CONTROL
This is the last step in the DMAIC
methodology. Implementing "control" measures has 2 benefits:
- We can identify problems and make adjustments in real-time to ensure we can meet our daily goal, which then ensures we meet our other metrics.
- Frequent and on-site monitoring prevents the new process from "slipping back to the old ways."
1) Leader Standard Work
Leader Standard Work provides a structure/routine that helps supervisors/leaders shift from focusing on results to focusing on BOTH process and results. For the Bureau's 2 supervisors, the standard work will involve:
- whether work assignments are on schedule - whether work load is balanced - any issues that may be recurring and learn of solutions in place to resolve them. - the # of cases received and returned per day - the # of cases closed per day
b) Anything to report on your assignment for today? c) Any issues you foresee tomorrow? What are the proposed solutions?
- supply inventory - instrument maintenance schedule - compliance with submission requirements |
2) Visual Controls and 3) Daily Accountability Measures
Visual Controls provide Lean managers with status information on all critical steps in the process. Although there are an innumerable # of visual charts/tables we could have utilized, we quickly identified the key visual controls which would be useful for us and implemented those during our pilot week. Since then, we have also had to modify those controls to make them even more useful. Once these charts have become mroe finalized, we will convert them from paper/post-its to a magnetic board/white board version.
Figure 1: The DASHBOARD is the main chart by which all work is coordinated. Any personnel who will be out are recorded on the C.A.S.E. column for the appropriate day (C.A.S.E. = Court, Annual, Sick, Emergency). All personnel chart their work for the day on this board so that both supervisors and other personnel know that scheduled work is on track. Any cases requiring follow-up are also recorded on this chart. Figure 2: The Lab Control Boards provide a list of all calibrators, controls, reagents, and their respective expiration dates. This allows analysts to have a visual reminder of when new preps have to be scheduled to ensure that the testing schedule is not halted due to expired reagents. Figure 3: The Evidence Dashboard gives evidence technicians a way of tracking the non-compliant submissions received daily at our lab. The board tracks the name of the agency, whether the sample was placed on HOLD or RETURNED, and the reasons for the hold/return. At the end of the month, we will email the data to LE agencies in hopes that we can improve compliance and reduce wasted work and delayed testing. |