Streamlined Process Improvement

Streamlined Process Improvement

by H. James Harrington
Released August 2011
Publisher(s): McGraw-Hill
ISBN: 9780071770965

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Book description

“The Business Process Improvement methodology established by Dr. H. James Harrington and his group brings revolutionary improvement not only in quality of products and services, but also in the business processes.”
—Professor Yoshio Kondo

The Book That Goes Beyond Six Sigma and Lean . . . The Next Evolutionary Step in Business Process Management

“Don’t design for Six Sigma—design for maximum performance.”
H. James Harrington

How would you like to streamline your operations, lower your costs, improve your quality, and increase your profits—all at the same time?

It’s not an impossible dream. It’s the next evolutionary breakthrough in process improvement that goes beyond Process Reengineering, TRIZ, Six Sigma, and Lean to deliver actual, quantifiable results. And now it’s yours.

Streamlined Process Improvement (SPI) is the powerful new program developed by H. James Harrington. After 40 years of improving processes for IBM, Ernst & Young, the Chinese government, and many other private and governmental organizations, Harrington has become the go-to leader in the field. His revolutionary guide shows you how to:

  • Discover the latest process tools—to make faster, more dramatic improvements using the revolutionary PASIC improvement methodology
  • Use walk-through questionnaires and checklists—to streamline your job, resulting in optimum value to your stakeholders
  • Use the newest methodologies—including simulation modeling, risk analysis, Five Ss, Process Innovation, Information Technology, Lean, and Six Sigma—to take your business to the next level
  • Increase innovation—to drive growth and profits for many years to come

Harrington’s groundbreaking system is organized and explained step by step to help you achieve maximum results with a minimum of stress. His simple PASIC approach shows you how to Plan, Analyze, Streamline, Implement, and Continuously Improve throughout the entire process.

He walks you through the basics of how to analyze each process, how to decide which to focus on first, and how to prepare for organizational change. You’ll be surprised by just how quickly you can make things run more efficiently and effectively.

With Harrington’s proven techniques, you can sell your products and services at a lower price, satisfy your customers, make work more enjoyable for your employees, and still earn greater profits than your competitors.

This powerful process guide is the definitive handbook for operations managers, quality consultants, Six Sigma practitioners, knowledge workers, and Lean thinkers for a new generation.

Table of contents

  1. Cover Page
  2. Title Page
  3. Copyright Page
  4. Dedication
  5. Contents
  6. Acknowledgments
  7. 1 Introduction to Streamlined Process Improvement (SPI)
    1. Introduction
    2. Streamlining Fundamentals
    3. Technology Warning
    4. Employment Security
  8. 2 What Is Streamlined Process Improvement?
    1. Introduction
    2. What Are Business Processes?
    3. Why Use SPI?
    4. How Management Has Been Misled
    5. Breakthrough versus Continuous Improvement
    6. What SPI Is Not
    7. Why Improve Your Business Processes?
    8. How to Improve Your Business Processes
      1. Phase I: Planning for Improvement
      2. Phase II: Analyzing the Process
      3. Phase III: Streamlining the Process
      4. Phase IV: Implementing the New Process
      5. Phase V: Continuous Improvement
    9. Summary
  9. 3 Phase I: Planning for Improvement
    1. Introduction
    2. Planning Phase
      1. Activity 1: Define Critical Business Processes
      2. Activity 2: Select Process Owners
      3. Activity 3: Define Preliminary Boundaries
      4. Activity 4: Form and Train the PIT
      5. Activity 5: Box in the Process
      6. Activity 6: Establish Measurements and Goals
      7. Activity 7: Develop Project and Change Management Plans
      8. Activity 8: Conduct Phase I Tollgate
    3. Summary
  10. 4 Phase II: Analyzing the Process
    1. Introduction
    2. Analyze Phase
      1. Activity 1: Flowchart the Process
      2. Activity 2: Conduct a Benchmark Study
      3. Activity 3: Conduct a Process Walk-Through
      4. Activity 4: Perform a Process Cost, Cycle Time, and Output Analysis
      5. Activity 5: Prepare the Simulation Model
      6. Activity 6: Implement Quick Fixes
      7. Activity 7: Develop a Current Culture Model
      8. Activity 8: Conduct Phase II Tollgate
    3. Summary
  11. 5 Phase III: Streamlining the Process
    1. Introduction
    2. Streamlining Phase
      1. Activity 1: Apply Streamlining Approaches
      2. Activity 2: Conduct a Benchmarking Study
      3. Activity 3: Prepare an Improvement, Cost, and Risk Analysis
      4. Activity 4: Select a Preferred Process
      5. Activity 5: Prepare a Preliminary Implementation Plan
      6. Activity 6: Conduct Phase III Tollgate
    3. Summary
  12. 6 Phase IV: Implementing the New Process and Phase V: Continuous Improvement
    1. Introduction
    2. Phase IV: Implementing the New Process
      1. Activity 1: Prepare the Final Implementation Plan
      2. Activity 2: Install the New Process
      3. Activity 3: Install In-Process Measurement Systems
      4. Activity 4: Install Feedback Data Systems
      5. Activity 5: Transfer the Project
      6. Activity 6: Conduct Phase IV Tollgate
    3. Phase V: Continuous Improvement
      1. Activity 1: Maintain the Gains
      2. Activity 2: Implement Area Activity Analysis
      3. Activity 3: Qualify the Process
    4. Does SPI Work?
    5. Summary
  13. Appendix A: Typical Business Processes Where SPI Can Be Applied
  14. Appendix B: Process Walk-Through Questionnaire
  15. Appendix C: Some Process Simulation Tool Suppliers
  16. Appendix D: Definitions
  17. Appendix E: Other Simulation Symbols
  18. Appendix F: Typical Government Processes
  19. Appendix G: Nonmanufacturing Typical Processes Measurements
  20. Appendix H: HU Diagrams
  21. References
  22. Bibliography
  23. Index
  24. About the Author

Product information

  • Title: Streamlined Process Improvement
  • Author(s): H. James Harrington
  • Release date: August 2011
  • Publisher(s): McGraw-Hill
  • ISBN: 9780071770965