| The concept of work process improvement involves | | | | it is necessary to get "buy in" from top corporate |
| taking the time to actually find ways of making | | | | management. Once the top level of management |
| something better, instead of just managing a crisis or | | | | makes the program a priority, it can be communicated |
| reacting to problems. Instead of just finding a way to | | | | from the top down. From that point, middle |
| deal with the end result, process improvement focuses | | | | management can carry the message down through |
| on understanding all the factors that contribute to the | | | | the ranks of the corporation. It can sometimes be |
| problem. These factors can include the raw materials | | | | difficult for a company to adopt the mindset of a |
| and the machines used to make the product, as well | | | | process improvement program, simply because most |
| as the individuals who perform the work. | | | | people are accustomed to being "fire fighters" instead |
| The Benefits | | | | of "fire preventers." It is important that the focus |
| By applying a standardized and methodical approach | | | | becomes improving the underlying processes instead |
| to study every aspect of a problem, the focus is | | | | of simply trying to patch problems as they occur. |
| placed on things that can be improved on to eliminate | | | | Implementation |
| the problem from happening in the first place. This can | | | | When instituting a work process improvement |
| be much more effective than trying to deal with the | | | | program, a process must first be selected for |
| end results of the problem each time it occurs. | | | | improvement. Then, the proper resources need to be |
| Process improvement can result in the elimination of | | | | identified to work on the process. The work process |
| wasted time, money and opportunities. As a result, | | | | must be studied carefully, so that improvements can |
| work can often be done quicker, easier, safer and | | | | be devised. Then, workers must be properly trained in |
| cheaper. | | | | the new process so that it can be implemented. Once |
| Instituting a Program | | | | implemented, research should be performed to make |
| In order for a work process program to be successful, | | | | sure results are being achieved as expected. |