---

Guest post by: Joe Dager Become an Author

Tweet

---

---

Do you want to inch up the charts or do you want to leap? I think that is the greatest reason Lean-style thinking has develop Kaizan events. Focus on results and "LET'S GITTER DONE!"

However, if you want to get something accomlished having a trained practicioner or Black Belt may prove very beneficial to you. This way you can be sure of adequate preparation and a toolbox full of tools that may be needed during the event. They will use a variety of tools to include Pareto Charts, Fish-Bone and Mini-Tab, Names that you may be familar with but unless you have utilized them several times, you will labor through them. Like all software and instruments, it is in the interpretation of the data is where the gold is. The instruments do not just spit out the right answer.

Peter Keen, Chairman of Keen Innovations says; "Characterizing kaizen as simply "continuous improvement" trivializes the concept and portrays it as cautious and lacking in imagination... More typically, the implementation of kaizen reflects a radical commitment to an entire way of operating that requires floor-to-ceiling change in management, work, manager-worker relationships, discipline, decision making, and the organization of knowledge that transforms an organization into a federation of problem solvers."

These are not simple brainstorming sessions. these are orchestrated events that will allow you to put a plan of action together. Many managers are intrigued by Kaizan because it allows them to form a strong focused approach which can accelerate implemntation. I have seen some use the terminology a beachhead for their project implementation. Also, another important ingredient is having people at the event that can make a decision. It is not meant to be an event that you have to seek approval. However, if you want to jumpstart your quality inititatives, start with Kaizen.I was reading a past Ten Step Project Management Newsletter about the cost of quality and thought it was a great addition to the above.

Building quality steps in the workplan adds a certain amount of effort and cost to the project. However, these incremental costs will be rewarded with increased benefits and reduced costs throughout the life cycle of the solution. Examples of the cost of quality include:

Deliverable reviews. There is a cost associated with the time of the people attending the reviews. This includes any preparation, the actual review time for all participants, and the resulting follow-up work from the review

Creation of the Quality Plan. The time required to plan quality into the project and the solution, including identifying completeness and correctness criteria. Client approval. The time and effort required to validate that the client has reviewed interim and final deliverables and has formally approved them as being correct and complete.

Testing. Testing is a part of the development life cycle, but it is also done to ensure the solution meets requirements and quality standards. Quality control standards. Relevant standards utilized throughout the project and/or the organization.

Audits. Audits are opportunities to have an outside party review the processes used to create your deliverables. Third party auditors provide a fresh perspective and unbiased opinion on whether good work processes are defined and are followed.

Checklists. These are usually used to validate that all steps of a process were completed or all the components of a deliverable are in place.

Quality Control and Quality Assurance Groups - If your company has distinct groups that specialize in quality control or quality assurance, their costs are part of the overall costs of quality for the organization. Gathering metrics. Metrics are normally gathered to show the status of a process and to correct or improve the process if necessary.

Related Articles

  Home Business Expert: The Payoff! - Time, Freedom, Luxury
  What is SPIN Selling?
  4 Sabotaging Habits that Prevent You from Boosting Revenue
  Business Networking - Old vs New Paradigm
  Success Or Failure?
  Public Speaking Part Two of How Do I Write My Speech
  ••••••>The Quest for Ranking #1 on Google Means Building Quality Links
  Local Store Marketing Is Hard
  3 Secrets to Succeeding Online with Your Business
  The Sweet Spot: 5 High Payoff Activities to Amplify Your Success
  The Missing Piece That Can Hold You Back
  6 Common Mistakes Entrepreneurs Make Trying to Grow Their Bottom Line
  You Have to Connect to Sell
  Doing What's Comfortable vs Doing What's Successful
  What to Do When You Want to Play a Bigger Game but You Hit a Wall
  Holding Prospects at Trade Shows
  Customer Relationship Management
  Why Transformation Efforts Fail
  How to Keep Sales Up In A Down Economy
  Strategic Debt Payoff – Consider future business flexibility when you choose which ‘debt’ to pay next

Related Forum Posts

Re: Search Engine Optimization Guide for All

Share this article. Fund someone's dream.

Newsletter

Get advice & tips from famous business
owners, new articles by entrepreneur
experts, my latest website updates, &
special sneak peaks at what's to come!

Name:
Email:

Popular Articles

6 Ways To Generate Lucrative Business Ideas

The Light Bulb Challenge

Top 5 Tips for Better Online Ads

Suggestions

Email us your ideas on how to make our
website more valuable! Thank you Sharon
from Toronto Salsa Lessons / Classes for
your suggestions to make the newsletter
look like the website and profile younger
entrepreneurs like Jennifer Lopez.