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Process Improvement Framework
Quality Management and Process Improvement
Process Improvement usually is the final phase of any Quality Management (QM) system. This phase covers the final steps of a larger process starting with the definition of an organisation's vision, its operational and ethical values, and continues with the setting of objectives and targets aligned with those values and vision.
This is followed by the third step when the need is to compare the company against industry best practices, and decide based on the findings what the development needs of the organisation are. Many organisations have little difficulty in these first three phases.
The last two steps of the quality cycle, the process assessment step and process improvement step, is where many organisations start running into difficulties. These difficulties usually do not stem from not knowing what to achieve. The previous steps of the QM system identify what needs to be achieved clearly. These difficulties concentrate around how to go about achieving the required improvements.
Click Here to view a typical quality management cycle model.
Consider the following scenario when a manager has an intuitive, pet solution to an existing business problem and. after a lengthy and often bruising financial justification (done by the same manager) the solution is implemented, to find out that the problem is not completely eliminated, and further to that, there is also an unforeseen side effect. A new set of circumstances that present a new, additional problem.
Many Quality Improvement drives loose their impetus because of such failures. The belief in the system as a whole is shaken and commitment to the process falters and at best the QM system settles into being an audit system. Ironically the cause of this failure is relatively easy to avoid. The only thing that needs to be done is to apply tested tools and techniques. These tools and techniques have been developed over the years by organisations that have recognised the need keep their QM drives on track.
Process Improvement Toolkit
Abacus has developed a process improvement toolkit, which supports and complements existing internal QM programmes. This toolkit will not compromise an existing commitment to a process such as Quality Scotland, BEM, EFQM, ISO9000 or 6Sigma, and will be easily usable within existing structures. It offers a range of tools to address the needs of the two major QM approaches.
The toolkit contains a series of qualitative tools to help with perception and interview-based models such as EFQM. Typical tools for these models include methods such Root Cause Analysis, SWOT, ,Systematic Reengineering and cause and effect diagrams.
Quantitative tools complement the latter ones to offer an even wider range of options when the quality environment is dealing with real data rather than perception. Statistical analysis and 6Sigma type tools span the gap between raw data and the scoping of process improvement projects.
This flexible approach de-mystifies analysis tools and makes it possible even for non-technical organisations to benefit from techniques what was the reserve of hi-tech organisations.
Our Approach:
Abacus has a multi tiered approach to Process Improvement (PI)
| Tier 1 |
Process Improvement Awareness Workshop
Content:
P.I. and Project Management and Prince2, P.I. Framework, Quantitative Tools, Qualitative Tools, Senior Management Roles and Responsibilities.
- Developed for senior corporate managers, directors and board members, this course is designed to guide senior management through the project improvement process
- We encourage senior managers to create the right culture for process improvement, which may challenge the existing ways of working within their organisation
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| Tier 2 |
Process Improvement Training for Project Manager
Content:
Day 1: P.I. Framework, Qualitative Tools, Project Managers Roles and Responsibilities.
Day 2 : Quantitative tools, Project Planning, Post Implementation Tasks
- Focuses on the project management process and developing the knowledge and skills to lead and manage a project.
- The course looks at the more practical side of initiating, planning, leading, controlling and evaluating projects.
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| Tier 3 |
Process Improvement Workshop
Content:
Pre-Course Assignment.
Day 1: P.I. Framework, Qualitative Tools, Project Managers Roles and Responsibilities.
Day 2: Quantitative tools, Project Planning, Project Implementation
Day 3: Review of running Projects, Post Implementation
- This is a project based intervention and the days are spread over a period of six weeks, in which our trainer facilitates and individually consults managers on their projects and processes.
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