Process improvement platform

STRICTLY PRIVATE AND CONFIDENTIAL
© Nomura
Improving Tasks at the Individual Level
08-10-12
Process Improvement Platform
Prime Brokerage Middle Office
Nomura Securities International
Americas
Patrick Diamitani-Summer Analyst

© Nomura
Why Process Improvement
Background:
8-14-12
•Was asked to perform a daily task that involved manual inputting (30 minutes to an
hour a day)
•Understood that the task could be made easier utilizing technology
•If this, then WHAT ELSE?
Americas

© Nomura
First Suggestion
Proposal
Americas
8-14-12
1. Monthly process review overview
• Encourages employees to assess their tasks for inefficiencies and create
individual improvements
• Process Improvement Assessment Platform.docx
• Process Improvement FAQ can suggestions on ways to improve
processes : FAQ-Process Improvement.pdf

© Nomura
Americas
8-14-12
Proposal
Second Suggestion
2. Biweekly Personal Development
•30 minutes every other Friday
•Work on excel, access, VBA skills
•Go through structured programs to measure growth
Full proposal: Proposal Evaluation.docx

© Nomura
Goals of Process Improvement Suggestions
Overview
1. Have employees consistently review their tasks to find ways they can be made
more efficient
2. Consult with employees on how they can make their tasks more efficient using
excel or access while a process automation request is underway
3. Facilitate the improvement of processes at a minor level throughout the firm
Americas
8-14-12

© Nomura
How This Helps the Firm
Potential Benefits
Americas
8-14-12
Suggestion One
•A monthly process review assessment could:
•Eliminate more inefficiencies which waste time or are prone to error
•This thus:
•Saves the firm money and improves employee productivity

© Nomura
How This Helps the Firm
Potential Benefits
Americas
8-14-12
Suggestion Two
•A bi-weekly continuing education section could:
•Facilitate growth of value-added skills for each employee
•Enable employees to use these new skills to improve processes
•This thus:
•Saves the firm money and improves employee productivity
•Gives employees marketable new skills

© Nomura
End of Day Process Improvement
Trial Run
8-14-12
Americas
Was given the green light to test this initiative.
•Previous process:
•35-40 minute wait period between tasks for a total of 45-50 minutes
•Subject to human error
•Improved process:
•Using Excel techniques: eliminated significant waiting period. 5 minute task
completion with two minute error review
Demonstration: ....Cash PBEnd of Day Check Out.xlsx

© Nomura
Trial Run
8-14-12
Americas
Problems Within Trial Run:
1. The information that I am looking for does not completely match the information
that comes from the computer. Therefore, a manual quick-check is still needed.
2. An issue with the excel document occurred and I did not have the Excel acumen
to resolve it.

© Nomura
Trial Run
8-14-12
Americas
Possible Solutions to Problems:
1. Consult with employees responsible for sending out data and find out which
datum will always align with the MOB platform and which won’t; reducing time
spent checking errors.
2. Develop a greater excel skill set to be able to correct minor and major issues that
come up within the spreadsheet.

© Nomura
Tutorial Building System
Potential Innovations
Americas
8-14-12
Idea:
Develop an innovative tutorial creating program. Instead of having each
employee create a sop for each one of their tasks, develop or utilize a program
that can act as an internal screen camera and recording device. Here is how it
could work:

© Nomura
Americas
8-14-12
Step 1
An individual initiates the program and begins his or her task. The program activates
its internal camera and records all actions being performed on the screen.

© Nomura
Americas
8-14-12
Step 2
As the individual completes each step of the task, have the individual speak into a
microphone and describe the step that they are completing. Each time the employee
is finished with a certain step, have the employee click, “screenshot.”

© Nomura
Americas
8-14-12
Step 3
Afterwards, incorporate a voice-to-text translation system to match the speakers’
words with the step taken and the screen shot. This can create a SOP that can be
read as a transcript instead of viewed as a video.

© Nomura
Americas
8-14-12
Step 4
When the employee is finished with the task, they can then press the, “create
tutorial” function. This can then create a step by step tutorial which allows any viewer
to watch a task being done and listen to the instructions. At the beginning the
employee should also explain the purpose of the task, how it relates to the rest of the
group and how it helps the business, so the view can grasp a fuller understanding of
the task and concept.

© Nomura
Americas
8-14-12
Feasibility
There are several pieces of technology that currently exist that may help make this
program a reality. The first is the existence of video-tutorial creation program.
CamStudio (camstudio.org) is a program which essentially already does steps 1-4
minus the voice to text translation process for creating documents via the tutorial.

© Nomura
Americas
8-14-12
Feasibility
The second piece of technology is voice-to-text software. There are dozens of voice-
to-text software programs that translate human speech into text. The key is to
combine both programs into a unique new software or hardware to create a more
complete tutorial creating system.

© Nomura
Americas
8-14-12
Benefits
•This system can then be applied for every task set across the business
and uploaded into a master database.
•The database can aid in the training process for analysts and new hires
and allow employees to handle critical tasks upon the absence of a team
member or use free time to finish day to day tasks that they may otherwise
wait for other team members to do.

© Nomura
Americas
8-14-12
Benefits
•There is a potential for increased efficiency across all groups, saving time
for employees and money for the business.
•Additionally, such a program can be used industry-wide as an efficient
training program and licensed to other firms throughout multiple industries.

© Nomura
Voice-to-Text Trading Platform
Americas
8-14-12
Idea
Using the same voice-to-text concept, this platform could host a database
of common terminology used by traders who trade verbally.
When a trader verbally submits an order, the system can match the words
with the relevant terminology (possibly determining the context), and create
the written order.

© Nomura
Americas
8-14-12
Purpose
Help operations officials if traders don’t correctly input orders
Create a more accurate process for matching trades with counterparties (if
the counterparty has the same platform)
Create a licensing opportunity to increase reputation across the Street

© Nomura
Americas
8-14-12
Feasibility
Unsure, however, voice-to-text translating system could be synced to
current trading applications, including execution, clearing and settlement
platforms.
Operations personnel can check to make sure there are no computer errors
which would have caused terminology to be mixed up.

© Nomura
Thank You
Americas
8-14-12
Thank you for taking the time to get to know me and train me this summer.
Thank you also for allowing me to go through with my proposals and present
them to you and I hope you evaluate the two “innovations” I have laid out
before you.
I’ve had a great experience and I will always call Nomura home.
-Patrick


Process improvement platform

More Related Content

What's hot

Viewers also liked

Similar to Process improvement platform

More from Patrick Diamitani

Recently uploaded

Process improvement platform