Implementing continuous improvement techniques promotes an ongoing effort to improve processes, products or services. These efforts can seek “breakthrough” improvement all at one or “incremental” improvement over time. The key objectives included in it are the innovation, creativity, time management, preparation as well as some other important tools that are required to get continuous improvements in the firm. Delivery processes are improved and evaluated constantly in the light of their effectiveness, flexibility and efficiency. Here, are the continuous improvement techniques which can be helpful to you.
Continuous Improvement Techniques
1. Right People on the Right Place
In a change management program, it is very important to ensure that the right profile of people is identified or hired within the firm. The profile which the firm look for is someone who is able to share the organization’s values, who is able to be a team-player and who is self-motivated. These criteria apply for the people at the executive and managerial level. It is an organization’s key principles and it should be done before embarking on a continuous improvement journey. Before bringing in the outside resources, you should first look within for resources that can be developed.
2. Create Awareness
It is very important to know that the entire organization is well aware of the journey of the Continuous Improvement. Hence, it is a must to have a communication session on the journey and the feedback of it should be obtained. There is a danger of using specific tools such as Lean Sigma, Six Sigma and others for the purpose of communication. If these tools are used then it might send the message that the firm is embarking on program of the month concept.
One should emphasize that this techniques and tools will be used as part of the continuous journey. The people should be made aware about their role in this journey. Communication should be credible and it should not be done only to tick the boxes. During the awareness sessions, company beliefs and values should be communicated.
3. Learning and Development
A comprehensive Learning and Development strategy should be put in place to increase people’s knowledge and skills. Hence, individual coaching, project assignments and group trainings should be done in support of the Continuous Improvement journey. To develop people for the post of senior executives and managers one should engage them in to a group discussion at the floor level. This opportunity should be used to share about the beliefs and values of the company.
4. Coaching
Coaching is the part of Learning and Development strategy but because of its importance in everyday management it is been placed as a separate subject. Coaching is best when we are talking about the staff engagement. It should be happened on a scheduled basis at every level. Many times the coaching sessions fails because it turned in to a performance review session or the superior has not got a full grasp of it.
5. Empower
Empower allow making the decisions at an appropriate level. When some things goes against the belief and values of the firm then the people must be empowered to take an action. If a firm place customer satisfaction and quality as number one priority, then the people of shop floor should have an authority to shut down the line of production when the quality is compromised.
It is important to improve the skills of people and processes for better customer support. The sales team should be properly trained by following a sound action plan. They should be given a goal by their coach and then supervised to reach those goals. Finally, they should be given certificates and get rewards for obtaining the skills. These continuous improvement techniques will help a company reach business success.
