Leading lead time analysis activities
Overview
This standard covers the competences required for leading lead time analysis activities. It involves leading the principles and processes of lead time analysis to selected parts or processes. You will be expected to lead the identification of suitable parts or processes for which lead time profiles are to be produced, and then to review and confirm suitable and quantifiable objectives and targets for the reduction in lead time and the creation of lead time profiles for all of the representative parts or processes chosen.
You will also be expected to evaluate and confirm any problems or conditions within the work area/process where improvements can be made. This will require leading the production of a frequency diagram, listing the major bottlenecks or constraints as identified by each lead time profile. Typically, improvements would focus on supply or delivery of parts, improved workflow, improved quality, flexibility of people, launch of material and inventory balancing.
Your responsibilities will require you to comply with organisational policy and procedures for the activities undertaken, and to report any problems that you cannot solve, or that are outside your responsibility, to the relevant authority. You will be expected to take full responsibility for your own actions within the activity, and for the quality and accuracy of the work that you carry out.
Your underpinning knowledge will provide a good understanding of your work, and will provide an informed approach to the techniques and procedures used. You will need to understand the principles and procedures of lead time analysis, and its application, in adequate depth to provide a sound basis for carrying out the activities to the required criteria.
Applying and advising on safe working practices will be a key issue throughout.
Performance criteria
You must be able to:
- work safely at all times, complying with health and safety and other relevant regulations, directives and guidelines
- lead the collection and co-ordination of information/data to produce a frequency diagram, listing the major bottlenecks or constraints as identified by each lead time profile
- review and confirm quantifiable objectives and targets for the reduction in lead time of the chosen parts or processes
- lead the lead time analysis activity, and the production of lead time profiles for all of the representative parts or processes chosen
- evaluate and confirm any problems or conditions within the work area where improvements can be made
- lead the production of revised lead time profiles, identifying the improved process
- lead the production of a plan of the improvement activities and resources required, with timescales to achieve the targeted lead time
- implement and monitor the progress of the improvement plan
Knowledge and Understanding
You need to know and understand:
- how to work safely at all times, complying with health and safety and other relevant regulations, directives and guidelines
- how to plan the resources and time needed to carry out the agreed activity
- the information required to create lead time profiles
- the information required to construct the lead time profiles, and where this information can be obtained
- how to co-ordinate and create lead time profiles
- how to co-ordinate and create frequency charts
- the techniques used to communicate the information and results obtained by this process
- how to differentiate between lead time and cycle time
- applying problem solving and root cause analysis
- the extent of your own authority, and to whom you should report in the event of problems that you cannot resolve
Scope/range
Scope Performance
1. Lead the activities within your area of responsibility to include all of the following:
- set out and communicate the purpose of the improvement activities
- involve the team in planning how the improvement activity will be achieved
- ensure each team member has individual objectives and understands how these objectives contribute to the overall improvement objective
- provide advice and support the team to achieve both team and individual improvement objectives
- motivate the team to present their own improvement ideas
- encourage the team and/or individuals to take the lead where appropriate
- agree the implementation of the improvement ideas
- negotiate any physical and/or financial resources required to implement the improvement activity (where appropriate)
- monitor the progress of improvement activities
- deal with any organisational problems identified during the improvement activity
2. Lead improvement opportunities for three of the following:
- supply or delivery of parts
- improved workflow
- improved quality
- flexibility of people
- launch of material
- inventory balancing