JWI 550: Operational Excellence Assignment 2

 

Operational Excellence Project Part B: Kaizen or Work-Out Proposal Detailed Agenda

Overview

Kaizen events or Work-Outs are one- to five-day rapid improvement events widely used in the deployment of Lean and Operational Excellence. Jack was a huge fan of Work-Outs, which were so named because the focus was on getting the unnecessary work out of the system. These events were NOT just brainstorming sessions but were well-planned and highly structured events that had:

 A well-defined process and set of expectations going in  Sufficient time and freedom from distraction so participants could focus on the issues being

discussed  Participation by key stakeholders all the way from line workers to senior management  Clearly defined requirements for decision and action

In Part B of your Course Project, you will construct a detailed agenda for such an event. The agenda must demonstrate how you will get input from key stakeholders involved with the selected process, use the correct Lean tools, and conclude the event with actionable improvement outcomes.

Instructions

Use your work from Part A of your Course Project to identify improvement opportunities in the process you mapped that are suitable for Kaizen events or Work-Outs.

1. Identify and describe at least three potential Kaizen or Work-Out events.

2. Select one event to be deployed and justify your selection of this event over your other options.

3. Define the Kaizen objective and scope for the selected event. 4. Develop a detailed agenda for your selected event. Use a tabular format, showing:

• Days and Times • Session Topics and Objectives • Lean tools to be Used • Outputs or Deliverables

Day Time Session Topic/Objective Lean Tools Output/Deliverables

 

 

5. Explain how your agenda supports the Kaizen objective and scope for the event. In your explanation, include your rationale for:

 Duration of sessions (granular enough to be effective)

 Number of days and sequence for session topics

 Lean tools to be used and outputs from each session.

Your explanation must be specific to your processes and organization/department/function so that all stakeholders in your organization can relate to the agenda.

Submission Requirements Your work is to be submitted in Word. Total length should be 3 to 4 pages, including the actual agenda. You are free to organize your submission in whatever way you feel best presents the material and makes it easy to understand. Typically, this will mean presenting each day’s tabular agenda in granular detail (15-minute to 2-hour timeslots with details for each session) and then providing supporting pages with additional explanations. As guidance, design this as a document you would share with your team and/or your supervisor. It should be detailed enough to clearly explain how the event will be structured and why but concise enough that it will get read. Note: A generic agenda for a Kaizen event or a generic Lean discussion is not acceptable.

 

 

RUBRIC: Course Project Part B

 

CRITERIA Honors High Pass Pass Low Pass Unsatisfactory

1. Identify and describe at least three potential Kaizen or Work-Out events. Weight: 15%

Three or more potential Kaizen events are included with excellent summary descriptions of each.

Three or more potential Kaizen events are included with very good summary descriptions of each.

Two potential Kaizen events are included with good summary descriptions of each.

Two potential Kaizen events are included; may include basic or unclear summary descriptions of one or more of the events.

One or no potential Kaizen events identified and/or inaccurately or insufficiently described.

2. Select one event to be deployed and justify your selection of this event over your other options. Weight: 10%

Selection of event is clear and specific; demonstrates deep understanding of challenges and opportunities of each option and presents a compelling rationale for selecting this event over other options.

Selection of event is clear and specific; demonstrates a solid understanding of challenges and opportunities of each option and presents a sound rationale for selecting this event over other options.

Selection of event is clear; demonstrates good insight into the challenges and opportunities of each option; presents a reasonable but general rationale for selecting one event over other options.

Selection of event is clear; demonstrates basic insight into the challenges and opportunities of each option; presents a vague rationale for selecting one event over other options.

Selection of event is missing or unclear; demonstrates little insight into the challenges and opportunities of each option; lacks a coherent rationale for selecting one event over other options.

3. Define the Kaizen objective and scope for the selected event. Weight: 10%

Objective and scope for the selected event are clearly defined; demonstrates excellent insight into the relationship between a realistic scope and available time.

Objective and scope for the selected event are clearly defined and demonstrates very good insight into the relationship between a realistic scope and available time.

Objective and scope for the selected event are good but may would benefit from further detail; demonstrates good insight into the relationship between a realistic scope and available time.

Objective and scope for the selected event meet minimum requirements; demonstrates basic insight into the relationship between a realistic scope and available time.

Objective and scope for the selected event are missing, unclear or off- topic; demonstrates minimal insight into the relationship between a realistic scope and available time.

4. Develop a detailed agenda for your selected Kaizen event using a tabular format.

Weight: 35%

Detailed agenda with all columns completed correctly; easy to read and provides clear concise information on how each event is organized and why; demonstrates extra attention to visual appealing and overall design.

Detailed agenda with all columns addressed correctly; tabular format.is easy to read and provides clear but concise information on how each event is organized and why.

Detailed agenda with correct sequence of topics; well- organized and easy to read but provides only basic information on how each event is organized and why.

Agenda showing mostly complete sequence of topics; use of tabular format meets minimum requirements; may lack sufficient and/or clear explanation of how each event is organized and why.

No agenda included or agenda is incomplete or is disorganized; lacks clear explanation of how each event is organized and why.

 

 

CRITERIA Honors High Pass Pass Low Pass Unsatisfactory

5. Explain how your agenda supports the Kaizen objective and scope for the event. Weight: 30%

Exemplary explanation of choices and application of Lean tools; excellent explanation of how the agenda supports the Kaizen objective and scope for each event; clear indication of specific connections to the workflow/value stream and organization.

Excellent explanation of choices and application of Lean tools; clear explanation of how the agenda supports the Kaizen objective and scope for each event.

Good explanation of choices and application of Lean tools but may include vague or insufficient explanation of how the agenda supports the Kaizen objective and scope for each event.

Basic, but incomplete explanation of choices and application of Lean tools; rationale for how the agenda supports the Kaizen objective and scope for each event. is unclear.

Incomplete, missing, or unclear explanation of choices and application of Lean tools; rationale for how the agenda supports the Kaizen objective and scope for each event. is missing or unclear.