The planning and execution of a Continuous Improvement system needs appropriate focus and attention. Managing this process is crucial to the success of the implementation. Otherwise the organization runs the risk that teams will not autonomously continue the CI journey long past the initial deployment.
Provide a North Star
Your North Star is the organisation's vision and strategic goals. Without a clear direction, improvement efforts become scattered and lose momentum. Use goal trees and strategy deployment to connect daily improvement activity to the bigger picture.
Start with the Basics
Tiered daily meetings are the foundation. Start with simple, structured huddles at the frontline. Keep them brief, focused, and consistent. This creates the rhythm and discipline that all other improvement tools depend on.
Make It Easy to Participate
Remove barriers to participation. Make it simple for anyone to raise an issue, suggest an improvement, or log an incident. Digital tools accessible on tablets at the point of work can dramatically reduce friction.
Develop Problem Solving Skills at Every Level
Continuous improvement requires problem solving capability at every level. Invest in developing basic skills like 5 Whys and Ishikawa diagrams across the entire workforce, not just improvement specialists.
Close the Feedback Loop
Nothing kills engagement faster than raising an issue and never hearing back. Ensure every action is tracked, assigned, and closed out – with feedback to the person who raised it.
Celebrate Wins
Engage the workforce, recognize the improvement origins and celebrate the wins. This creates a virtuous improvement culture. By acknowledging the contributions of teams you will make employees feel more included.
Part of a Continuous Improvement Framework
For processes to be maintained, and to thrive, they must be supported by the adjacent processes and systems. Elements like strategy deployment must be supported by standardised problem solving techniques, and a Tiered Daily Management system that can handle the full PDCA loop.
TeamAssurance is a digital Continuous Improvement platform. If you're a Business in need, or a Consultant with clients in need, contact us for a demonstration today.
