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Rapid Improvement™ Process and Materials

GP's Rapid Improvement Leader Kits provide the material you need to plan for and implement Rapid Improvement (aka kaizen blitz) within your company. We provide Leader (Internal Consultant) Kits for:

Rapid Improvement: Manufacturing—$695.00

For implementing Lean Manufacturing. Modules include process mapping, continuous flow production, set up reduction, pull systems, and many others. (A 3-inch binder plus CD and license, ISBN 0-87683-396-2)

Rapid Improvement: Service—$695.00

For Implementing Lean Processing in service or transactional environments. Modules include process mapping, customer loyalty, continuous flow, pull systems, key performance indicators, working in teams and many others. (A 3-inch binder plus CD, ISBN 0-87683-397-0)

Rapid Improvement: Reliability—$695.00

For implementing world-class maintenance and equipment-reliability practices. Modules include Reliability Centered Maintenance, autonomous maintenance, equipment-care teams, critical spares, lubrication excellence and many others. (A 3-inch binder plus CD, ISBN 0-87683-399-7)

The material provides the detailed steps, check sheets, and guidelines you require to conduct Scan, Plan, and Follow-Up Phase of the Rapid Improvement process, and the presentation material that our consultants and your company's Internal Consultants will use during the Rapid Improvement Process. Each module within the binder includes objectives, how to prepare, key points, duration, script and notes, overheads, and master copies of hand outs.

Rapid Improvement Impacts

  • Create enthusiasm for improvement—you show the whole organization that it can be done rapidly
  • Make breakthrough improvements as a part of larger system change
  • Develop a bias for taking action on what is learned throughout your organization
  • Operationalize empowerment—no longer words, but actions

GP's Rapid Improvement Process

The following figure illustrates the general steps in the GP Rapid Improvement Process. We apply these steps throughout our four disciplines: Lean Shop Floor Systems, Lean Six Sigma, Reliability Excellence, and Supplier Development, as well as in our Five S (5S) activities. The Rapid Improvement kits described above contain far more detail about this process.

Scan Plan Workshop Follow Up
  • Select RIW target to achieve business goals
  • Define process boundaries and potential improvements
  • Evaluate readiness
  • Gather Voice of the Customer
  • Select leadership guidance team
  • Gather Critical-To-Quality characteristics
  • Map the process
  • Collect data
  • Identify sources of variation
  • Arrange all support needed for workshop
  • Finalize workshop team charter
  • Educate workshop participants
  • Analyze process through actual walkthrough
  • Analyze data for flow, root causes, and relationships
  • Envision improved process
  • Implement and validate solutions (80% of time)
  • Establish control plan
  • Evaluate effectiveness of solution
  • Validate control plan
  • Assure ongoing process management plan
  • Document lessons and plan replication
For more information about
GP's Operational Excellence Practice,
e-mail us at or call 888-335-8276
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Operational Excellence Books & Videos

Five S (5S)

Rapid Improvement

Problem Solving

Additional Resources

Operational Excellence White Papers and Case Studies

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