Part 1: Five Quantitative Questions to Ask in Problem Prioritization
In last week’s blog, I shared with you the first component of problem prioritization, consisting of three qualitative questions. The second and last component of problem prioritization consists of five quantitative questions. In this blog, I’m going to share with you three of them. Each of the five quantitative questions is going to be rated […]
3 Qualitative Questions To Ask In Problem Prioritization
In our previous blog, we discussed the importance of problem prioritization. Today I want to share with you one of the two components of prioritization—qualitative questions to ask to determine the most valuable problems to solve. Once you’ve identified all your problems in your operations, from presales to post-sales, you will now ask these three […]
How Problem Prioritization Works and Why It Matters
On average, I’ve seen organizations I’ve worked with identify 80 to 120 problems across their entire operation. This is typical because operations are designed to be indefinite, so there’s never a point where we have zero problems. But it doesn’t mean that we have to solve all 100 problems at once. There’s a misconception that […]
8 Types of Waste in Process: Part 2
In last week’s blog, I shared with you the importance of categorizing your process problems and the first four types of waste in process: waiting, motion, inventory, and overproduction. Today I’ll be sharing the last four categories into which process problems can fall. Looking at problems as a category helps us see based on fact […]
8 Types of Waste In Process: Part 1
In a previous blog, I shared with you how to properly identify the problems in your processes. In my work leading teams through process improvement, it wouldn’t be a surprise if you were able to name a hundred problems. Facing this number of issues could be overwhelming, especially in a service-based business (non-manufacturing), where it’s […]
Celebrating 2.5 Years of the UNprofessional Podcast: Revisiting Our Favorite Episodes
To celebrate our two-and-a-half-years of the UNprofessional podcast, I am delighted to share with you the top three episodes from the past six months. If you’ve been enjoying the blog, I can assure you that you’ll find these episodes even more engaging and insightful. 💡How to identify problems in your processes In this episode, I […]
Differentiating Kaizen, Lean, And Six Sigma
Kaizen, Lean, and Six Sigma are three different things. But they all come from the same initiative and have the same goal, which is to improve processes. The difference is in the HOW they do it. To start, Lean and Six Sigma are practices, while Kaizen is a philosophy. What Kaizen is in process improvement […]
Blog Quarterly Digest: Top 3 Most Popular Blogs of Q2 2023
As we gear up for the second half of the year, it’s time for leaders and businesses to ramp up their efforts and set themselves up for success. But how can you navigate the challenges and seize the opportunities that lie ahead? The secret sauce lies in process improvement. Our top three blogs from the […]
How To Identify Problems In Your Processes
Operations will always have problems. But before trying to fix all issues in your processes, it’s important to keep in mind that not all problems are created equal. People will say something’s a problem today because it’s happening right now and it’s the most urgent thing on your plate. If a problem only happens once, […]
What’s Hurting Your Culture & How to Fix It
Does the office feel chaotic? If so, listen up. It’s quite common that when I start working with a client that the initial energy of the working environment is tense and disorganized. People aren’t entirely sure of their roles and responsibilities. If they are documenting them, and I say if, the documentation isn’t standardized. Not […]
