Method and system for process improvement in the production of products

• US 20090138321A1
• Filed: 11/20/2008
• Published: 05/28/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Barber, Chris, Falada, Greg, Henby, Gary L., Case, Steven R.
• Application Number:
  US12/292,547
• Publication Number:
  US 20090138321A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/9
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06313 Resource planning in a project environment
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06375 Prediction of business process outcome or impact based on a proposed change
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0639 Performance analysis of employees; Performance analysis of enterprise or organisation operations
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06395 Quality analysis or management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/80 Management or planning

Abstract

A method of achieving improvement in the production of products in an organization is provided. The method includes defining a plurality of organizational principles that apply to the organization. The method also includes defining a plurality of practices to enable the plurality of organizational principles. The method also includes developing a project plan for improving a work area. The work area includes at least a portion of at least one of the practices. The method also includes developing one or more solutions for improving the work area. The one or more solutions are based on a desired future state of the work area.

Claims

1. A method of achieving improvement in the production of products in an organization, the method comprising:

defining a plurality of organizational principles that apply to the organization;

defining a plurality of practices to enable the plurality of organizational principles;

developing a project plan for improving a work area, the work area comprising at least a portion of at least one of the practices; and

developing one or more solutions for improving the work area, the one or more solutions based on a desired future state of the work area.

2. The method of claim 1, further including:

obtaining performance data of the work area.

3. The method of claim 1, further including:

identifying organization personnel for participation in the project plan.

4. The method of claim 1, further including:

determining a current work standard of the work area, wherein the determining initiates the beginning of a pre-determined time period.

5. The method of claim 1, further including:

analyzing a current state of the work area, the analyzing including using a Six Sigma methodology.

6. The method of claim 1, further including:

implementing at least one solution developed.

7. The method of claim 1, further including:

documenting a new standard for the work area.

8. The method of claim 1, further including:

completing the documenting, wherein the completing corresponds substantially to an end of the pre-determined time period.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein developing a project plan for improving a work area comprises a Six Sigma methodology.

10. The method of claim 1, further including:

documenting financial benefits of the one or more solutions.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein documenting financial benefits of the one or more solutions includes documenting financial benefits associated with one or more wastes.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein defining a plurality of organizational principles includes defining a principle directed to identification and elimination of waste.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein defining a plurality of organizational principles includes defining a principle directed to simplification of production processes.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein defining a plurality of organizational principles includes defining a principle directed to reducing process variability.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein defining a plurality of organizational principles includes defining a principle directed to encouraging proposals for improvement from organization personnel.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein defining a plurality of practices to enable the plurality of organizational principles includes defining a practice directed to management of the movement of products to and from one or more production areas of the organization.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein defining a plurality of practices to enable the plurality of organizational principles includes defining a practice directed to enabling a common measurement system across the organization.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein defining a plurality of practices to enable the plurality of organizational principles includes defining a practice directed to engagement of personnel in safety issues within the organization.

19. A system of achieving improvement in the production of products in an organization, the system comprising:

a plurality of organizational principles that apply to the organization;

a plurality of practices to enable the plurality of organizational principles;

a project plan for improving a work area, the work area comprising at least a portion of at least one of the practices; and

one or more solutions for improving the work area, the one or more solutions based on a desired future state of the work area.

20. A tangible computer-readable storage medium embodying computer-readable code for instructing a system of achieving improvement in the production of products in an organization, the computer-readable code comprising:

a plurality of organizational principles that apply to the organization;

a plurality of practices to enable the plurality of organizational principles;

a project plan for improving a work area, the work area comprising at least a portion of at least one of the practices; and

one or more solutions for improving the work area, the one or more solutions based on a desired future state of the work area.