The Idea and Suggestion Process
Stage Seven
This is where the Green Room Meeting format comes into its own. Every measurement has a story that needs to be told. That story will contain three things that need to be determined:
What went right?
What went wrong?
What can WE do to fix it?
Based on the measurements, a combination of the above factors becomes very apparent and it is in this part of the meeting that everyone has the opportunity to share their creativity and expertise in order to rectify any problems. They do this through discussion and the exchange of experience and expertise. But more importantly, they offer ideas & suggestions so that problems can be solved. The discussion coordinated by the leader enables this exchange of information, problem solving and decision making and becomes the heart and soul of the whole process.
Every person has a point of view and it must be considered. By offering ideas & suggestions for change, improvement, change of course, dramatic alterations, removal of waste – whatever it may be, every person is now empowered to develop a plan of action to achieve the whole purpose of the Green Room Meeting and this process.
Because ideas & suggestions are generated within the meeting and are directly related to the measurement data recorded, the ideas & suggestions then become the “to do list” for all attending that meeting. The attempts at rectifying situations are now ordered, with a set plan, and managed.
In the QCDSM System and within the Green Room Meetings, the ideas & suggestions are not only integrated, they emerge from reviewing the data and the problems that the data represent. The data becomes the catalyst for idea generation and creation. It is not another bureaucracy or another task to be performed – it is totally integrated into the way in which business is done, and it is monitored and controlled by all staff in the area.
The idea and suggestion process is integrated into the overall facility through developing a database of ideas and suggestions, which is managed by a group of employees who will investigate the feasibility of each idea or suggestion and then ensure it is implemented. This is the key to the Green Area meetings’ success as all employees involved will then see their input being utilized.
A database is set up for all to use indicating the progress of the ideas and suggestions and also as a means of information as what improvements have been made. Here are two examples of such databases. Note the colours used to indicate the progress.
The Detailed Process Sheet and Ideas and Suggestions
It now becomes clear that if an idea and suggestion is examined and tested and it is decided that it will be incorporated into the present process – or a completely new process needs to be developed – then the whole methodology surround the DPS system within QCDSM is invoked. Obviously, in order for the idea/suggestion to be used it must be incorporate into the present DPS, tested and trained and monitored. This link, this relationship between Moral (Ideas and Suggestions) and the DPS is fundamental to achieving success.
We have a number of different formats for the database which is essential for maintaining control that the ideas are being attended to and implemented. Here are two examples.
