Leading flow process analysis activities
Overview
This standard covers the competences required to lead flow process analysis activities. It involves co-ordinating the application of the principles and procedures of flow process analysis, within a given work area, to lead to the production of a process analysis sheet. You will be required to discuss and agree elements of waste and problems or conditions within the process where improvements can be made. You will need to lead an evaluation and prioritisation of the opportunities for improvement, and to assist in this activity you will be required to approve the content of a payback matrix.
You will also be expected to use the information gathered to agree quantifiable objectives and targets for all the identified improvement activities, with an appropriate measure and timescale for their implementation. The flow process analysis will focus on establishing value added and non-value added activity.
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 flow process 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
- co-ordinate the flow process analysis mapping activity within a given work area
- lead the production of and approve a flow process analysis sheet
- discuss and agree opportunities for improvement within the process
- lead an evaluation of the opportunities for improvement, and approve the prioritisation of these using suitable criteria
- implement and monitor the progress of the improvement activities
- agree quantifiable objectives and targets for all the defined improvement activities
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
- how to describe a process in its elements/activities of work
- the eight forms of waste within a lean working environment
- the symbols and abbreviations used for flow process analysis
- how to map out a process or deployment flowchart, using the recognised symbols
- what are classed as value-added and non-value added activities
- how to establish which of the elements/activities in the process are value added or non-value added
- how to identify opportunities for improvements to the process
- how to use data to eliminate activities that do not add value to the process
- how to construct an action plan that will simplify the value added activities and eliminate the non-value added activities
- how to construct an action plan
- 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 an analysis of the data obtained into both:
- non-value added activity
- value added activity
3. Lead the creation of and agree on an action plan which:
- eliminates non-value added activity
- simplifies value added activity