Getting the best from your continuous improvement team
09/03/2011
The deployment of continuous improvement teams are common place in the larger organisations. Over a decade ago I was part of one at Rolls Royce working in their supply chain. Hired because of my track record and experience in deploying lean six sigma I worked alongside like minded individuals from Toyota, Nissan, Kaizen Institute, Rover, Unipart, Honda to lead change in the supply chain. We got some good results but when i reflect back could we have done better?
When roadblocks occurred was it all down to the "entrenched attitude" of those we were trying to influence? its an easy cop out.
Individuals are hired internally or externally to continuous improvement teams based mainly on defined criteria for lean expertise. Although the tide is changing, if you can get across your knowledge of 5s, visual management, standardised work, jidoka, kanban, pull, push, kaizen, kaikaku, TPM, DMAIC, PDCA, takt time, yamazzumi, OEE, line balancing, value added, 7 quality tools, etc., etc., you got the job and if you come from Toyota, even better!
The technical capabilities of the team are sound and if one of the team comes up against someone not progressing there CI activities, they are tagged as "not interested", "entrenched attitude", or other self fulfilling prophecies. Is that really the case? or is the CI leader the one that has the "entrenched attitude"?
Its a bold team or individual that holds the mirror up and questions their own capabilities. To question how effective they are at influencing and engaging people in change. But until this is done businesses will not get the best from their CI teams. They will continue to waste time resolving issues that should not have been issues in the first place!
Before blaming an individual for lack of progress, projects withering and dying - take a good look at yourself - seek some feedback.
Get the best from your CI team investment by providing a framework for their personal development based on feedback from the people. Measure and establish a base-line. You will be surprised at the results and impact on projects.
Lee Kemp, MD, Coaching For Change Ltd