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Writer's pictureManny Diaz

Improve #14: STEP THREE - Set the Target

We are going from understanding the Plan-Do-Check-Act cycle to learning the quality improvement process that has taken Toyota and many others to success for decades.

STEP ONE taught us to clarify the problem, STEP TWO helps us break down the problem so we can understand it an start thinking of countermeasures. As we have been able to learn, problem-solving has gone from general to specific. We have a big problem that is becoming bigger by the day and we cannot solve it unless we understand the parts of the problem, and make a commitment to focus on what is needed to move forward more concretely.

STEP THREE will train us to focus on what it takes to solve the problems. Let's see what it's all about...


STEP THREE - Set the Target

Step three is all about making a commitment and focusing. Attention goes from the problem and its parts to what we need to do to tackle it. This is the time to zoom in and do something about it.


STEP THREE is all about commitment and focus. Your attention should now turn towards focusing on what is needed to complete the project and how long it will take to finish.

The goal is to set targets that are challenging but within limits. Stay away from putting a strain on the organization because this will hinder the improvement process.

Again, STEP THREE is the time for Commitment and Focus. This is the time to turn to what is needed to complete the project and how long will it take. Set target dates that challenge the coworkers, but don't hinder other improvement efforts.

We have learned to clarify the problem and to break it down in smaller pieces, but now it's time to determine what is needed to tackle it and how long it will take.

Summing it all up, setting the target involves the following:

1. What do I need to complete this problem-solving project? 2. How long will it take to finish


APPLICATION:

Remember that shoe returns problem from the previous step? Now, that you pinpointed the problem:

1. Are you ready to brainstorm what will be needed to complete the problem?

2. Can you set challenging but feasible deadlines?


Please share your comments below.


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15 Comments


Die Einzigartigkeit von bauch beine po klingelton kann eine beruhigende Wirkung haben und uns helfen, uns besser zu konzentrieren.

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Soraya Morataya
Soraya Morataya
Mar 14, 2020

I think the most important thing to solve the problem is to have a team in charge of analyzing all cases of product returns. And explain to the workers the problem and that they need everyone's help to solve it.


The return policy must include training for sellers, in order to detect if the shoe is of poor quality or if the customer uses it incorrectly.

I think the company should have a supervisor in charge of quality control, who supervises the quality of the materials and the workers.

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Frank B.
Frank B.
Mar 14, 2020

What is needed to complete this problem-solving project is:

- Check the quality of all suppliers and make a report. This should be done within a month, to make a decision.

- This quality-checking process must be an ongoing permanent process.

- Make a plan to build criteria in order to filter the reasons for returning a product. This must be done within a week and implement immediately.

- The quality process must include a report of the returns quantity and reasons in order to take early actions to solve the return problem.

- The process must include the control of the cost of returns, in order to avoid excessive losses.

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Geraldine Recinos
Geraldine Recinos
Mar 14, 2020

1. Are you ready to brainstorm what will be needed to complete the problem?

- Ask the client the reason of returns

- Encourage the client to give reviews about the product or rate it. Good ones will increase market, bad ones will create better quality.

- Define the regulations for the quality of the product

- Create a quality department to verify if product meets the requirement

- Investigate reason of returns and filter to identify the most common problem and Brainstorm other possibilities of

- With gathered information, create quality guidelines that will minimize the returned product.

- Have a department for customer service where clear information is given to the client.

- Give follow up to clients…

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Patty Escobar
Patty Escobar
Mar 14, 2020

Once the problem has been identified and broken down, it is important to develop an action plan in a structured way. 1. Problems related to PEOPLE

- Strategy

a) WHAT? Implement a constant training process.

b) WHY? Minimize the number of untrained people

c) WHEN? One week. Set weekly training sessions in different areas. For this there is no expiration time, it must be constant training.

d) WHERE? Conduct training in the workplace

e) WHO? Create a Trainning Committee


2. Problems related to WORKING METHODS

- Strategy

a) WHAT? Implement procedures and working methods

b) WHY? Improve the production process, reduce waste, increase efficiency

c) WHEN? Set a period of two weeks to prepare and implement the plans

d) WHERE? Every…


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