Promote experimentation and learning through Coaching and Improvement Kata
Traditional approaches to Continuous Improvement have underestimated the power and significance of the people doing the work. Instead they focuses on tools and processes that deliver short-term, unsustainable results, leaving the people and culture to suffer in the long run. But the tide is changing...and that's great news for you. Leverage the power of Coaching and Improvement Kata to build problem-solving capability throughout your organization.
Empower leaders to coach and develop talent against what's most important
A good leader can fix challenging problems. A great leader can develop the talent in others to fix impossible problems. The importance of the skill of coaching as a method for talent development cannot be overstated. Impruver helps leaders develop coaching skills while their people take on problems of ever increasing complexity in the following ways:
Align on Strategic Targets
After employees establish their target conditions, leaders can review and validate for alignment.Encourage data-driven decision-making
Making decisions without data is like driving blindfolded with no steering wheel. This analogy works a lot better in a world before self-driving cars…but I think you get the idea. It’s estimated that over 10,000 decisions are made for a product to get from the earth to the consumer. The quality of those decisions are greatly enhanced by having actionable data in your hands. Impruver provides precisely the most important data for driving business growth and improvement which are 1) where and how big are your losses, 2) what’s most important for the company to be working to improve and 3) how best to make the improvement. From there, the system helps to drive action against opportunities through a proven action management processes.
Provide structured approach to understanding and eliminating root causes
Some of the most commonly used Root Cause Analysis tools include the 5-Why’s and Fishbone Diagrams. These two tools are simple enough for anyone to learn and create a great framework for dialogue about what might be the contributing factors to a problem. However, neither is ideal: 5-Why’s is too linear (not wide enough) and most problems have multiple contributing factors. Fishbone is too shallow (not deep enough) and doesn’t work through the logic of what is leading to a problem. This is why Impruver uses the Why Tree RCA method because it combines the best of both worlds allowing the breadth of understanding that you get from the Fishbone Diagram along with the depth of understanding from the 5 Why’s. This single and simple method can successfully be applied to 95% of the problems you’ll ever face.
No single point of view paints a complete picture of the situation. Additionally, problems worked in a silo tend to push the consequences to another victim’s silo, which quickly becomes counter-productive.
Using a cross-functional team-based approach, problems can be more broadly understood and solutions tend to be much more impactful in driving business results. Cross-functional dialogue creates a learning platform in itself as varying functions develop greater competency about the broader business by being exposed to the expertise and thought processes of other functions.
Don’t fall for the “I’m going to come in and fix your problems” pitch; or the “magic pill” process that’s going to produce incredible results. The person in the best position to find the right solution to your challenges is you. Impruver helps hone the organization’s skills for getting to the right answer more quickly.
Analysis and cross-functional conversations are great but they should be done with the intent to take action. For it is the action that generates results. Impruver provides a great platform for assigning follow-up actions resulting from the Root Cause Analysis process. The software then helps drive those actions to completion with automatic reminders and status tracking.
At the end of the day, it’s not the strategy, data, or analysis that make you an Impruver. It’s your actions.
In order to improve something, you first have to try something. Another word for trying things is experimenting. This is the basis of the scientific method and Continuous Improvement. Through Impruver’s PDCA/RCA process, an action plan is built to address potential root causes. This action plan, complete with owners, due dates, and status, becomes your experimentation plan. Ideally, this plan will facilitate your experiential learning process and lead you to the winning solution. However, if it doesn’t, no need to worry. Just take it from the top and repeat the process, this time with new knowledge from the last go round. Ultimately, you’ll get exactly where you’re trying to go.
Testimonials
What are other's saying about the impact Impruver has had on their manufacturing businesses?
Our operators now have the capability to fix the small things so that we can focus more on the plant's future.
Our plant folks are leading, our customers are happy, and our strategy is moving. Its a win-win-win.
My team now understands what they're supposed to be doing with all the data we have out there.
Whitepaper perhaps? How to Structure a Continuous Improvement Function for Success
Learn what leading CPG Manufacturers are doing to leverage Continuous Improvement to dominate in their markets
