Driving culture change is hard work.  It’s not always clear where to start and how to rally the troops.  Improvement Events can be used to jump-start a lean improvement initiative.

It is useful to think of improvement as two cycles linked together:  an Improvement Loop and a Standardization Loop.  The Improvement Loop, where work is studied and waste eliminated, is the starting point.  This Loop subsequently feeds into the Standardization Loop, where improvements are documented through Standard Work and policies that lock in progress.  The Standardization Loop then feeds back into the Improvement Loop.  Consequently, these two loops feed into each other, setting up the “Virtuous Cycle” of continuous improvement.  Improvement Events inject energy into this cycle.

Improvement events are carefully selected following a rigorous series of steps to executing them as follows:

• Plan – Meet with Leaders, Select Area, Determine Data Needs, Finalize Plan
• Prepare – Gather and Organize Data, Develop Training Material, Communicate to Floor Team, Organize Logistics
• Training – Clarify Roles, Train Event Leaders, Train Participants
• Execute – Grasp the Current State, Summarize Observations, Generate Improvement Ideas, Test Ideas, Standardize