Improve Phase

Improve Phase

 

Tools the Team focused on in the Improve Phase

• Potential Solution Identification + Selection of Preferred Solution
• Risk Analysis on Preferred Solution
• Process Map on Solution
• Force Field Analysis
• Force Field Analysis Action Plan
• Revised Gantt Chart

Potential Solution Identification

This was really a brain storming session where the team identified a number of solutions to the key problems identified in the Analyse phase.

Risk Analysis on Preferred Solution

Out of the solutions the top 3 were selected and we then moved on to complete a Risk Analysis for the Preferred Solution for which I have shown a screen shot of below.

This is one of two tools used in this stage of the project which I would like to describe as not only useful but fundamental decision making tools to insure there is real fact to back up the decision of the project team. It clearly identified how each possible solution could satisfy the customers” musts”. On its second area of scoring the” wants” the output score insured the team were moving in the right direction in what we planned  to implement.

Process Map on Solution

This did not contain a new Process Map but instead laid out the process showing an owner to each piece of key process equipment who would  develop through the ownership program improved performance, increased reliability and greater knowledge

 

Force Field Analysis                                                                                                                                                        

(Force Field Analysis Action Plan)

This is the second of the tools in the Improve phase which was of real benefit. Once the driving forces were identified the real debate then started in working on the restraining forces. This led to the development of an action plan so force could be applied to drive the changes while also reducing the restraining issues.

Some key information for reference in understanding the Force Field Analyses can be found on the following website, http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newTED_06.htm , I have also included an image from this site which shows how both the driving and restraining forces relate back to the Proposed Change.

Example reference “http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newTED_06.htm”

 

Revised Gantt Chart

This is the final tool used in this phase of the project. It was used to evaluate at which point we had reached as a team in delivering against the initial timeframe agreed.  Understanding it was not