Implement Continuous Improvement

overview

This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to implement the organisation's continuous improvement systems and processes.
Particular emphasis is on using systems and strategies to actively encourage the team to participate in the process, monitoring and reviewing performance, and identifying opportunities for further improvements. No licensing, legislative, regulatory or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of endorsement.

An Introduction to Continuous Improvement

In this course, we will introduce the basics of continuous improvement, which is an initiative whereby processes and models are constantly evaluated and tested to ensure that optimum performance and customer service is achieved. This course includes 25 minutes of learning covering the following topics:

Introduction

What is quality?

Who defines quality?

Goods vs. Services

Why Quality is Important

Breakthrough and Continuous Improvement

PDCA

Quality Management

Total Quality Management (TQM)

Embracing Continuous Improvement

Pareto Principle

 

Areas of Improvement

In this course, we will explore aspects of a modern organisation that will typically be subject to continuous improvement and we will look at specific techniques that should be considered when opportunities for improvement are identified. Of course, you will need to custom-fit the base techniques and methods that we discuss here to your specific environment, people, processes, goods and services, etc. This course includes 60 minutes of learning covering the following topics:

Introduction

Health, Safety and Environment

Customer Focus

Customer Focus Overview

Service Level Agreements

Customer Focus: Customer Ratings

Customer Focus: The Pareto Principle

Customer Focus: Complaints

Customer Focus: Suppliers

Technology

Improving Technology

Operations

High Quality

Speed

Dependability

Flexibility

Control

Tracking Quality Control

Key Performance Indicators

Rubrics

Continuous Monitoring

Assessment and Storage

Quality Control - Analysis

Capacity Planning and Control

Forecast the Demand Levels

Choosing an Appropriate Capacity Plan

Level Capacity Plan

Chase Demand Plan

Manage Demand Plan

Control Capacity through Monitoring and Review

Inventory Planning and Control - Volume Timing

Inventory Planning and Control - Your Inventory

Inventory Planning and Control - Your Systems

 

Improving Your Organisation

The first two courses in this series will have given you an idea of what continuous improvement means, where it will be implemented and how it will be managed. In this course, we will investigate how vital it is to analyse the culture and philosophies as well as the existing structures that drive your workplace processes and systems before designing a continuous improvement strategy. This course includes 60 minutes of learning covering the following topics:

Introduction

Your Organisation's Existing Culture

Assessment Tools

Flow Charts

Scatter Diagrams

Cause and Effect Diagrams

SWOT Analysis

Quality Policy Statement

Productivity

Principles

Existing Culture Unique Practices

Performance Measures

Team Involvement

Job Roles

Quality Circles

Resistance

Coaching / Mentoring

Trust

360 Degree Feedback

Communication Overview

Communication Channels

Communication: A New Approach

Organisational Suggestion Box

 

Implementing Continuous Improvement

From the earlier courses in this series you will probably have formed some ideas on how and why continuous improvement could benefit your workplace. In this course, we will look at the process of implementing continuous improvement in your organisation, beginning with the first stage, planning. We will come to understand that continuous improvement is an ideal that must be individually applied to each part of the workplace. It is not about identifying one-size-fits-all solutions. This course includes 20 minutes of learning covering the following topics:

Introduction

Feedback

Future Planning

Setting up an Idea Bank

Communicating Adjustments

Record Keeping

Making the Most of Success

 

Provide Opportunities for Further Improvement

In this course, we will investigate the importance of implementing processes to ensure that team members are informed of savings and productivity/service improvements in achieving the business plan. We will also look at documenting work performance to aid the identification of further opportunities for improvement, including how to manage records, reports and recommendations for improvement within the organisation's systems and processes. This course includes 35 minutes of learning covering the following topics:

Introduction

Communicating Productivity Improvements

Recognising Effort

The Recognition System

Non-monetary rewards

Informal Recognition

Formal Recognition

Direct Monetary Rewards

Performance Pay

Team based rewards

Motivating High Performers

Complicated Rewards

Considerations for Recognition

Reward System Exercise

Documentation

Standards

Audits

Respect and Value Every Individual's Contribution

 

Introducing Workplace Learning

A global economy, combined with ever-increasing regulatory requirements and technology, has created a workplace environment that constantly develops and refines systems and processes. As a result, the shelf life of existing knowledge has decreased and the learning paradigm has changed irrevocably. In this course, we will investigate how leading workplaces are building on traditional educational methodologies to create flexible and reactive Workplace Learning Environments. This course includes 25 minutes of learning covering the following topics:

Introduction

Introduction to Workplace Learning

Learning Resistance Exercise

Workplace Learning Forces

Globalisation

Technology

Work-world Transformation

Customer Influence

Organisational Assets Exercise

Changing Roles and Expectations

Diversity and Mobility

Change and Chaos

Emergence of the Workplace Learning Environment

 

Workplace Learning Environment

While the need for a Workplace Learning Environment is generally accepted, workplaces often struggle with the methodology. In this course, we will introduce the conceptual framework for developing a workplace learning environment, and we will also look at the different learning methods that could be offered. This course includes 60 minutes of learning covering the following topics:

Introduction

The Marquardt Model

Learning

Organisational Aspects

People

Knowledge

Technology

Fostering Positive Learning Cultures

Knowledge Sharing

Delivery Considerations

Learning Styles

Visual

Auditory

Tactile / Kinaesthetic

Classroom-based Learning

Coaching and Mentoring

eLearning

Workplace Learning Roles

Workplace Learning Responsibilities

Building Shared Vision

Co-ordinate Task Focused Teams

Test Retention

Acknowledge and Test Mental Models

Engage in Systems Thinking

Conceptualise and Inspire Learning and Action

Encourage Creativity, Innovation and Risk-Taking

Benefits of the Workplace Learning Environment

 

Design and Monitor Learning Plans

One of the primary goals of learning and development is to increase workforce capability and in doing so, increase performance and productivity. In order to increase performance and productivity, a Learning Plan must be designed and monitored with the goal of creating a skilled, dynamic and innovative workforce that is aligned to organisational goals. In this course, we will look at the basic rules for designing and monitoring such a Learning Plan. This course includes 40 minutes of learning covering the following topics:

Introduction

Workplace Learning Plans

Learning Objectives and Performance Goals

Defining Metrics

Balanced Scorecard

Monitoring and Measuring

Recognition and Rewards

Commitment

Coalition

Communication

Communication

Culture

Continuous Learning

Continual Improvement

Empowered Employees

Planning Exercise

Survey

Conclusion