How to solve issues like improving team members performance who are not meeting quality standards is a question I often get asked during my training workshops. And my response is-

Team development and performance is a critical aspect of improving operational excellence. Therefore, if such an issue exists at your workplace it must never be ignored, rather it must be dealt-with in a structured way.

Emotional Intelligence:
High level of emotional intelligence besides leadership skill is essential to solve issues like improving team members performance who aren't meeting quality standards. Also, consider obtaining a peer feedback prior and analyze complaints if any.

Solving such an issue must be done in a structured way after interacting with the team member and understanding his/her perspectives, concerns, and challenges.

Exactly pinpoint areas of improvement:
So, set out with a performance review by reviewing the team member’s work and identifying specific performance issues so there’s clarity in gaps between current performance and expected standards. Explain at length what quality standards are required and exactly pinpoint areas where improvements are desired.

Also, it is important that the team member understands what the quality standards are, why are they crucial, how are the quality standards linked to the organization’s goals and what they mean for the survival and growth of the business. Hence, if needed recommend him/ her for appropriate quality training program. This could be a course, on-the-job training, mentoring etc. But make sure that the training is customized to the individual’s needs as different team members might struggle with different quality standards aspect within their role.

Performance improvement plan:
Next, agree on a performance improvement plan for that team member, which must outline the improvement goals, timelines, steps needed to achieve them, progress monitoring systems and performance reassessment schedule. Make adjustments as needed. Remember that the learning/improvement journey is an evolving process. Sometimes learning happens faster than expected and at other times people can struggle. Hence, keep the performance improvement plan malleable, so the team member benefits the most and help or support is provided to him/ her as and when they need.

Foster collaboration at workplace:
Also, foster an environment of positivity, employee engagement and collaboration at your workplace. Encourage peer support so employees can learn from each other. In my journey as an operational excellence leader, I’ve witnessed that shared learning exhibited quicker understanding of the concepts being taught in the targeted training programs.

As a team lead, it is important to realize that you may have to make a tough call if there’s no improvement despite all efforts. Continuously under performing team members can be disastrous not only to the team’s momentum but also to the business’s survival and growth. Hence, team members who constantly under perform may need to be reassigned or let go for the overall well-being of the company. But this step must be a last resort after all other avenues have been exhausted.

Note that, words of encouragement, recognition from the team leaders are a big morale booster for employees. So, celebrate even small wins enroute the team member’s improvement journey!

Related Reading:​

1. Top Ten Strategic Decision-Making Tools for Operational Excellence
2. How to overcome challenges of creating effective work teams.
3. Popular Continuous Improvement Workshops & Webinars for Manufacturing Industries
4. Leading process improvement with Emotional Intelligence.
5. Popular Continuous Improvement Tools.

Follow Shruti on Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn

Categories:   HR Development | Operations | Leadership

Keywords and Tags:
#DrShrutiBhat #ProcessImprovement #ProcessExcellence  #ContinuousImprovement #OperationalExcellence #EmployeeDevelopment #Leadership

A question I often get asked by CEOs is how important is it to link manufacturing training to our business goals?

And here's what I've got to say-

To achieve the business goals, linking them to manufacturing operations training is a must. Only then can the organization strategically align the entire workforce to achieve operational excellence.

There are three main benefits to linking training with goals, namely- firstly, training empowers employees and motivates them to do their best at work. Also, there’s enhancement of skills which ensures that employees operate machines safely, optimally leading to workplace safety, decreased equipment downtime and increased productivity. This goes in line with the business’s goals of increasing output while decreasing costs.

Secondly, well-trained employees have a solid grip on the production process. This ensures that the process output is of consistent quality, so no rejects or rework, thus further increasing manufacturing efficiency and decreasing production overheads. Quality products also ring in customer satisfaction and repeat sales.

Training employees with the latest manufacturing technology and operational excellence tools further motivates them to innovate and/or suggest ways to improve existing processes, thus cutting costs.

Last but not the least, motivated employees have higher job satisfaction. So lower turnover and skill drain. Highly motivated employees can do wonders for their organization. For example, they can increase customer satisfaction leading to increased sales and the company can achieve brand leadership.

Training is not just skill development. It is a vital tool for employee engagement, employee retention, enhancing productivity as well as to foster innovation. Linking training to business goals will take your organization on the path of operational excellence and market leadership.

Contact us and we can help you strategize an optimal training program which will get you the best ROI.

Related Reading:​

1. Top Ten Strategic Decision-Making Tools for Operational Excellence
2. Popular Continuous Improvement Workshops & Webinars for Manufacturing Industries
3. What is Machine Learning?
4. Popular Continuous Improvement Tools.

Follow Shruti on Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn

Categories:   Process Improvement | Operations | Manufacturing

Keywords and Tags:
#DrShrutiBhat #ProcessImprovement #ProcessExcellence  #ContinuousImprovement #OperationalExcellence #ManufacturingEfficiency

Introduction

In today's fast-paced and data-driven world, organizations are constantly seeking ways to improve their processes to increase operational excellence.

Hence, regardless of industry sector, process improvement projects are on the rise, thus keeping project management teams super busy. Therefore, like any other department in an organization, for project management function too, continuous improvement is vital.

One of the key continual improvements in the project management function is digitalization. Traditional project management approaches have served us well. But the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) application in project management is recalibrating the landscape of process improvement campaigns.

Today, AI is not just a buzzword; it's a revolutionary driving force that is set to transform how we plan, execute, and monitor process improvement initiatives. In this blog post, I shall delve into the profound ways AI is redefining management of process improvement projects, and why it's essential for businesses to embrace this transformative technology.

1. Data-Driven Decision Making
AI's primary strength lies in its ability to analyze vast amounts of data quickly and accurately. In management of process improvement projects, this translates to data-driven decision making. You may want to checkout Top ten decision-making tools for operational excellence here.

AI can sift through historical project data, identify patterns, trends and provide actionable insights. This empowers project managers to predict potential roadblocks, make informed decisions and optimize project management effectively, which results in efficient and successful project outcomes. Also, the process improvement projects get handled successfully, within the scope- cost- time outline.

2. Predictive Analytics
Predictive analytics is one of the most exciting AI applications in process improvement project management. AI can forecast potential bottlenecks, resource constraints as well as project risks based on both historical data and real-time information. This facilitates project managers to proactively address challenges before they become major setbacks. By utilizing AI's predictive capabilities, organizations can stay one step ahead in managing projects effectively and efficiently.

3. Automation and Efficiency
AI is a game-changer when it comes to automating routine tasks, especially the repetitive and time-consuming activities. Hence, such activities which tend to bog down project workforce and drain efficiencies can now be assigned to AI-powered tools and bots. This will free-up valuable time and resources for the project team, that can be redirected towards higher-value project management tasks. Automation will ensure that project management processes will run smoother and more efficiently, reducing the risk of human error.

4. Enhanced Resource Allocation
One of the critical aspects of project management is resource allocation. AI can assist in optimizing resource allocation by analyzing project requirements, workforce skills, capability, and availability. It ensures that the right people get assigned to the right tasks, thus improving project efficiency, and ultimately leading to cost savings. Additionally, AI can help to identify over- or underutilized resources, and enable better skill governance and workforce management.

5. Real-Time Monitoring and Reporting
AI-driven dashboards provide real-time monitoring and reporting capabilities, empowering project managers to track progress, identify deviations, and take corrective actions promptly. This level of visibility into project performance enables project managers to make on-the-fly adjustments (without any scope creep), ensuring that projects stay on track and meet their objectives.

6. Personalized Insights
AI can provide personalized insights and recommendations to individual project team members, offering guidance on their specific tasks and responsibilities. This not only improves productivity but also prevents oversight. Also, it motivates the project team and enhances collaborative working. In fact, each team member can create a tailored roadmap for their contribution to the project's success and growth.

7. Risk Management
Risk management is one of the key aspects of effective project management and AI’s ability to swiftly analyze huge amounts of data facilitates in comprehensive risk assessments early on. This allows project managers to take proactive measures at risk mitigation and prevent chances of potential project failures. Further, AI can suggest suitable risk mitigation strategies based on historical data and predictive analytics, thus increasing the likelihood of successful project outcomes.

Conclusion
The impact of AI on management of process improvement projects is undeniable. AI has transformed the way projects are handled end-to-end. From data-driven decision-making to predictive analytics, automation, and personalized insights, AI has equipped project managers with the tools they need to succeed in their tasks. And as AI continues to advance in its role, its impact on project management will get more profound. Therefore, organizations that embrace AI and incorporate it into their project management best practices will gain a competitive edge, delivering higher quality projects more efficiently.

AI is no longer the future; it's the present, and those who harness its power will lead the way in operational excellence.


​Related Reading:​

1. Top Ten Strategic Decision-Making Tools for Operational Excellence
2. Popular Continuous Improvement Workshops & Webinars for Manufacturing Industries
3. What is Machine Learning?
4. Popular Continuous Improvement Tools.

Follow Shruti on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, LinkedIn

Categories:   Process Improvement | Operations | Digitalization

Keywords and Tags:
#DrShrutiBhat #ProcessImprovement #ProcessExcellence  #ContinuousImprovement #OperationalExcellence #ProjectManagement #AI #Digitalization #DigitalTransformation

In today's highly competitive and dynamic business scenario, companies are constantly seeking ways to improve their operations, reduce costs, and enhance product quality. Same is true with the global pharmaceutical industry as well. Traditionally, pharma companies have implemented Lean Six Sigma, ISO and TQM in their pursuit of continuous improvement.

Though these methodologies are great, they require significant input of time and money before results can be witnessed. Kaizen on the other hand, shows equally good or sometimes better results within significantly less time and budget. Hence, Kaizen is called the ‘shortcut to continuous improvement’.

• Popular Continuous Improvement Tools.
• How to Choose a Business Process Improvement or Continuous Improvement project?

History of Kaizen-

Kaizen was developed in Japan and means ‘Make Better’. The concept of Kaizen was prevalent in Japan folklore for a long time. But it was introduced in the business sector after the second world war. Originally it was used in the auto industry, but since then, Kaizen has found widespread use in almost all industry sectors be it manufacturing, service, government organizations or educational institutions. Since, Kaizen needs minimal resources, it can be implemented in big and small organizations and even startups.

Implementing Kaizen principles in the pharmaceutical industry can be a game-changer. In this blog post, I shall touch upon how pharmaceutical manufacturing and business processes can be optimized by implementing Kaizen, consequently leading to increased efficiency, reduced waste, and higher-quality efficacious products.


Understanding Kaizen Principles-

Kaizen methodology is broadly founded on three pillars- people, processes, and profit- Collectively, it includes continual improvement, teamwork and consistent gemba walks.
​

1. Continual improvement- This simply means that no process is ever perfect and that there is always room for improvement. Successful Kaizen-ing needs incremental process improvements done consistently. Now pharma manufacturing is highly regulated, and processes once set can’t be changed since product dossiers are approved by FDA to fetch marketing authorization. Yet, Kaizen can be implemented in pharma manufacturing while making sure approved dossier contents as well as SUPAC guidelines are complied with. Adapting Kaizen to pharma processes (both technical and business processes) brings-in a savings of as much as 40% year-on-year.
2. Teamwork- Kaizen-ing requires a motivated and engaged workforce. To get best output from Kaizen implementation, teamwork is vital. In pharmaceutical manufacturing, this means that individuals from various departments i.e. a cross-functional team, must work together to identify areas of improvement thus creating a practice and culture of collaboration.
3. Gemba walks- Gemba in Japanese means ‘the actual workplace’. Gemba walks in the pharma manufacturing sites must be conducted on a regular basis to identify improvement opportunities while ensuring cGMP is always complied with. I’ve a detailed blogpost on Gemba walks, check it out here.

Note that, Kaizen can be applied to traditional setups as well as Industry 4.0, but Kaizen must be customized for your workplace. That is, it is not a one-size-fits-all kind of technique that someone can apply by simply reading a book or watching a video. Yes, a book or video on Kaizen will certainly help you with commencing your Kaizen journey, but a Kaizen Expert leading your Kaizen initiative will deliver as much as 5x in terms of ROI. That is because- Accuracy in Kaizen strategy planning and deployment is the key to its success.


Applying Kaizen to Pharmaceutical Manufacturing

The ultimate goal of Kaizen-ing in pharma companies is to streamline processes and maximize value for the organization, healthcare professionals and primarily the patients. After touching upon the Kaizen principles, I shall now dive into how Kaizen methodology can be effectively applied to pharmaceutical manufacturing:

1. Reduce Waste and Improve Efficiency
One of the fundamental objectives of Kaizen is to identify waste and find ways to eliminate it. Waste can take various forms in the pharma industry, including time, resources, materials and non-compliance to cGMP. By applying Kaizen, we can identify and eliminate the non-value-added activities in the pharma manufacturing processes, thus bringing about a reduction in production cycle time, lower overheads and increased productivity.

2. Standardize Processes
For pharma products to comply with specifications, it is paramount that the manufacturing process output is consistent and reproducible. Applying Kaizen fosters process standardization and development of best practices in tune with cGMP mandates. And this process standardization eliminates deviations, variations, defects, rejects, rework and enhances product quality.

3. Streamline Changeover Procedures
Many a times pharma manufacturing facilities don’t have product-dedicated production areas. In such instances, multiple products or multiple strengths of the same product is produced in the facility. This requires frequent switches between the products based on their demand forecast/ planning. Such changeovers can be time-consuming and resource intensive. Applying Kaizen principles to pharma manufacturing processes help optimize changeover procedures, reducing downtime, enabling more efficient production and higher inventory turns.

4. Continuous Training and Skill Development
A lion’s share of Kaizen-ing success comes from the employees, especially the ones close to the process. Therefore, shopfloor employees must be appropriately trained for them to notice process operations minutely and offer suggestions for improvement. A well-trained workforce is better equipped to identify process improvements and adapt to changes. Therefore ‘Continuous Improvement’ necessitates ‘Continuous Training’ to ensure that employees have the necessary skills to perform their roles effectively.

Note that, alongside skill-training, organizations must foster a culture of transparency and trust, so employees feel free to voice their opinions and work in collaboration with everyone in the Kaizen taskforce. Note that, Kaizen training to employees must be provided as customized workshops for your workplace. Checkout some of the popular workshops on continuous improvement for manufacturing industry here.

5. Data-Driven Decision-Making
Pharmaceutical industry being regulated, data gather, and analysis is vital for its very survival. Implementing Kaizen fosters a culture of collecting data and data analytics to make informed decisions. Data-driven insights can help identify trends, bottlenecks, wastes and areas for improvement. Applying correct decision-making tools while building Kaizen strategy assures success with Kaizen and in-turn increases operational excellence. Checkout top ten strategic decision-making tools for operational excellence here.

6. Visual Management
So far, visual management has gained popularity within the service industry for example in aviation, tourism, hospitality, banking sectors etc. But now, its popularity has extended to manufacturing sector as well, because of the immense benefit it offers. Visual management is a natural part of Kaizen and pharma industry too stands to benefit from its implementation. There are numerous visual management tools and all of them are awesome and effective. But we must select the ones best suited to achieve our process improvement goals.

Implementing visual management techniques, such as Kanban boards, Andon lights, Flowcharts etc., make pharmaceutical manufacturing processes more transparent and lucid for all employees. This promotes better communication and smooth workflow, resulting in minimal errors and enhanced productivity. Do checkout my blogpost on how to increase process efficiency with visual management here.

7. Kaizen Events
Kaizen methodology is implemented via Kaizen Events. These events bring employees together to focus on identifying the areas of improvement and collectively work intensively to implement the proposed changes over a short period of time. It's an effective way to kickstart the Kaizen process and generate quick wins. Checkout how to conduct Kaizen Events in the pharmaceutical industry here.


Case Study: Kaizen in Action

Let me share my real-world example of Kaizen implementation to illustrate the impact of Kaizen process improvement in a pharmaceutical company. A multinational pharmaceutical company manufacturing oral solid dosage forms (tablets and capsules) decided to implement Kaizen principles in its production facility. I’ve refrained from mentioning company details here to honor the confidentiality agreement.

So, this client approached us to initiate Kaizen at their workplace. Since, they didn’t have a dedicated continuous improvement division, it was a challenging project for my team to set up everything from A to Z. After two months of strategic deployment and company-wide employee training, the organization was ready with its Kaizen taskforce, and we created a Kaizen roll-out roadmap.

The company identified several areas for improvement for example:

1. Product development:
Pharmaceutical research is complex inherently because you’re identifying new medicinal entities and then formulating them in doses which are safe and efficacious for therapies to patients. While innovator pharma companies have a sizable set of R&D challenges, generic manufacturers have their own list of product development pains. Further, the situation grows tough because pharma R&D processes are surrounded by patents and regulations.

And if you’re a global company, then your product must not only circumvent all applicable patents but also meet the regulatory requirements of each market you plan to earn revenue.

Therefore, pharmaceutical R&D is expensive. To get maximum ROI, R&D processes (both technical and business processes) must be streamlined, be patient-centric and be tech-savvy. This requires continuous update and continuous improvement which in-turn require big bucks.

By applying Kaizen to their pharma R&D processes, the company saved as much as 40% of cost!

Tip: Kaizen blends-in with cGMP, ICH, QbD, PAT, automation, robotics, and traditional & novel drug delivery technologies to deliver quality products consistently…

2. Cleaning and Changeover:
Changeovers between different tablet formulations were taking longer than necessary. The Kaizen taskforce involved cross-functional teams in the changeover process and streamlined the cleaning and setup procedures. This improved the overall equipment efficiency (OEE) significantly. 

3. ​Process optimization: The Kaizen taskforce worked upon improving Takt time of each process/ operation. This not only made huge savings in overhead expenses but also curbed wastes. The company significantly reduced downtime and increased overall manufacturing efficiency by 5-20% year-on-year.

4. ​Material Handling: Material handling processes were causing excessive waste and inefficiency. By implementing a just-in-time (JIT) inventory system and optimizing material flow, the company reduced waste, lowered costs, and improved overall production as well as supply chain efficiency.

Results:

By implementing these Kaizen-driven improvements, the pharmaceutical company saw several tangible results:

• Increased employee engagement and collaborative working.
• Decreased production time and increased throughput.
• Assured compliance to cGMP guidelines. Passed all regulatory audits in first go.
• Improved product quality and consistency.
• Lowered operational costs due to reduced waste, deviations, and downtime.
• Increased sales.
• Increased profitability and earnings per share.

To-Dos: The company will be applying Kaizen methodology to its sales and marketing processes with the objective of improving their topline and earnings per share. They will also be applying Kaizen to their clinical research program with the objective of achieving faster outcomes, quality data and lowered costs. These campaigns shall potentially increase the company’s profit by 10-20% year-on-year.


​Conclusion

Implementing Kaizen principles for process optimization in pharmaceutical manufacturing is a journey that requires commitment, teamwork, and continuous effort. However, the benefits are well-worth the investment. By focusing on continual improvement, waste reduction, standardization, and employee engagement, pharmaceutical companies can achieve greater operating efficiency, higher product quality, and a competitive edge within the sector.

Kaizen's principles align with the pharmaceutical industry's commitment to providing safe, efficacious, cost- effective and patient-centric medications while striving for innovation and operational excellence. Learn more about how Kaizen can help your company here.

An important point to note is that Kaizen is a top-down methodology, so it starts at the top of the management ladder. Company leaders must believe in the Kaizen philosophy and visualize ways to use Kaizen to improve their business. Next this vision and Kaizen mission must percolate down in the organization so that employees are excited to participate in the Kaizen campaign. Do you know, a highly motivated Kaizen workforce can bring about big process improvements in as less as 7 days!

If you're looking to install strategic Kaizen process improvement initiatives at your workplace, let's talk...


About the Author: Dr. Shruti Bhat PhD (Tech), MBA, CLSSBB

Dr. Shruti Bhat is an award-winning Global Leader in Operational Excellence and Continuous Improvement, Best-Selling Author and Speaker. She is popularly known as 'The Profitability Expert'.

Shruti drives Kaizen, Lean Six Sigma, TQM, Kanban, Agile, Six Sigma, Just-in-time installations at client sites globally. She leads operational improvement, value stream transformation & cost-reduction initiatives at both manufacturing as well as service organizations. In addition, Shruti has exceptional proficiency with improving R&D productivity. More about Shruti here.

Shruti is the author of the book Kaizen for Pharmaceutical, Medical Device and Biotech Industries. Checkout the book here.


Related Reading:​

1. How to cut costs strategically using Kaizen
2. Streamline processes and workflows with Gemba Walk.
3. Top Ten Strategic Decision-Making Tools for Operational Excellence
4. Popular Continuous Improvement Workshops & Webinars for Manufacturing Industries
5. Mistake-Proofing Pharmaceutical Product Development, Manufacturing and Logistics, Cost Savings via Poka Yoke
6. Popular Continuous Improvement Tools.

Follow Shruti on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, LinkedIn

Categories:   Kaizen | Operations | Life Sciences

Keywords and Tags:
#DrShrutiBhat  #KaizenInPharma #PharmaceuticalIndustry #LifeSciencesIndustry #ProcessImprovement  #KaizenInManufacturing #JustInTime #Lean #LeanManufacturing #ProcessExcellence  #ContinuousImprovement #QualityImprovement  #KaizenLeaderMasterclass  #Speaker  #KaizenTrainingAcademy​

Critical Thinking: A vital skill for leading in the new normal
 
In the field of leadership and business management, critical thinking is a critical skill to possess. Developing this skill involves asking and challenging assumptions. Critical thinking helps us to make good decisions, improves our overall performance and the business’s profitability. It is especially important in today's business environment, where people are constantly making decisions and are often under pressure to make them quickly.
 
Benefits of critical thinking in leadership and business management
 
Developing critical thinking skills helps leaders analyze their decision-making processes and adopt alternative approaches to address problems. These skills can help a company succeed in the "new normal" of business. While classic leadership strategies remain relevant, they will no longer be sufficient in the face of the challenges of a changing business environment. Instead, today's leaders must learn to think and act differently in order to stay competitive.

• Leading through the new normal.
• Transforming businesses in the new normal.

 
Critical thinking can also help employees improve their creative thinking skills. Getting creative often involves pushing conventions and taking risks. Applying a critical approach can help mitigate risks and make creative ideas more useful in the long run. Critical thinking can also help teams reinvent old processes. Moreover, it enhances teamwork and problem-solving skills. It also distinguishes valuable employees in a company.
 
Critical thinking can also improve emotional intelligence. It helps team members avoid making emotional decisions. It encourages team members to analyze the situation before making any decision. It also helps them weigh the ethical implications of a decision. As a result, they are more likely to come up with creative solutions and ask open-ended questions.
 
Critical thinking is crucial for effective leadership. It helps leaders identify the right decisions, while also understanding the impact of decisions on the overall organization. It also helps them to align themselves with organizational goals and be accountable for their actions.
 
Developing critical thinking skills
 
Questioning is an essential part of critical thinking, as it enables you to evaluate the information that you have. It requires that you continually assess what is relevant and give weight to the most relevant information. This skill can be learned through observation. For instance, you can observe your co-workers during a staff meeting.
 
When questioning, it is imperative to keep the questioning simple and direct. The question should not be too complicated, and it should focus on identifying relationships and principles. It should not be too general or ambiguous because it can lead to long discussions. It is also important to remember that answering a question in a critical way helps you get accurate answers. Remember that the main goal of critical thinking is to identify and evaluate existing knowledge, and to recognize where improvements can be made to a situation.
 
A critical thinker will be able to analyze information and make accurate decisions. By establishing significance, they will be able to weigh the validity of different data sources. This is important because not all information is equally relevant. Critical thinkers will often challenge assumptions and consider what the underlying motivation of a particular piece of information is.
 
The ability to question is an important trait for leaders and business managers. Good critical thinkers are able to recognize the strengths and weaknesses of a situation and will ask themselves if their current beliefs will have a positive or negative effect. They will be able to motivate their team members and move them to take action through the use of solid arguments and reasons. As a result, critical thinkers are able to deliver a better performance and offer organizations a distinct advantage over their competition.
 
Lack of critical thinking in leadership and business management
 
A recent study identified the need for critical thinking in leaders, with three-quarters of executives predicting that this skill will increase in importance in the near future. Key reasons for this increase include the speed of change in the business landscape, globalization, and increased competitiveness. Leaders must be able to demonstrate that they are capable of using their critical thinking skills to solve complex business problems.
 
Lack of critical thinking can result in bad decisions, repeated mistakes, and bad assumptions. A leader without these skills can be an unproductive leader and a disaster for the business. A critical thinker is able to identify what the wrong decision is and how to correct it. They can also use a critical lens to identify opportunities that may be overlooked by other people.
 
The skills of critical thinking can help professionals improve their decision-making skills and make them more confident and efficient. In short, critical thinking helps to uncover alternatives and create new ways of approaching a problem based on accurate data. Without critical thinking, a person can't make effective decisions. Developing these skills is crucial to the success of a business.
 
Critical thinking requires the creation of a plan to implement a solution. This plan must identify who will implement the solution and how it will be executed. The plan must be flexible enough to adapt to new information. It should also be able to adapt to changes as needed, while keeping the ultimate goal in mind.

You may checkout more about how critical thinking helps in improving organizational excellence in my popular book Leading process improvements with critical thinking.


​Related Reading:​

1. How to cut costs strategically using Kaizen
2. Streamline processes and workflows with Gemba Walk.
3. Top Ten Strategic Decision-Making Tools for Operational Excellence

Follow Shruti on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, LinkedIn

Categories:  Strategy | Operations | Leadership

Keywords and Tags:
#criticalthinking #leadershipinnenormal #identifyingbusinessopportunities #leadership #businessmanagement #criticalthinkers #criticalthinkingleaders

The theory of constraints (TOC) is a management method that helps companies understand and improve their processes. This method is based on the concept that a system consists of a series of interdependent processes. This theory identifies the bottleneck or weak link in the system’s processes. In this way, it helps in process improvement, especially to reduce lead times.
 
Ultimately, using this method can help you improve your business processes and increase profits. I have a separate post on What is theory of constraints and what are its principles. You may check it out here.
 
The theory of constraints is a systematic approach to logistics analysis, and its strategies emphasize efficient decision-making. It has five steps that help you improve your processes. You must first agree on your problem and the constraints that are causing it. Once you have agreed on the constraints and what needs to be improved, you can then move on to the next step.
 
The five stages of theory of constraints make it a powerful tool for any business. The first step is identifying the bottleneck, but this can be a difficult task. It is important to realize that there are many variables in a system.
 
By following the 5 Steps, you can create a comprehensive plan for improving your business processes and achieving your goals. You'll find the steps to implement the theory much easier. You may not realize it, but you can take advantage of the five steps to improve productivity.
 
The first step is to identify your weak link and prioritize the activities that will help you improve your process. Your goal is to increase throughput by identifying the weak link and concentrating on resolving it. This process can improve your company's productivity by eliminating waste. In addition, it can reduce lead times and work-in-process.
 
The second step is to exploit the constraint. This step is essential for improving the efficiency of processes. It is important to realize that a constraint does not need to be a permanent one. You should find ways to exploit it so that your system can operate at its maximum capacity.
 
The third step involves eliminating the bottleneck. The bottleneck can be internal or external. It could be a competitor or an influential force in the market. In either case, you must identify and exploit the bottleneck. By implementing an improvement strategy, you will increase throughput.
 
At the same time, you will improve profitability and improve the performance of your company.
If you are experiencing a bottleneck, the theory of constraints is an excellent solution. It is a systematic approach for solving complex problems.
 
After you identify your constraint, the fourth step is that you need to improve the capacity of all other systems in the system. The rest of the system needs to support it and provide a buffer of safety stock to prevent it from being overloaded. The fifth step is to repeat the cycle.
 
You may also need to adjust established policies and habits so that you can improve your output. Moreover, you need to increase your capacity and invest in new equipment or people.
 
Related Reading:​

1. How to cut costs strategically using Kaizen
2. Streamline processes and workflows with Gemba Walk.
3. Top Ten Strategic Decision-Making Tools for Operational Excellence

Follow Shruti on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, LinkedIn

Categories:  Continuous Improvement | Operations | Process Improvement

Keywords and Tags:
#operationalexcellence #reduceleadtime #constraint #theoryofconstraints #visualmanagement #kaizen #problemsolving #organizationaldevelopment #reducebottlnecks

Scrum is a software development method that focuses on delivering features and products in predictable increments, with consistent feedback. Also, it is a very competent process improvement tool

Scrum approach reduces non-productive work and spreads testing throughout the development process. It allows teams to experiment and fail quickly, which reduces costs and time to market. In addition, Scrum enables a team to respond quickly to changes in the business and avoid scope creep.
 
In Scrum, a Scrum team is composed of three key roles: a Scrum master, a Product Owner, and a Team. The Scrum master is responsible for facilitating meetings and ensuring that the development process proceeds efficiently. As the product owner, he/she defines the backlog. The Team consists of the Scrum Master and team members. The Product Owner is the most senior member of the team.
 
The goal of Scrum is to deliver value to the customer. This means that teams create a functional, user-friendly piece of software every few weeks, known as an increment. Feedback from each increment helps the team decide what to do next. By delivering value frequently, Scrum encourages transparency and collective responsibility.
 
Scrum differs from Agile in several ways. While Agile emphasizes daily interaction between developers and business users, Scrum emphasizes a collaborative approach to project development. I have a separate post citing differences between Scrum and Agile.

• Accelerate business growth with Agile- Part 1
• Accelerate business growth with Agile Part 2: Top 10 Frequently Asked Questions on Agile.

 
In Scrum, developers and business owners work together to deliver software at a rapid rate. This process consists of several phases: planning, daily standup meetings, spring demonstration of the work product, and retrospectives to understand what went well and what needs improvement.
 
In Scrum, the team works under the guidance of a Scrum master, a person who serves as a coach for the team. A Scrum Master facilitates collaboration and helps the team perform at its maximum level. The Scrum Master also protects the team from unnecessary distractions and allows the team to focus on the sprint goal. The Scrum Master differs from a traditional project manager, however, in that a Scrum Master does not assign tasks or provide day-to-day direction.
 
In Scrum, the product owner has responsibility for what the team builds. He/she keeps a backlog of work organized in priority order. A Scrum master serves as a cheerleader for the team and ensures that the Scrum process is followed. Scrum teams are characterized by high morale, and each sprint produces a product ready for market.
 
Although, Scrum process begun for software product development, it can be applied to development other product too. Scrum-driven projects bring-on faster operational excellence.
 
The Scrum framework is an iterative process that requires teams to constantly review their progress and identify obstacles to progress. The process involves a series of iterations, each cycle lasting no longer than a week. In each cycle, the team iterates in order to deliver a new feature. These cycles are timeboxed and are generally completed within a month.

Related Reading:​

1. How to cut costs strategically using Kaizen
2. Streamline processes and workflows with Gemba Walk.
3. Top Ten Strategic Decision-Making Tools for Operational Excellence

Follow Shruti on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, LinkedIn

Categories:  Scrum | Operations | Process Improvement

Keywords and Tags:
#operationalexcellence #processimprovement #scrum #agile #productdevelopment #scrumprojectmanagement #scrummaster #scrumteam