DYNM 634 - Process Improvement Tools and Strategies

Institution:

University of Pennsylvania

Subject:

Description:

Stankard. Process improvement is a core capability of competitive and sustainable organizations such as Baptist Healthcare, Federal Express, Ritz Carlton, Toyota Motor Co., General Electric and Motorola for example. Ever rising customer expectations in markets with global competition, compel organizations to "adapt or die." Deming's warning that "There is no need to change; survival is not mandatory" is truer now than ever. Organziational survival and economic success depends upon effective development of smarter and better ways of working--processes--in an organizational context of leadership, learning and customer focus. This course is ideal for those who want to learn how to help organizations boost profitability and sustainability through systematic improvement of quality, throughput, timeliness, economic value, employee and customer satisfaction. Fifteen or more simple, powerful tools (such as brainstorming, affinity diagramming, process mapping, customer value analysis, the five whys of root cause analysis, process behavior and spider web diagrams, prioritization of the vital few versus the useful many, in-process and end-of-process metrics, etc.) by working through an in-class lean sigma improvement project on a simulated process. You will also learn to discuss problem solving and innovation in organizations using the point of view and language of process improvement. Two main strategies of process improvement - the Toyota Production system known as Lean Production, and of statistical approaches to deisgning and improving processes now referred to as six sigma approaches. How process improvement fits into a strategic organizational context by working on a team project to diagnose improvement opportunities and propose a program of action for a case study company. You will work as a member of a team on a final project for the case study organization (or with prior approval from the instructor) to conduct a live process improvement project in your home organizations. Class time is allocated for the instructor to toach your teams on each stage of your projects. How change in work processes impact individual job holders and the whole organization and how

Credits:

3.00

Credit Hours:

Prerequisites:

Corequisites:

Exclusions:

Level:

Instructional Type:

Lecture

Notes:

Additional Information:

Historical Version(s):

Institution Website:

www.upenn.edu

Phone Number:

(215) 898-5000

Regional Accreditation:

Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools

Calendar System:

Semester

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