Implement a problem solving methodology for improvement in food and drink operations
Overview
This standard is about the skills and knowledge needed for you to implement a problem solving methodology for improvement to support your organisation's drive to improve food and drink operations. This is important in increasing productivity and success of manufacture, processing and supply within the food and drink supply chain. Problem solving is vital in support of an improvement strategy as it underpins improvement programmes and the use of DMAIC (Define, Measure, Analyse, Improve, Control) methodology or similar. Six Sigma or similar techniques may be used as the basis of the improvement programme.
You will need to show and understand how you implement a problem solving methodology for an improvement programme or project. You also need to show and understand how you organise, monitor and coordinate improvement activities. You need to use and understand problem solving methodology in dealing with improvement problems. You will need to comply with your company policy for improvement, take responsibility for your actions, and refer any issues outside of the limit of your authority to others.
This standard is for you if your role requires you to implement a problem solving methodology for improvement in food and drink operations including manufacturing, processing, packing or supply chain activities. You may have responsibilities for aspects of organisational improvement in a team leadership or management role.
Performance criteria
You must be able to:
Knowledge and Understanding
You need to know and understand:
- how problem solving underpins your organisation's improvement strategy
- how improvement techniques contribute to your organisation's improvement strategy
- why Six Sigma or similar techniques are necessary and what the benefits are to food and drink operations
- the work area/operational activity where improvement is to be implemented
- the food and drink operational activity under review
- the resources required by the operational activity
- how to apply the problem solving and improvement methodology
- the improvement technique methodology you are using
- how to secure the agreement and collaboration of people to problem solving and improvement
- how to monitor and co-ordinate improvement
- how to identify problems and opportunities for solving them
- how to maintain effective communication with those involved in the problem solving and improvement process
- the extent of your own authority, and to whom you should report in the event of problems that you cannot resolve
- how to give and receive feedback regarding your implementation of problem solving methodologies