Establishing an improvement framework

- As the old saying goes, there's more than one way to peel a potato, meaning there are different ways to achieve your objectives. The same is true in continuous improvement. There are a variety of models and frameworks that you can use, from the Toyota Production System, or TPS, to Six Sigma's DMAIC model of define, measure, analyze, improve, control, to the Deming Cycle, sometimes called the PDCA, or Plan-Do-Check-Act cycle. First, the good news. They all work and they all have different benefits. Now, the not so good news. They all take a lot of work, but so does everything that's worth doing. TPS, often thought of as a precursor to lean, is all about reducing waste, decreasing defects and costs through quality controls and assurance. This allows you to increase your responsiveness to customers, all while respecting the people engaged in the process. DMAIC focuses on improving business processes and eliminating…