EasyProblemSolving
Improve your process
Use the techniques below to find the problem areas in your process and then improve the process by eliminating the problem areas or by reducing their occurrence
5 Whys
5 Whys is one of the most common root cause finding method. When you find a problem in the process, get the folks who know about the subject and do the the work into a room with a board and question away to find the root cause.
Brainstorming
To improve your process you need to take the team along - Brainstorming is great tool to work with the team. Brainstorming can be used to come up with ideas on the problem areas and then prioritization tools can help you pick the one that you finally work on.
Brainstorming is a tool that can be used at the start to settle team rules, then for find probable causes and solutions. So to me , its a tool that should be mastered by all trying to do a project
Its a team oriented method, where the team together creatively thinks and shares freely on the topic .
ECRS
This is perhaps one of the lesser known techniques. Expanded as Eliminate, Combine, Rearrange & Simplify
It is one of the lean improvement methods. Idea is to look at the process and ask ECRS questions and then execute to remove / reduce waste.
Find out more about ECRS and suggested questions to ask here
Problem Definition
To solve a problem or to start a project, with a team, you first need to arrive at an agreement, what is the problem you are trying to solve.
This in fact is true in our personal lives as well.
Problem statement helps you write the problem in a manner which ensures all necessary facts are captured. This makes it easy for you to arrive at a consensus on the problem.
Its a statement that conveys the description of the issue at hand in a concise manner
Read on more - when to use a problem statement, how to write a problem statement and see an example
Gemba Walk
One of the techniques from lean, which should be done by every leader. Gemba is Japanese for "real place". In Lean we mean this is the place where the work takes place.
Lean insists on "go see" and Gemba - so go see where the work happens
Through this technique -- leader should go to the floor to observe and collaborate, to know, improve the processes
JFC - Job Flexibility Chart
It is chart or skill matrix - which helps you in several ways, ultimately improving the process.
A Lean tool, to understand peak staff requirements and ensure availability of trained staff, manage it in a visual manner
Flow Chart - Process Mapping
Mapping a process, is perhaps the most visual and easy way to understand and explain your process.
Once a map is there - immaterial to the level to which it is detailed - it is also easy to compare it against the what happens on the ground and what we thought it is. Also we can use the map to with more details, to find the bottle necks.