The Institute for Strategic Improvement
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  • About
  • Store
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  • Blog
  • Free Stuff
  • Links page
  • We support
  • Current Survey
  • Improvement Portal
  • FAQ

10 Things

1/31/2017

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The 10 things that can help your business today
 
ROI – Return On Investment - Ensure every project, proposal, and initiative submitted to you includes an in depth analysis of the return on your investment in the product this helps ensure projects are delivered on time, within budget, and allows you to develop more efficient processes.
 
Huddle Boards - Start the morning out right by engaging with employees and focusing on the process. Help by removing roadblocks and bottlenecks and determining where variation exists.
 
GEMBA Walks - Go out into the workplace and see where the work is happening. Engage with your employees and empower them to make improvements.
 
Operational Excellence - this is a philosophy of the workplace where problem-solving, teamwork, and leadership results in the ongoing improvement in an organization. The process involves focusing on the customers' needs, keeping the employees positive and empowered, and continually improving the current activities in the workplace.
 
Standard work - is used to identify defects, create assignments, and establish the discipline of daily follow through as a team.  The leader’s role is to coach employees in the first step of the PDSA-cycle to see and understand the problems through prior day (past 24 hours).
 
A3 - A3 story boards are used as a 1 page depiction of a process using Plan - Do – Study – Act to create consistency and further critical thinking.
 
Value stream mapping - is a lean-management method for analyzing the current state and designing a future state for the series of events that take a product or service
 
Voice of The Customer - The “voice of the customer” is a process used to capture the requirements and feedback from the customer (internal or external) to provide the customers with the best in class services and product quality.
 
Develop Lean Six Sigma Yellow, Green, and Black belt employees – these individuals can reduce waste and improve efficiency, productivity, and performance.
 
https://www.instituteforstrategicimprovement.com/store/c4/Certifications.html
 
 
KPI – Focus on your specific KPI’s – KPI’s are a set of quantifiable measures that a company uses to gauge its performance over time.
 
Check this at LinkedIn
The 75 KPIs Every Manager Needs To Know from LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/20130905053105-64875646-the-75-kpis-every-manager-needs-to-know
To measure financial performance:
1. Net Profit
 
2. Net Profit Margin
 
3. Gross Profit Margin
 
4. Operating Profit Margin
 
5. EBITDA
 
6. Revenue Growth Rate
 
7. Total Shareholder Return (TSR)
 
8. Economic Value Added (EVA)
 
9. Return on Investment (ROI)
 
10. Return on Capital Employed (ROCE)
 
11. Return on Assets (ROA)
 
12. Return on Equity (ROE)
 
13. Debt-to-Equity (D/E) Ratio
 
14. Cash Conversion Cycle (CCC)
 
15. Working Capital Ratio
 
16. Operating Expense Ratio (OER)
 
17. CAPEX to Sales Ratio
 
18. Price Earnings Ratio (P/E Ratio)
 
To understand your customers:
 
19. Net Promoter Score (NPS)
 
20. Customer Retention Rate
 
21. Customer Satisfaction Index
 
22. Customer Profitability Score
 
23. Customer Lifetime Value
 
24. Customer Turnover Rate
 
25. Customer Engagement
 
26. Customer Complaints
 
To gauge your market and marketing efforts:
 
27. Market Growth Rate
 
28. Market Share
 
29. Brand Equity
 
30. Cost per Lead
 
31. Conversion Rate
 
32. Search Engine Rankings (by keyword) and click-through rate
 
33. Page Views and Bounce Rate
 
34. Customer Online Engagement Level
 
35. Online Share of Voice (OSOV)
 
36. Social Networking Footprint
 
37. Klout Score
 
To measure your operational performance:
 
38. Six Sigma Level
 
39. Capacity Utilisation Rate (CUR)
 
40. Process Waste Level
 
41. Order Fulfilment Cycle Time
 
42. Delivery In Full, On Time (DIFOT) Rate
 
43. Inventory Shrinkage Rate (ISR)
 
44. Project Schedule Variance (PSV)
 
45. Project Cost Variance (PCV)
 
46. Earned Value (EV) Metric
 
47. Innovation Pipeline Strength (IPS)
 
48. Return on Innovation Investment (ROI2)
 
49. Time to Market
 
50. First Pass Yield (FPY)
 
51. Rework Level
 
52. Quality Index
 
53. Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE)
 
54. Process or Machine Downtime Level
 
55. First Contact Resolution (FCR)
 
To understand your employees and their performance:
 
56. Human Capital Value Added (HCVA)
 
57. Revenue Per Employee
 
58. Employee Satisfaction Index
 
59. Employee Engagement Level
 
60. Staff Advocacy Score
 
61. Employee Churn Rate
 
62. Average Employee Tenure
 
63. Absenteeism Bradford Factor
 
64. 360-Degree Feedback Score
 
65. Salary Competitiveness Ratio (SCR)
 
66. Time to Hire
 
67. Training Return on Investment
 
To measure your environmental and social sustainability performance:
 
68. Carbon Footprint
 
69. Water Footprint
 
70. Energy Consumption
 
71. Saving Levels Due to Conservation and Improvement Efforts
 
72. Supply Chain Miles
 
73. Waste Reduction Rate
 
74. Waste Recycling Rate
 
75. Product Recycling Rate

 

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Lean Question for the day

1/24/2017

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Here's todays lean question test your lean knowledge.

Organizing for improvement is best achieved by developing standardized work where the sequence and job elements are efficiently organized and monitored by an employee. When organizing lean improvement efforts which tool best helps organize organizations for improvement?
 
A. Poka Yoke mistake proofing.
B. A Kaizen blitz for rapidly creating objectives for improvement.
C. The 5S method to control outcomes and make improvements.
D. Kanban which uses a system of signal cards showing a step in a process.
 
Answer: C – When organizing lean improvement efforts the tool that best helps organize organizations for improvement is the 5S method. The 5S method is a tool to control outcomes and make improvements to keep track of the changes implemented. It stands for sort, straighten, shine, standardize, and sustain. It can be used for any process or service to improve safety and communication, process flow, compliance, reduction in space requirements, boost morale, and remove non value added steps.


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Difference?

1/22/2017

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How is this year better than the last?
What are you doing differently to make this year rock? A new skill, new knowledge, or new meaning to your career?
Try a new skill or certification or try our 1 page quick reference sheets. We'll reference any topic you need and develop a one page quick sheet. Simply by recommending the  topic you get the quick sheet free. Just suggest in our contact us page.

What are you doing for strategy development this year. We are 22 days into the year are you still maintaining your goals or h
ave some of them already being discharged?
 
You need clear, actionable, strategic intentions for the new year with a prioritization.
You have to determine the strategic operational effectiveness of your actions.
You organize these actions into portfolios according to value.
Develop your actions and measures.
Then track your progress.

This can be your year! 



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Lean question for the day

1/17/2017

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Here is  todays lean question:

The second part of Jidoka includes separating the man from the machine. What is the goal of the separation of man from the machine?


A. Reduction of the number of employees required in a process.
B.
Building processes that are capable of making intelligent decisions and shutting down automatically.
C. Reduction of errors by reducing the number of humans in contact with a process.
D. Allowing humans to focus on more complex activities.
 
Answer: B – The goal of the separation of man from the machine in Jidoka is to build processes that are capable of making intelligent decisions and shutting down automatically. The thought process is that it is better to stop a machine at the first sign of trouble than to keep on producing the problem and generate more waste. 


 

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Lean Terms

1/15/2017

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Lean Question for the day
In the lean environment what does a poka yoke device prevent or prohibit?

 

A.  Additional costs for hiring additional shifts
B.
Employees from remaining idle between processes.
C.
Incorrect execution of a process step.
D. Disagreement between employees.
 

Answer: C – In the lean environment a poka yoke device prevents or prohibits the incorrect execution of a process step. A poka yoke can be electrical, mechanical, procedural, visual, human or any other form that prevents incorrect execution the step. Poka yoke helps people and processes work right the first time by building in techniques that make it impossible to make mistakes. These techniques can drive defects out of products and processes and substantially improve quality and reliability. Poka-yoke can be used wherever something can go wrong or an error can be made.
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Excellence

1/12/2017

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In the race for excellence there is no finish line
Start 2017 out right and improve your game with a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt or Green Belt  certification or training in A3's, quality management, blue ocean strategies, or 5s improvements

https://www.instituteforstrategicimprovement.com/store/c1/Featured_Products.html
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5s

1/11/2017

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5s

Our 5S course is now available!

5S is a five step process to create a more productive usable workspace using lean management principles that remove waste. 5S is a staple tool for improvement which makes improvements using the steps of sort, straighten, shine, standardize, and sustain. 5s can improve efficiency, productivity, and safety in any environment.

Short-term measurable results of a 5S event
  • A more safe work environment
  • Improved space utilization
  • Improved workflow
  • Less time transporting materials
  • Less time searching for things
  • Less time performing work
  • More time available for value-added work
     
    Long- term benefits of sustained 5S
  • Lower costs due to better inventory
  • Fewer errors
  • Greater efficiency
  • Improved employee morale
  • Standardized methods and continuous improvements
  • Greater efficiency
     
    Course completion requires submission of a 1 to 2 page whitepaper based on 5s principles. Upon completion you will receive a certificate of training suitable for framing.
     
    This course includes a PowerPoint based training session and an 8 page 5s checklist. Available now at
            https://www.instituteforstrategicimprovement.com/store/c3/Courses.html
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Sigma Levels

1/10/2017

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Differences in Sigma Levels
 
Once the tools of the improvement phase have been used the Six Sigma project team will focus on attaining the necessary Sigma Level. After all, the goal of the improvement is to determine what level of Six Sigma is being met, what could be achieved, what should be achieved, and what the goals for improvement and control should be.
 
The Sigma levels used in Six Sigma help a company to determine their level of defects and where they fall in terms of their level of improvement. The term "Six Sigma" comes from mathematical statistics.  “Sigma” is a term used to denote variance from the mean average of an event.  It is understood that for any event or activity, 3 measures of these variances on either side of the mean average will include almost all potential activities. Let’s put this in some perspective.

  • At the 5th Sigma level 233 defective parts per million occur.
  • At the 4th Sigma level 6,210 defective parts per million occur.
  • At the 3rd Sigma level 66,807 defective parts per million occur.
  • At the 2nd Sigma level 308,538 defective parts per million occur.
  • At the 1st Sigma level 690,000 defective parts per million occur.
 
To put this into further perspective, are you comfortable with an airline that has a crash rate at the 3rd Sigma level? If you have a surgeon who is performing your surgery are you comfortable with a surgical outcome rate at the 2nd Sigma level? Probably not. Customers drive the market and feel more comfortable with business and companies functioning more at the 5th or 6th level of Sigma. Most often, the 6th Sigma level. This chart provides a visual display of the Six Sigma levels.


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Blue Ocean Strategies

1/8/2017

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Blue Ocean Strategies
The blue ocean strategy focuses on markets that do not currently exist in the current context.

This course teaches you the relevance and importance of the concept of blue oceans as a business strategy. Whether you work for a company or at your own business you can use these strategies to improve your position or stature in the marketplace.
Blue ocean strategies are credited to two authors Professor Chan Kim and Professor Renee Mauborgne. They authored “Blue Ocean Strategy”.
  • Learn about blue and read oceans
  • Learn about concepts behind Blue Ocean Strategy development
  • Learn about open innovation and how to create your own net.
  • Formulate ideas on how you might be able to apply these ideas to your own workplace or business
  • Learn the Six Principles of Blue Ocean Strategy:
    • Reconstruct market boundaries
    • Focus on the big picture, not the numbers
    • Reach beyond existing demand
    • Get the strategic sequence right
    • Overcome key organizational hurtles
    • Build execution into strategy
Lean how to Eliminate, Raise, Reduce, and Create within your company using our templates for ERRC and the strategy canvas.
 
Course completion requires a 25 question test and 1 to 2 page white paper. Once complete you receive a course certificate suitable for framing. Show your expertise to colleagues.  All for $39.00 

https://www.instituteforstrategicimprovement.com/store/p49/Blue_Ocean_Strategies_Course.html

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SIX SIGMA CERTIFICATION

1/6/2017

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Training and Certification  

Six Sigma certifications are one of the more highly sought certifications of professionals today due to its applicability to most any business or industry. Companies realize the value in applying the Six Sigma methodology to business practices, to save money, improve quality, increase efficiency or enhance performance. Probably the best word of advice is that certification alone does not summarize the value of a true quality professional.
 
The basic requirements for experience and/or education requirements prior to certification at the Black belt level include:
 
  • Three years of work experience in one or more areas of the Six Sigma Body of Knowledge
  • 2 completed Six Sigma projects documented by signed affidavits, and a four-hour, 150 multiple- choice question examination
  • Some additional requirements such as whitepaper composition, simulation participation, or threaded conversation training.
 
Green Belts typically differ only requiring one project.
 
The expectations for a Certified Six Sigma Black Belt are that they demonstrate knowledge of Six Sigma tools and processes, are involved in quality improvement projects, and analyze and solve quality problems at an advanced level from the green belt by using more complex Six Sigma tools and on multiple projects.
Organizational usage of Black Belts varies but in general they manage projects approximately $1 million in value. There is generally one Six Sigma Black Belt for every 100 company employees, and a black belt can manage 3 to 30 Six Sigma Green Belts although a realistic span of control would dictate a level of 15.

Black belt expectations include activities such as:
 
  • Being able to explain Six Sigma philosophies and principles and understanding how systems interrelate.
  • Application of quality improvement methodologies which complement Six Sigma such as lean.
  • Understand team dynamics through a high level of leadership and project management skills.
  • Strategically plan small improvements such as Rapid Process Improvement Workshops (RPIW), 5S which is a cleaning and organizational tool, or Kaizen which is a focused short-term improvement event.
  • Perform hypothesis testing and analysis.
  • Perform statistical and process capability calculations.
  • Facilitate control plans and sustainment opportunities.
  • Understand tactical design principles for organizational application including robust design, Design for Six Sigma (DFSS) and Design for Excellence (DFX).
  • Implement statistical process control (SPC)
      
Certification is of great benefit to the individual and to the company. The reasons for seeking Six Sigma certification are the same for other certifications:
 
  • Potential job promotion
  • Potential salary increase
  • Professional display of competency and proficiency
 
An added benefit is that Six Sigma certification is transferrable between companies and organizations.

Are certifications are still half price through Mid January Black Belt is $148.50 and Green Belt is $94.50


https://www.instituteforstrategicimprovement.com/store/c4/Certifications.html

We give you  the tools you need to improve at your job, your business, or your life. Training comes with a certificate for framing  with your new designation. Our instructors help you at every step and you'll have legitimate projects you can share with your current or prospective employers.

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    Robert Kent Six Sigma Black Belt and improvement professional

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