The real driving force for process optimization is efficiency. As a Business Line Manager, you are always being asked to shorten cycle times – to be more efficient. The reason, of course, is that Efficiency will always improve your company’s bottom line.
Ingenuus can manage virtually all of the processes in a small, medium or large manufacturing organization.
The most common include:
Engineering documents Product specifications Product lifecycles Engineering changes Engineering bills of materials Project management Quality processes (including Lean, ISO and Six Sigma) Front office processes (purchase requests, employee onboarding, etc.)
Manufacturers have tried many strategies to improve their processes. Some have only informal, unwritten process in place to improve their processes. Others, those embracing Lean/Six Sigma have identified a couple of processes to improve their processes: DMAIC & DMADV.
Ingenuus believes that there is significant potential for gains in process optimization.
Let’s define a process as a collection of related, structured activities [a chain of events] that produce a service or product and that processes exist at 2 levels – the people and the technology. The emphasis on process improvements has centered on the people ‘activities’.
Where do we go from here? How do we catch the next big wave of efficiency?
Implement a process to improve processes
We call it a ‘process optimization process’. Business Line Managers have tried many strategies to improve their processes. Some have only informal, unwritten processes in place to improve their processes. Others, companies embracing Six Sigma, have identified a couple of processes for their process improvements: DMAIC [Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve and Control] & DMADV [Define, Measure, Analyze, Design and Verify].
One thing that all companies have in common is that change happens. A process to improve processes should adapt to change and allow you to quickly modify your process as necessary.
Use technology to automate steps within a process
Up to this point, most process improvements have been around human activities contained in 'front line' processes. Now it is time to look at your front line processes to see what activities can be automated. When we say ‘use technology’, we mean software like business process management [BPM] software.
Malcolm Baldrige quality criteria, ISO, Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, TQM, Kanban, Kaizen, etc. all focus on identifying waste and removing it. So, why should a human perform an activity that software can perform for them?
Ingenuus provides the platform and the tools for manufacturers to make process optimization a reality.
