumter County
Chamber of Commerce could do to improve their service to their
members, 23 responses were returned.
• Of the 23 responses, 15 people indicated that they would be interested in
educational workshops or leadership trainings. That is well over 65%,
not including those who did not participate in the survey.
• The most important factor is that trainings and workshops are not hosted
unless one is requested by a member of the SCCC.
7. 9
Interest in Trainings
6
10
14
12
10
8
6
4
2
0
7 Habits AIDT Educational
Number of Responses
8.33 average
Survey Results
The survey indicates that 66.7 percent
of individuals interested in trainings
would like to see Educational
workshops, 40 percent would like the
Alabama Industrial Development
Training, and 60 percent would like
the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
Workshop as displayed on the Run
Chart.
Total interested in workshops was 15
out of 23 surveyed.
8. What Are the Underlying Causes? (Analyze)
LOCATION
9. Where Should We Focus Our Efforts?
• We believe that the solution lies in preparation and supplying the
members of the Sumter County Chamber of Commerce with the
trainings they need and desire, before they have to ask for them.
• Taking into consideration the Six Sigma Methodology, one major cause of
a defect in “make-to-order” process that the SCCC is a part of is that it
does not take into consideration those who are afraid to ask for help (shy,
timid managers). A more “make-to-stock” approach may be beneficial by
allowing them to have new trainings prepared and on hand each month.
• We will design a process model that is meets the current financing
abilities of the Sumter County Chamber of Commerce, while meeting the
needs of its customers by providing workshops even when they are not
requested.
10. Company tells
chamber they want a
workshop training
Updated Process
OR
If no workshop has
been requested that
month, the SCCC will
initiate a workshop
11. Recommendations For Improvement (Improve)
• By planning to host at least one training or workshop every month, the
Sumter County Chamber of Commerce will ensure that they are
providing their customers needs without having to be asked.
• If no member has asked for a training by the 10th of the month, the SCCC
will begin to prepare for a training on the last Saturday of the month.
• By always having the training on the last Saturday of each month, it will also
eliminate the attendance issue because managers can plan ahead to have that
day off every month.
12. Eliminating Potential Defects
• Hosting the event on the weekend will almost ensure there will be a
UWA conference room available to use. (Location)
• The last Saturday of the month will give plenty of time to advertise to
businesses and Saturday mornings most people are off work, so there
should be a greater turn out. (People)
• By taking $40 of each members investment or annual membership fees
and putting them towards the workshops, there will be more money
available to fund them. Food/Drink sponsors should still be sought after.
• $40 calculated because it is less than half of what it takes a business to be a
member, and they are all mostly joining to become more improve their
businesses—That’s what the trainings teach! (Finance)
• Enlist the help of other members, interns, and UWA to advertise and take
on some of the burden. (People)
• Find new leadership books, events, videos to have a variety of topics to
discuss each month that are fresh. May even enlist the help of the
Livingston Book Club for ideas. (Content)
13. Controlling the Process
• By saying that if no member has asked for a training by the 10th of the
month, the SCCC will begin to prepare a training for the last Saturday of
the month.
• We will keep documentation and designate one board member to be
responsible for calling the Executive Director on the 10th of every month
to see if any Chamber members have requested a workshop.
• If no member has requested a workshop or training, the Executive
Director will begin the process of deciding a topic to discuss.
14. Conclusion
• We are suggesting an update to the current process the Sumter County
Chamber of Commerce uses for conducting workshops, to conduct the
training on the same day of every month, regardless of if it was
requested by a Chamber member.
• We hope our suggestions will cause an increase in the demand for and
the attendance at scheduled Sumter County Chamber of Commerce
Events.
