2. Table of ContentsIntroduction to Thomas Group, Inc.
Total Cycle Time at Esquel Group
TCT Basics
Cross Functional Teams
Process Mapping
Measurements
Barrier Removal
Barrier Characterization Using Cause & Effect Diagrams
Cycles of Learning and Effective Meeting Management
3. What is the Thomas Group? We are a unique international management services company that helps clients improve their competitiveness and financial performance
Founded in 1978; annual compound growth > 30%
Over 200 senior management executives with broad skills & experience
Average operations management experience per Resultant is 22 years
Proprietary Total Cycle Time Methodology to implement change
Global Headquarters Locations: Dallas, Detroit, Frankfurt, Singapore and Hong Kong
Over 300 successful cycle time reduction programs
4. TGI MissionTo Make Businesses Competitive
By Using
To DriveTotal Cycle Time®Improved Responsiveness and
Accelerated Results using
Minimum Resources3 R’s
5. What Was Thomas Group’s Role
At Esquel? Outside objective change agent…committed to improved results
Define business processes critical to Esquel’s competitiveness
Establish aggressive performance targets at which Esquel is entitled to operate….dramatic improvements over baseline
Apply Thomas Group’s Total Cycle Time methodology to help Esquel reach entitled performance…. within eighteen months
6. Total Cycle Time (TCT) Basics
7. Corporate Competitiveness is Driven by the 3 R’sResponding quickly to customers needs for
present and future products & services.
Results acceleration, particularly in fast delivery,
lower costs and improved quality.
Resource effectiveness, particularly in people
costs and cash tied-up.RRRFaster & Better Results than the Competition -
But using fewer Resources than the Competition
8. Business as a series of ProcessesAll businesses organizations (whether manufacturing, services, development, software, etc.) are composed of a series of different business processes.
These business process steps must be:
Documented and analyzed to ensure that each has value
Can be executed in the minimum time
Have the highest possible accuracy or First Pass Yield.
9. The time it takes in all business processes from
identification of an unmet market need until
that need is satisfied.Cycle Time is:
The time it takes to get something done
Manufacture a product
Develop a product
Deliver a service
Install a factory
Reduce costs
Improve quality
The time it takes to change the way a company does things.
Most difficult to change
Total Cycle Time is:
The combined effect of the cycle times of
all business processes
from the time a need exists
until it is satisfied.
Total Cycle Time (TCT) drives Improvement
10. Total Cycle Time (TCT) drives Improvement.
A successful TCT Program successfully reduces
the cycle times of all identified business processes
and integrates these processes into a seamless total
business process with a minimum Total Cycle Time
11. Cross Functional Team (CFT)
12. What is a Cross-Functional Team? A team representing the various functional areas of one or more companies
The Mission of the CFT team is to achieve agreed upon, specific objective(s)
The objectives are ultimately aimed at:
Driving continuous improvement in key business processes
Radically improving the organizations’ global competitiveness
Internalizing the TCT processes to ensure continuation of the process improvement
13. Why are Cross-Functional Teams Needed?Problems and solutions do not completely reside within one department
All functional elements involved in a process need to contribute
Members should bring knowledge, objectivity and new view points to problem solving
14. The Role of the CFT The CFT is the process owner of the key processes identified for improvement. This process improvement is measured by Cycle Time (CT) and First Pass Yield (FPY) results.
The CFT is responsible for:
The identification of the key processes
The periodic collection, analysis, display and reporting of the CT, FPY and other measurements data.
Identification of barriers, substitute processes and non value added activities within each process.
Maintenance and execution of a continuously updated barrier removal plan to achieve or surpass entitlement in CT and FPY.
15. Role and Responsibility of CFT Leaders Ensure that TCT process is followed and that results are achieved quickly
Set clear goals and hold the team accountable
Lead team in carrying out its objectives
Ensure that team meetings are action oriented (3W’s)
Keep team focused without dominating meetings
Transfer required CFT skills to new members
16. Role of Team MembersResponsible for contributing to the team’s success by:
Representing company (empowered decision maker)
Communication; input from and to their functional organization
Attending and actively participating in all meetings, or providing an empowered substitute to act and make decisions for them
Working with the team to identify barriers and their root causes, ranking and removing them
Developing Action Plans and driving those Action Plans to completion
Using measurements to track progress and assure specific business process or processes progress toward and reach entitled performance
17. Role of The Scribe Prepares and distributes the meeting agenda 2-3 days in advance of the meeting. This ensures participants come to the meeting prepared. Note: Members should submit documentation to be discussed in the next meeting to the Scribe for attachment to the meeting agenda.
Prepares and distributes the meeting minutes and W3s within one working day following the meeting date. The Minutes are to include Attendance, Summary of the topics discussed, Significant decisions made, Next meeting date, time and venue, Old W3s with status and New W3s
Requests feedback on minutes from team to ensure that they reflect the consensus of the team
Maintains the old and new W3s listing so that W3’s (what, who, and when) are always current
Highlights W3 completions and short falls to team for further action
Maintains accurate and updated CFT/BRT Charters
Publicizes teams successes
Serves as team timekeeper if none assigned
18. NO.
What
Who
When
Status1234W3’sTeam Leader:
Team Objective:Scribe:Start:
End:
19. Role of The Measurement SpecialistThe CFT Measurement Specialist is responsible for leading and advising the team on measurements. Functions performed are:
Works with BIT measurement owner to coordinate measurement activities for the CFT team
Works with team members to collect measurement data to define Baseline & Entitlement
Works with team members to assist in them in analyzing measurement data
Monitors improvement of actual cycle times, first pass yield, AIP/WIP, delivery, cost, productivity, etc.
Develops reporting formats with help from the team
Ensures that all measurement status is published regularly in the form of an approved CFT Cockpit Chart
20. The TCT Process - The Methodology Sequence … 16 STEPS1. Identify the key business process
2. Establish the scope of the process
3. Identify and bring together the key players for the CFT
4. Validate the scope and determine the process boundaries
5. Map the process, including CT and FPY data for each step
6. Establish baseline (“as is”) performance in CT and FPY
7. Determine value-added and non-value-added process steps and activities
8. Remove non-value-added steps and create a “should-be” map (Entitlement process)
9. Determine meaningful measurements
10. Design the measurement system - drive desired behavior
11. Establish initial entitlement goals in CTs and FPYs, other measurements
12. Identify the barriers to process improvement
13. Develop cause-and-effect diagram to find the root cause barriers
14. Rank-order root cause barriers to determine the best course of action
15. Assign and schedule barrier removal actions (BRTs)
16. Track progress through the measurement system
21. THE 16 STEP PROCESS CAN BE BROKEN DOWN INTO 4 GROUPS OF ACTIVITIESIDENTIFY the key processes, process owners and key players
Determine the scope and MAP the processes
Set up a MEASUREMENT system, determine baseline and entitlement
Identify and remove BARRIERS to improved process performance and manage improvement with drumbeat feedback process
22. Process Mapping
23. Business Process Management Everything we do in in our company fits within a business process and
Has a Process Flow that can be developed
Has History that can be analyzed
Has a First Pass Yield
Has a Performance Baseline/Entitlement
Has activities that are Non-Deterministic (unpredictable)
Can be Measured by cost, first pass yield and cycle time
24. Business Process Maps In order to start the TCT Process (Step 5 of the “16 Steps”) it is necessary to construct Process Map(s) of the critical business processes
Process Maps are a graphical picture of the flow (in time) of a process or activity
Process Maps provide an overview of the process and describe the path the process follows from beginning to completion (start to stop as defined in the charter)
Show how the processes work across functional and geographic lines
Process maps are drawn at various levels of detail to assist in the evaluation of each process step
25. Mapping…..Scope of the ProcessWe must first define the scope and the purpose of the process.
What is the process trying to accomplish?
The scope of any process consists of three parts:Start Point - Identify the event that begins the process (such as receipt of an order)
Stop Point - Identify the event or item that concludes the process (such as shipment of a customer’s order)
Process Boundary - determines which transactions and activities are to be addressed in the Process Map. (For example, are we addressing all products that are made by a company, or just one product line?)
26. Maps…Cross-Functional Diagrams List the functions/organizations down the left side of the sheet of paper
Show the process as a progression from left to right as the process is mapped across the page
The symbols which represent each step are placed in the same row or rows as the functions involved in the process.
TGI’s basic symbol set for cross-functional flow diagrams in a high-level process are shown below.Process stepPrepare ForecastApprove?DecisionRepeat or rework step(s)Go Back toStep 2Inventory (non first-in/first out) or backlogNondeterministic process stepStockroomDesign NewCodeStarts control
27. Business Process ManagementIn addition to the above, elongate a symbol, top to bottom, to show participation in the same process step by more than one function and/or organization.
If the participating functions are not listed adjacent to one another, show participation with solid vertical lines and nonparticpation with broken vertical lines. Arrows always go left to right !Show reiteration like this:Show decisions like this:Approved?Repeat previousprocess from X to YYesNoApproved?YesNoorColor 2OrangeRedBlue
28. Cross-Functional Mapping Process Define scope.
List functions involved down left hand side of paper.
Identify sequence of activities.
Correlate activities with functions.
Map activities from left to right corresponding to the advance of time.
33. Measurements Measurements are necessary to “keep score”
e.g. how can we determine if we are making improvements unless we have well defined and meaningful measurements
Measurements must be simple, easy to understand and an accurate measure of the process
Measurements should not be “corruptible”
Time and First Pass Yield are the best measurements
34. Static and Dynamic Cycle Times Cycle Times have specific start and stop times.
Cycle Time is a basic measure of process effectiveness and a good indicator of the discipline and order within a process.
One must differentiate between Static and Dynamic cycle time:
Static Cycle Time (sCT) is a summary of past actions (history). It is a lagging indicator and is usually applied to processes that change slowly.
Dynamic Cycle Time (dCT) is the present “pulse rate” of a process and, thus, a leading (predictive) indicator.
35. Static Cycle Time MeasurementStatic cycle time is the historical measure of cycle time based on analysis of individual outputs of a process.
Static cycle time is a lagging indicator because it reports results after completion.
36. Collect Data, Use Collected Data to Identify Where to LookFrequency of OccurrenceWhat is happening here?
Use high/low
diagnostic analysisand especially
here?
37. Static Cycle TimePopulation of OneA fabric manufacturing process which starts on June 12 and concludes on July 19 has a static cycle time of 37 days.Start
June 12Stop
July 19Static Cycle Time = 37 Days
38. Static Cycle Time(For populations of more than one) One can average the cycle times of work actions completed. For example: 30 shirts completed during a specific time period had the following distribution:
4 completed in 2 days 3 completed in 7 days
8 completed in 3 days 2 completed in 8 days
7 completed in 4 days 6 completed in 9 days
sCT= Static cycle time = (4X2)+(8X3)+(7X4)+(3X7)+(2X8)+(6X9)
30
sCT = 5.03 days for that specific time period
39. Dynamic Cycle Time (normal)Dynamic cycle time is the current processing time for a relatively high volume of activities where In Process inventory exists at both the beginning and end of the period.
Dynamic Cycle Time = Actions in Process (AIP) Average Processing Speed
NOTE: The period of time may be one day, one week, one month - the shorter the time period the more instantaneous the cycle time measurement
40. Dynamic Cycle TimeIs a leading indicator
dCT = AIP’s / Process Speed
AIP’s and process speed can vary through measurement period
Need parameter estimates
41. Dynamic Cycle Time Example
(All data is for a one month time period)
Beginning garment inventory 4600
Ending garment inventory 3600
Garments out to stock 31500An average garment requires 3.9 days to progress through the
waiting queues and processes and to exit from the line. Average Work in Process
Process Speed=Beg. Inv. + End. Inv.)/2
OUTSCT===(4600 + 3600) 4100
31500Month231500==.13 (30 days/month)3.9 days
42. Non-Manufacturing Cycle Time ExampleYou are operating a purchasing organization with the following characteristics:
Work-in-process inventory beginning of month = 1,800 orders
Work-in-process inventory end of month = 2,200 orders
The average daily placement rate is = 125 per day
What is the cycle time of the operation in work days?
43. Dynamic and Static Cycle Time Comparison Static Cycle Time Dynamic Cycle Time
1. Lagging indicator 1. Leading indicator
2. Formula involves only cycle 2. Formula involves AIPs
times of completed actions and processing speeds,
not just completions
3. Good for low transaction 3. Good for high
process steps transaction process steps
--develop new products-- --big amount production--
= Completed CT1 +…+CTn = Average AIPs
n Average Processing Spd
44. Process Total Cycle TimeSub Process #1 (Marker Making)Sub Process #2 (Cutting)Sub Process #3 (Sewing)Sub Process #4 (Washing)Sub Process #5 (Press / Pack)CT1+ CT2+ CT3+ CT4+ CT5= Total Cycle TimeProcesses are often comprised of several Sub Processes….
45. First Pass YieldFirst pass yield (FPY) is measure of the Quality of a Process.
No. AIPs Completed To Spec, without rework, first pass
FPY = X 100
Total Number AIPs Processed
First Pass Yield is less than or equal to process yield (actual) because Process Yield typically includes rework.
The denominator includes any AIP which leaves the process being measured. This includes successful completions, cancellations, scrap, etc.FPY Defined as….
The percentage of activities completing a process the first time,
correctly, without rework.
46. First Pass Yield MeasurementsExamplesEngineering
Percent drawings to manufacturing which do not change
Percent projects that go through manufacturing with no unscheduled engineering help
ManufacturingPercent incoming parts neither reworked nor returned
Percent assembly kits complete when delivered
Percent garments complete without rework
Percent subassemblies into final assembly with no reworkTest
Percent each test passing first time with no waits/no rework
Purchasing
Percent purchase requests okay to order with no change
Percent incoming goods able to be received immediately
47. Generic First Pass Yield ModelSCOPEQueueWorkOK?ReworkOK?YesNoProcess YieldThis boundary is determined by what data is availableFirst Pass YieldCancelScrapProcess Boundary
48. Generic First Pass Yield ModelSCOPEQueueWorkOK?ReworkOK?Process YieldThis boundary is determined by what data is availableFirst Pass YieldCancelScrapProcess BoundaryYes 90%No 10%No 20%Yes
80%What are the FPY and Process Yield here?
49. Yield Calculations total outs - rework - hold
FPY % = total outs + scrap + cancellations
total outs
Process Yield % = total outs + scrap + cancellations
Per given time periodX 100X 100
50. How to calculate FPY?
51. Baseline and EntitlementBaseline: An historical or “as is” level of performance, verified by measurement (historical data - 3 months minimum)
Applied to any measure
Sometimes good, sometimes not up to expectations
Entitlement: An improved level of performance resulting from a measurable, documented cycle time reduction program
Generally equal to or better than industry standards
An objective rather than an arbitrary performance level
Requires no new resources to reach Entitlement
52. Baseline, Theoretical and EntitlementPerfect World
Lot size of 1
No Queue
No set-ups
No down time
Dedicated ResourcesHistorical best (expedited or hand carried lot)
Comparison to competition’s best
Comparison to best of similar process in other industriesHistorically based
measurement of the everyday performance level of a business process that has
been mapped.Factor applied to theoretical to estimate entitlement
Generally 2 to 3x for a production or linear process
Generally 2 to 10x for a non-production or non-linear process
Multiplier provides transition from unobtainable perfect world to account for real world inefficienciesMultiplier3Theoretical24EntitlementBaseline1Cycle
Time
53. Typical Performance DistributionsFrequency of OccurrenceShorterLongerTheoreticalStrategic Best
Often Requires Increased InvestmentEntitlement
Realizable Performance Using Existing ResourcesBaseline
Existing Performance
54. Measurements Reporting
The Cockpit ChartCustomer SatisfactionClaims ($) & Returns
Customer Survey ResultsMarket Share% of Addressable Market
US & Non USCycle Time (CT)Quotations
SamplesRevenue Volume & Operating MarginHK, Gaoming & Penang
Measured in $ and in Quantity (dozens)
Operating income as percentageCT & FPY Order EntrySales DiscountingFactory Loading% of Capacity
Dozens (actual)Sales ExpensesVs Budget
Vs RevenueOn-Time DeliverySamples
Production
55. Barrier Removal
56. Typical BarriersDye process
Defect density
Strength of materials
Pricing
Color matching & inspection
Merchandising
Material handling
Inspection versus prevention
Large lot sizes
Bottlenecks
Poor scheduling
Poor process design/ implementation
Rework
Communication
Low first pass yield
Push vs. pullMeasurements and controls
Performance incentives
Business is viewed as disjointed functions
Denial
Negotiating price
Paradigms that resist change
Top-Down Management
Subject Matter Business Process Culture
57. Why Remove Barriers? Improve cycle time
Improve first pass yield
Improve cost
Improve other operational indices
Reduce frustration
58. BusinessProcessBarriersBarriers are InterrelatedCulture constrains business process performance that in turn constrains subject matter performance.
Not removing barriers will create substitute processes.
Barriers and substitute processes often overlap and are sometimes mutually reinforcing.
Rewarding employees for the use or implementation of substitute processes tends to lock-in the existing culture barrier or paradigm.Culture
BarriersSubstitute
ProcessesSubject
Matter
Barriers
59. Barrier Identification and CharacterizationSubject Matter Barriers:
Unique industry or business content:
Sewing machine thread tension
Work station’s boot sequence
Cell phone wiring schematic
Unique functional expertise content:
Manufacturing specification
Garment pattern making
Accounting cost system
Marketing data sheetTypically, Subject Matter Barriers can be removed by individual contributors if they are not constrained by business process and culture barriers.
60. Barrier Identification and CharacterizationBusiness Process Barriers:
Prevent activities from fitting into a set of seamless processes that meet entitlement
Lot size
Bottlenecks in the process flow
Poor scheduling
Poor process designTypically, Business Process Barriers can be removed by middle management if upper management and an outside leader/driver remove the constraining culture barriers.
61. Barrier Identification and CharacterizationCulture Barriers:
Some examples
Lack of TCT Mindset
View Business as disjointed functions
Poor Resource allocation
Organization structure (or misuse of organization)
Lack of accountability
Lack of leadership
Lack of root cause problem solvingTypically, Business Culture Barriers must be removed by upper management working with an outside leader/driver
62. Substitute ProcessSubstitute Processes:
Alternate processes and “work-arounds” that employees implement in order to reduce or eliminate the impact of barriers.
They are a natural growth from the failure to remove subject matter, business process and culture barriers.
Substitute processes usually require additional resources by:
Attacking the symptoms of non-responsiveness
Making “Just-in-case” investments (example..EXTRA INVENTORY)
Cover-up investments and work arounds
63. Substitute Processes - Inventory examplesInventory is put in place in an attempt to make up for what could go wrong in the process.A customer orders more than expected or different mix
A vendor has process problems
Forecasting is poor
Resources not available - equipment goes down or people are absentScenarioInventory AdditionFinished goods inventoryRaw material inventoryAll forms of inventoryWork-in-process inventory
64. Barrier Characterization Using Cause & Effect Diagrams
65. Cause and Effect Diagrams
“Fishbones” TCT uses cause and effect diagrams (Fishbones) to generate cause, effect, and substitute process diagrams.
Use the following procedure:
1. Define the effect - this is attached to the “spine”.
2. Show the major causes as “bones” below the spine.
3. Show the corresponding substitute processes as “bones” above the spine. (There will be occasions when two or more barriers will have the same substitute process.)
4. Show the culture constraints as opposing double arrow (if applicable).
The causes help characterize the effect, some are symptoms and some are barriers.
Work symptoms backwards until you reach the root cause or primary cause for the barrier.
66. FishboneThe Fishbone Diagram can be used for two different purposes.
First, to arrive at root cause barriers and their related substitute processes by repeating the question, “Why?”.
Second, to organize brainstormed lists of causes (usually business process and culture), substitute processes, and culture constraints for a high ranking barrier you wish to remove.
67. The Cause and Substitute Process DiagramSubstitute
ProcessSubstitute
ProcessSubstitute
ProcessPossible
CausePossible
CausePossible
CauseState the
EffectEffect - An event
that occurs as a
result of a causeContributing
factor to causeReason
contributing
factor
occurs
68. Which Barriers Do We Attack First?After identifying all relevant barriers:
Make first-pass estimate of impact on cycle time of each.
Identify who must make removal effort:
Individual or Subject Matter Group (for example: IT)
Barrier Removal Team (BRT)
Some level of management
Make first-pass estimate of difficulty of removal of each.
Identify any expert help that may be needed.
Rank-order of attack; target “low-hanging fruit” first.
Limit to 2-3 the number of barriers the team targets at one time.
69. *Barrier I.D. & Removal ProcessFor Identifying & Addressing Root CausesBrainstorm
and rank
“barriers”Identify low
difficulty, high
impact
“barriers”Select top
ranking
barriersDevelop
fishbone/ID
root causesAsk “why”
until all root
causes
identifiedAsk “why”
until all root
causes
identifiedAll root
causes
ID?Rework
fishboneDevelop W3
action plans
for root
causesMonitor
and
report
progressShould
this be
escalated
to BIT?BIT ActionComplete
barrier
removal
and
eliminate
substitute
processesYNYN
70. Barrier Removal Process Steps Perform process mapping
Perform distributional analysis of data
Begin the removal process to expose other barriers
Use Generic Barrier List to spur ideas
Use TGI fishbone and repeated “whys” until Root Cause Barrier appears
Use substitute process identification as indicator to barrier identification
Transfer Cycles of Learning
Top to middle management
Peer group management
Leader/driver to middle management
73. The Barrier Removal Team (BRT) Barrier removal is most often and most effectively implemented by the creation of a specific, cross functional, Barrier Removal Team (BRT)
The BRT will:
Be empowered to remove the specific assigned barrier
Follow the TCT process to remove the assigned barrier as directed by the CFT.
Upon completion, and upon approval by the CFT, the BRT be disbanded
74. Cycles of Learning& Effective Meeting Management
75. The number of opportunities during a given calendar
year to try, test, modify, learn and feedback from
performing each critical business process.P1P = ProcessF = Feedback (“Feedforward”)One CycleofLearningOpportunity®ThreeCycles ofLearningOpportunities®TimeF1P0P0P2F1F2P1P3F3Cycles of Learning Work Days Per Year
Per Year Cycle Time of Process in Work Days=Cycles of Learning Definition
76. NO.
What
Who
When
Status1234W3’sTeam Leader:
Team Objective:Scribe:Start:
End:
77. Recap of TCT Basics1. Business Process Perspective
2. Process Maps
3. Measurement Drivers
- CT - FPY - Other Productivity Measures
4. Set Aggressive Goals - Baseline - Entitlement
5. Identify and remove non-Value Added process steps6. Remove Barriers & Substitute Processes - Fishbones - CFT/BRT Teams
7. Link Driver Improvements
to Results (Cockpit Chart)
8. Apply Cycles of Learning to improve processes - Teams (CFT and BRT) - Rollout organizations
9. Control & Manage AIPs - Starts Control - W3s
10. Effective Meeting Management