Process Improvement Simplified is written for leaders and managers of organizations or enterprises who: Are struggling with their organization’s success Are not satisfied with the current state Are striving to be number one Have heard about the negatives or positives of process improvement (PI) but have never implemented it But PI is not a panacea; it takes leadership commitment and involvement, plus organizational behavior modification so that PI becomes a disciplined way of life. It entails hard work through dealing with nitty-gritty details. PI is not just a problem-solving methodology or another quality control tool. In fact, it is not a quality improvement tool like statistical process control or Six Sigma. It is a systematic approach to focus, measure, and redesign a critical process of any organization in order to reduce waste and achieve breakthrough improvement for that process. In this approach, personnel from other functions within the organization will be involved to ensure that the needs of customers and suppliers of the process are correctly reflected and supported. This is a how-to book with simple examples. A step-by-step method of implementing PI is presented using the example of running a restaurant business.

Although physicians and hospitals are receiving incentives to use electronic health records (EHRs), there is little emphasis on workflow and process improvement by providers or vendors. As a result, many healthcare organizations end up with incomplete product specifications and poor adoption rates.Process Improvement with Electronic Health Records:

Forewords by Mikel J. Harry, Ph.D. and Dr. K.K. Nohria Continuous permanent improvement (CPI) is not a new ism. The purpose of this book is not to expound any new theory or tools, but to share experiences in implementing existing methods with a bias toward business results. In fact, one of the important lessons we have learned is that most existing models or methods, if adhered to in the right spirit, will give results. This book is a distillation of experiences and lessons learned from successes and mistakes in nearly three decades of experience, mostly working with business processes, systematic thinking, customer focus, quality, and performance measurements—in a variety of companies and industries as diverse as financial services, telecom, manufacturing, conglomerate, and management consulting. Not being about any specific companies or industries, the contents of this book can be applied in any industry—service or manufacturing or government or education or nonprofit. The target audience of this book is business, functional, and quality leaders. Business schools and students may also use it as a text or reference book for courses on business excellence or quality. It is intended to share the experience and results of organizations that have derived substantial and sustained business results by focusing on continuous permanent improvement. Its aim is to strengthen the belief of the reader in the strategic importance of CPI, because the stronger your belief, the bigger and more sustained will be your results. The book also covers challenges related to mind-sets and other change management aspects that leaders typically will need to grapple with. Some of the very effective improvement methods and tools are explained in simple language with real examples, with senior business leaders in mind.

ASQ’s Certified Quality Improvement Associate (CQIA) certification is designed to introduce the basics of quality to organizations and individuals not currently working within the field of quality. This book and the Body of Knowledge (BOK) it supports are intended to form a foundation for further study and application of proven quality principles and practices worldwide. The book follows the CQIA BoK in both content and sequence. The intent is that this book will serve as a guide to be used in preparation to take the CQIA examination given by ASQ. Each chapter stands alone, and the chapters may be read in any order. Some material reaching beyond the content of the BoK has been added. Supplemental reading suggestions are provided. An online, interactive sample exam and a paper-and-pencil sample can be found on the ASQ website (http://asq.org/cert/quality-improvement-associate/prepare).

This ready reference not only presents the hot and emerging topic of modern flow chemistry, it is also unique in illustrating the important connection to sustainable chemistry. Focusing on more sustainable methods and applications, the text extensively covers every important field from reaction time optimization to waste minimization, and from safety improvements to microwave applications. In addition, green metrics are presented as a key aspect of the book, helping readers to evaluate the efficiency of flow technologies and their impact on the overall efficiency of a chemical process. An invaluable handbook for every chemist working in the laboratory, whether in academia or industry.

This compact and concise text, based on the rich and vast experience of the author gained while training thousands of individuals, explains in detail what Six Sigma is and why it is necessary to adapt the process. It explains the methodology, tools to be used, and the Six Sigma implementation process. The book describes how to define a problem, how to measure the key inputs and outputs, and how to collect and analyse the data. It discusses the method of identifying the problems, solutions and, with this, to improve the problem process to get Six Sigma output on a continuous basis. The book gives details of how to impart training on the Six Sigma concepts, tools and implementation methodology to master black belts, black belts and green belts. It contains a detailed syllabus for the training, and the method of selecting the trainers. This book should prove extremely useful to students of engineering, especially Production/Mechanical Engineering and Industrial Engineering and Management, and postgraduate students of business management. It will be of immense value to all the organisations which wish to achieve highest quality outputs. KEY FEATURES : Illustrates all the tools to be used in each of the phases with ready to use templates using the MS Excel work sheets. Explains step-by-step the implementation process and how to record the results. Describes the data collection process and forms to be used for different types of data. Discusses how to control all the processes to ensure stability in the process. Contains a number of case studies to help both students and professionals.

Project Management for Performance Improvement Teams (or, PM4PITs, for short) provides practical guidance based on innovative concepts for project teams -- especially Performance Improvement Teams (PITs)—and their Project Managers on how to successfully complete individual projects and programs using an ingenious and scalable framework based on an innovative foundation fusing together elements of Project Management, Innovation Management, and Continual Improvement. This book lays out how Project and Program Managers and their teams can "do those right projects the right way," one project at a time. It details what continual improvement, change, and innovation are, why they are so important, and how they apply to performance improvement—both incremental and transformative. The authors examine the four types of work and workforce management in organizations, Strategic, Operations, Projects, and Crises, using four common comparative variables: Proactive/Preventive versus Reactive/Corrective, Temporary/Unique versus Ongoing/Repetitive, Innovative versus Maintaining the Status Quo, and Schedule Focus: Fiscal Year versus Short Term versus Long Term. These comparisons set the stage for the uniqueness of the third type: Projects (and Programs) that are fundamentally change-driven.

Baffled by repeated mistakes in your department? Want to focus your employees' limited time on more valuable work? The answer to these challenges and more is business process improvement (BPI). Every process in every organization can be made more effective, cost-efficient, and adaptable to changing business needs. The good news is you don't need to be a BPM expert to get great results. Written by an experienced process analyst, this how-to guide presents a simple, bottom-line approach to process improvement work. With its proven 10-step method you can: Identify and prioritize the processes that need fixing * Eliminate duplication and bureaucracy * Control costs * Establish internal controls to reduce human error * Test and rework the process before introducing it * Implement the changes Now in its second edition, The Power of Business Process Improvement is even more user-friendly with new software suggestions, quizzes, a comparison of industry improvement methods, and examples to help you apply the ideas. Whether you are new to BPI or a seasoned pro, you will have business running better in no time.

This comprehensive book presents a methodology for continuous process improvement in a structured, logical, and easily understandable framework based on industry accepted tools, techniques, and practices. It begins by explaining the conditions necessary for establishing a stable and capable process and the actions required to maintain process control, while setting the stage for sustainable efficiency improvements driven by waste elimination and process flow enhancement. This structured approach makes a clear connection between the need for a quality process to serve as the foundation for incremental efficiency improvements. This book moves beyond talking about the value contribution of tools and techniques for process control and continuous improvement by focusing on the daily work routines necessary to maintain and sustain these activities as part of a lean process and management mindset. Part 1 discusses process quality improvement with an understanding of variation and its impact on process performance. It continues by stressing the importance of standardizing a process to achieve process stability. Once process stability is reflected in a consistent and predictable output, attention is turned to ensuring the process is capable of consistently meeting customer requirements. This series of activities sets the foundation for process control and the sustainable pursuit of efficiency improvements. Part 2 focuses on efficiency improvement by eliminating waste while improving process flow using proven tools and methods. Although there is a clear relationship between waste elimination and process flow, these activities are discussed separately to allow those more interested in waste elimination to work independently from those looking to optimize value stream flow. Part 3 explores the principles, practices, systems, and behaviors required to maintain process control while creating a mindset of continuous incremental improvement. It considers the role organizational structure, discipline, and accountability play as essential components for long term operational success. This book will: Provide readers with a clear roadmap for establishing, achieving, and maintaining process control as the foundation upon which to pursue efficiency improvements. Establish direction and methods for continuous and sustainable process improvement Define the practices, systems, and behaviors required to realize desired results and develop a culture of process control and continuous improvement along the road to operational excellence.