Continuous Improvement From Symptoms to Solutions

Module I

Foundations of Continual Improvement Thinking

·       Introduce continual improvement as a mindset for reducing waste and solving recurring problems at the system level.

·       Present the 8 Classes of Waste as a diagnostic tool for identifying improvement opportunities.

·       Connect visible symptoms to deeper systemic issues addressed through continualimprovement thinking.

Problem Statements and Descriptions

·       Emphasize the importance of clear, focused problem statements to guide effective continualimprovement efforts.

·       Practice framing problems in ways that avoid blame and promote team-based analysis.

Applying Is / Is Not Analysis

·       Apply Is / Is Not Analysis to define problem boundaries and avoid scope creep in continualimprovement projects.

·       Use structured comparisons to support shared team understanding and effective root cause exploration.

Using Cause and Effect Diagrams

·       Construct Cause and Effect Diagrams to visually map contributing factors.

·       Reinforce continual improvement principles by emphasizing logic, categorization, and collaboration in identifying systemic causes.

Team-Based Tools: Affinity and Interrelationship Diagrams

·       Use Affinity Diagrams to group ideas and identify themes during team brainstorming.

·       Apply Interrelationship Digraphs to uncover patterns and prioritize continual improvement efforts based on systemic impact.

Verifying the Root Cause

·       Practice confirming or eliminating potential causes using data and observation.

·       Support evidence-based thinking to ensure continual improvement efforts target the right root causes.

Module II

Tree Diagrams for Action Planning

·       Break complex issues into actionable steps using Tree Diagrams.

·       Clarify sequencing and responsibility to support structured continual improvement implementation.

Prioritization Matrices for Decision Making

·       Apply Prioritization Matrices to focus team energy on high-impact actions.

·       Use weighted criteria to align improvement efforts with strategic continual improvement goals.

Linking to PDCA and Quality Systems

·       Connect root cause findings to PDCA cycles, audits, and quality systems.

·       Emphasize sustainability, accountability, and follow-up mechanisms to support long-term,continual improvement success.

Capstone Workshop and Reflection

·       Apply the complete set of continualimprovement tools to a realistic case scenario.

·       Facilitate team collaboration to define problems, identify root causes, prioritize actions, and build an implementation plan.

·       Reflect on course learnings and identify next steps for applying continual improvement practices in participants' own work environments.