8 Steps for a Better Process Change
8 Steps for a Better Process Change
When performing an operational process change, it’s important to not only be efficient during the job but also to fully understand what the problem is and what needs to be changed. Here are eight innovative steps to take that will allow you to properly make a process change the best way possible:
8 Steps for a Better Process Change
1. Understand the Current Process
It’s important that you ask yourself, “Why is the process in its current state?” From there, you can determine what changes need to be made and avoid making previous mistakes.
2. Know the Reason for the Process Change
Usually, the reason for a process change is cost or variation reduction. For a cost reduction change, good cost organization is essential. For variation reduction, the change agent should know whether random variation or special-cause variation can be eliminated.
3. Identify the Specific Change to be Made
Once the flaws in the current process are pointed out to be changed, the new process should be conveyed in a clear and concise way. This can be done in the form of a text document, flow chart or any other organizationally appropriate documentation. It should be easy enough to understand for other operators to know how the new process will work.
4. Make All Affected Stakeholders Aware of the Change
The new process should be expressed to everyone who will be affected by the change. This can be done through a meeting, posting online and allowing anonymous feedback, etc.
5. Validate Process Data and Measuring Systems
Before beginning the actual process change, it’s important to ensure that the data and measures are reliable and to constantly check them to ensure accuracy or any changes along the way.
6. Train for the Change
After everyone has been informed of the impending process change, all operators working on it must be fully trained prior to beginning the actual project.
7. Set a Clear Line
The clear line indicates a point in time in which you will be able to categorize data before and after the change. Once the line is set, you’ll be able to keep track of the change more easily.
8. Measure, Analyze, Improve and Control
After the change has been applied, the results should be properly analyzed and measured in order to control the process.
By conducting these steps, the process change can run much more smoothly and allow everyone involved to be on the same page.
