Tools, Models, and Techniques

Connie Farris

Project Performance and Quality Assurance

(MPM357-1902A-02)

Jason Lewis

Introduction

Several quality improvement process tools and techniques exist. They include Lean thinking, Value stream process mapping, Kaizen (The Japanese word for Continuous Improvement), Five Ss (separate, straighten, scrub, standardize, systematize), Kanban Primary and Task Response. In this paper, different strategies or philosophies for quality improvement in business shall be discussed. The tools and techniques that shall be compared are: Lean thinking, Kaizen and Five Ss (separate, straighten, scrub, standardize, systematize)

Comparison

All the techniques aim at improving quality of production processes. They involve the production units and department. All need planning and allocation of resources strategically.

Contrasting

Kaizen is a Japanese word for Continuous Improvement. The philosophy states that everything can be improved continuously. It involves employees in the improvement of quality processes. Workers give their feedback on the criteria and important reviewing issues in the performance of workers, supervisors and managers alike. It bases on many suggestions from employees from all ranks in the organisation. They are expected to consider and implement them with a key goal of improving managerial performance. The system encourages workers to provide suggestion, fosters employee education so that they are informed about improvement, and lastly it encourages employee efficiency (Pinto et al., 2018).

Lean Thinking on the other hand is a technique of quality process improvement aims at improving productivity, quality and lead-time reduction in order to support growth and competitiveness. It involves continuous improvement of the processes and relationships of employees through proven systematic methods, which reduce waste and maximise on customer value. It follows Plan, Do, Check, and Act systematic method. The system achieves low cost productivity, reduce waste, quick response to customer needs and high-quality production (Vlachos, 2015).

Moreover, the Five S's (5S) tools and techniques improves the work place, making it clean, safe, organised and uncluttered thus reducing waste and increase productivity. It builds both mental and physical quality work place (Urick et al., 2018).

The best quality process improvement tool or technique for my project is the 5Ss. This is because it is systematic and aims at making working environment of high quality, improves productivity, makes wastage low, increase employee morale, reduces cost of operation and improves safety (Urick et al., 2018).

Conclusion

In conclusion, tools and techniques for improving quality processes are key in any project. Thought they focus on diverse issues, the 5Ss seems to cover most aspects that increases quality production processes.

References

Pinto, J. L. Q., Matias, J. C. O., Pimentel, C., Azevedo, S. G., & Govindan, K. (2018). Lean Manufacturing and Kaizen. In Just in Time Factory (pp. 5-24). Springer, Cham.

URICK, M. J., LI, M., KONUR, S., & SMITH, T. (2018). Social Barriers to Implementing Continuous Improvement Initiatives. Journal of Management for Global Sustainability, 6(1), 99-128.

Vlachos, I. (2015). Applying lean thinking in the food supply chains: a case study. Production Planning & Control, 26(16), 1351-1367.

References