This is a self-study guide for facilitators of rapid process improvement workshops that helps anyone who feels like they aren't truly gaining the full results of improvement initiatives and kaizen events. They know they can do better, but don't know how. The author, an experienced facilitator in government and nonprofits, speaks to the facilitator through coaching notes and actual workshop documents and techniques so the reader can fully understand how greater results are achieved. This guide takes the reader through a step-by-step path of a newly created workshop agenda. The author has parsed the workshop path into more manageable parts, easier for both the facilitator and the team. These parts split the improvement work into two sections: "removing the unnecessary" and "smoothing out the flow." "Smoothing out the flow" is divided further into: When the work is coming in When the product/person is going through the process How the work is performed In addition, the author includes newly created tools and training content. For example, a data-gathering table points the facilitator to what data need to be collected when. Training for the team includes making sure they understand the structure of a process as well as to instruct them and define how a Lean process actually functions. This distinction is important because all improvements are not necessarily Lean improvements. Several bodies of knowledge are incorporated into this guide--not only Lean and Six Sigma, but internal auditing, organizational development, and statistics. Essentially, this guide includes tips, nuances, and original tools that are missing from the traditional training of facilitators of kaizen events. It provides enough information for the facilitator to think in a creative way.

A staggering 70% of digital transformations have failed as per McKinsey. The key reason why enterprises are failing in their digital transformation journey is because there is no standard framework existing in the industry that enterprises can use to transform themselves to digital. There are several books that speak about technologies such as Cloud, Artificial Intelligence and Data Analytics in silos, but none of these provides a holistic view on how enterprises can embark on a digital transformation journey and be successful using a combination of these technologies. FORMULA 4.0 is a methodology that provides clear guidance for enterprises aspiring to transform their traditional operating model to digital. Enterprises can use this framework as a readymade guide and plan their digital transformation journey. This book is intended for all chief executives, software managers, and leaders who intend to successfully lead this digital transformation journey. An enterprise can achieve success in digital transformation only of it can create an IT Platform that will enable them to adopt any new technology seamlessly into existing IT estate; deliver new products and services to the market in shorter durations; make business decisions with IT as an enabler and utilize automation in all its major business and IT processes. Achieving these goals is what defines a digital enterprise -- Formula 4.0 is a methodology for enterprises to achieve these goals and become digital. Essentially, there is no existing framework in the market that provides a step-by-step guide to enterprises on how to embark on their successful digital transformation journey. This book enables such transformations. Overall, the Formula 4.0 is an enterprise digital transformation framework that enables organizations to become truly digital.

A staggering 70% of digital transformations have failed as per McKinsey. The key reason why enterprises are failing in their digital transformation journey is because there is no standard framework existing in the industry that enterprises can use to transform themselves to digital. There are several books that speak about technologies such as Cloud, Artificial Intelligence and Data Analytics in silos, but none of these provides a holistic view on how enterprises can embark on a digital transformation journey and be successful using a combination of these technologies. FORMULA 4.0 is a methodology that provides clear guidance for enterprises aspiring to transform their traditional operating model to digital. Enterprises can use this framework as a readymade guide and plan their digital transformation journey. This book is intended for all chief executives, software managers, and leaders who intend to successfully lead this digital transformation journey. An enterprise can achieve success in digital transformation only of it can create an IT Platform that will enable them to adopt any new technology seamlessly into existing IT estate; deliver new products and services to the market in shorter durations; make business decisions with IT as an enabler and utilize automation in all its major business and IT processes. Achieving these goals is what defines a digital enterprise -- Formula 4.0 is a methodology for enterprises to achieve these goals and become digital. Essentially, there is no existing framework in the market that provides a step-by-step guide to enterprises on how to embark on their successful digital transformation journey. This book enables such transformations. Overall, the Formula 4.0 is an enterprise digital transformation framework that enables organizations to become truly digital.

Digital Transformation in Accounting is a critical guidebook for accountancy and digital business students and practitioners to navigate the effects of digital technology advancements, digital disruption, and digital transformation on the accounting profession. Drawing on the latest research, this book: Unpacks dozens of digital technology advancements, explaining what they are and how they could be used to improve accounting practice. Discusses the impact of digital disruption and digital transformation on different accounting functions, roles, and activities. Integrates traditional accounting information systems concepts and contemporary digital business and digital transformation concepts. Includes a rich array of real-world case studies, simulated problems, quizzes, group and individual exercises, as well as supplementary electronic resources. Provides a framework and a set of tools to prepare the future accounting workforce for the era of digital disruption. This book is an invaluable resource for students on accounting, accounting information systems, and digital business courses, as well as for accountants, accounting educators, and accreditation / advocacy bodies.

Access and Control in Digital Humanities explores a range of important questions about who controls data, who is permitted to reproduce or manipulate data, and what sorts of challenges digital humanists face in making their work accessible and useful. Contributors to this volume present case studies and theoretical approaches from their experience with applications for digital technology in classrooms, museums, archives, in the field and with the general public. Offering potential answers to the issues of access and control from a variety of perspectives, the volume acknowledges that access is subject to competing interests of a variety of stakeholders. Museums, universities, archives, and some communities all place claims on how data can or cannot be shared through digital initiatives and, given the collaborative nature of most digital humanities projects, those in the field need to be cognizant of the various and often competing interests and rights that shape the nature of access and how it is controlled. Access and Control in Digital Humanities will be of interest to researchers, academics and graduate students working in a variety of fields, including digital humanities, library and information science, history, museum and heritage studies, conservation, English literature, geography and legal studies.

Offering a step-by-step approach for applying the Nonparametric Method with the Bayesian Approach to model complex relationships occurring in Reliability Engineering, Quality Management, and Operations Research, it also discusses survival and censored data, accelerated lifetime tests (issues in reliability data analysis), and R codes. This book uses the Nonparametric Bayesian approach in the fields of quality management and operations research. It presents a step-by-step approach for understanding and implementing these models, as well as includes R codes which can be used in any dataset. The book helps the readers to use statistical models in studying complex concepts and applying them to Operations Research, Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Computer Science, Quality and Reliability, Maintenance Planning and Operations Management. This book helps researchers, analysts, investigators, designers, producers, industrialists, entrepreneurs, and financial market decision makers, with finding the lifetime model of products, and for crucial decision-making in other markets.

For me and other tech people, leaders, and members of remote teams, we will be awakened by all the fantastic hands-on hints, best practices, and guiding principles based on solid ground that Hubbert provides in Inspiring Remote Tech Teams. We will be better prepared and better equipped to both contribute and lead efficiently in the digital economies that shape the future of our world. - Thomas DiGiacomo, President of Engineering and Innovation at SUSE Inspiring Remote Tech Teams is a trail map to building effective teams and organizations-now, as world health dictates remote work, and in the future, as global talent pools contribute to our digital economy. Humans are wired to be social, and world events require social distancing from our office community. The absence of "community" triggers primitive brain responses. These instinctual responses of survival, social belonging, and the power of story all profoundly surface during our reaction as we adjust to remote work. This trail map for team leaders improves team execution despite physical separation. The book covers simple neuroscience as it applies to our "separation." It is a hands-on guide to maintaining and improving teamwork while working remotely. It is also a hands-on guide at the intersection of teams + remote + laymen's neuroscience to create a positive sense of enthusiasm, engagement, and contribution, even when working apart. Remote teams, now and for the future, are the pathway to using global talent effectively. This book examines the combination of the "hard skills" of tech team project management and the "soft skills" of healthy distributed teams: remote offices, sales offices, partners, suppliers, customers, and teams engaging global talent pools. Practical examples and best practices offer hands-on methods to use neuroscience to help teams be their best, to improve collaboration, and to deliver consistent team results.

Inventory Planning with Innovation: A Cost Focus discusses inventory planning concepts with major emphasis on innovation to reduce cost in a single volume. Provides an understanding of innovation efforts and linking it with inventory planning in reducing cost. Offers various factors influencing innovation efforts, knowledge of investment or expenditure that might be estimated before starting the innovation efforts, purchase inventory, and the manufacturing inventory. Covers important concepts including innovation efforts, strategic period, procurement inventory, total cost estimation, production inventory, related total cost planning, multiple products, multiple items procurements, and multiple items manufacture. This reference is primarily written for senior undergraduate, graduate students, and professionals in the field of industrial engineering, production engineering, and manufacturing science.

For over 30 years Alan Weiss has consulted, coached, and advised everyone from Fortune 500 executives, state governors, non-profit directors, and entrepreneurs to athletes, entertainers, and beauty pageant contestants. That's quite an assortment of people, and they run into the thousands. Most of them have had what we euphemistically call "means," and some of them have had a lot more than that. Others have been aspiring and with more ends in sight than means on hand. Alan Weiss states: I've dealt with esteem (low), narcissism (high), family problems, leadership dysfunctions, insecurities, addictions, and ethical quandaries. And I've talked with them through the coronavirus crisis. But don't get the wrong idea. About 95% of these people have been well-meaning, honest (to the best of their knowledge), and interested in becoming a better person and better professional. Otherwise, they wouldn't be talking to me. I found the equivalent of the "runner's wall" in their journeys, where they must break through the pain and the obstacles and then can keep going with renewed energy and spirit. But runners know how far they must go after the breakthrough, be it another half lap or another five miles. There is a finish line. I've found that people in all positions, even after the "breakthrough," don't know where they are in the race, let alone where the finish line is. They do not know what meaning is for them. They may have money in the bank, good relationships, the admiration of others, and the love of their dogs. But they have no metrics for "What now?" They believe that at the end of life there is a tallying, some metaphysical accountant who totals up their contributions, deducts their bad acts, and creates the (hopefully positive) difference. That difference, they believe, is their "legacy." But the thought that legacy arrives at the end of life is as ridiculous as someone who decides to sell a business and tries to increase its valuation the day prior. Legacy is now. Legacy is daily. Every day we create the next page in our lives, but the question becomes who is writing it and what's being written. Is someone else creating our legacy? Or are we, ourselves, simply writing the same page repeatedly? Or do we leave it blank? Our organic, living legacy is marred and squeezed by huge normative pressures. There is a "threshold" point, at which one's beliefs and values are overridden by immense peer pressure. Our metrics are forced to change. In an age of social media, biased press, and bullying, we've come to a point where our legacy, ironically, is almost out of our hands. Yet our "meaning" - our creation of meaning and not a search for some illusive alchemy - creates worth and impact for us and all those with whom we interact.

Norman Katz has secured a top spot as one of the Top 50 Global Thought Leaders and Influencers on Supply Chain 2020. Even the largest companies find managing vendors a daunting task. If you get it wrong then you risk inadvertently penalizing potentially valuable suppliers with misguided, overly bureaucratic or costly processes. Worse the burdens placed on the vendors backfires on the customer entity itself as the customer is subjected to the increased operational costs of managing the ramifications of the ill-conceived or poorly implemented requirement through the vendor community, driving up its own operational costs and increasing frustrations for all, straining the customer-vendor relationship. Effective compliance programs balance the requirements with the capabilities of their suppliers, striving to educate instead of just inform. A well-run program should help vendors self-implement and control costs, not force vendors to rely on constant communication and increase costs for all trading partners involved. Successful Supply Chain Vendor Compliance explains the technical, process and cultural elements that go into a successful compliance program. Norman Katz exposes the weaknesses in traditional programs and identifies the characteristics of well-managed programs that foster beneficial trading partner relationships. He shows how a well-executed vendor compliance program can control and decrease costs by reducing disruptions throughout the supply chain, from the distribution center to the data center to the corporate office. Competition is fierce, and the right vendor can help you define a business model, react quickly to changes, and differentiate between you and your competitors. See the latest Forbes article on Abusive Compliance Practices!

Co-production occurs when citizens actively participate in the design and delivery of public services. The concept and its practice are of increasing interest among policymakers, public service managers and academics alike, with co-production often being described as a revolutionary solution to public service reform. Public Service Management and Asylum: Co-production, Inclusion and Citizenship offers a comprehensive exploration of co-production from the public administration and service management perspectives. In doing so, it discusses the importance of both streams of literature in providing a holistic understanding of the concept, and based on this integration, it offers a model which differentiates co-production on five levels. The first three refer to the role of the public service user in the design and delivery of services (co-construction, participative co-production and co-design) and the other two focus on inter-organisational relationships (co-management and co-governance). This model is applied to the case of asylum seekers in receipt of social welfare benefits in Scotland to explore the implications for social inclusion and citizenship. It argues that as public service users, asylum seekers will always play an active role in the process of service production and while co-production does not provide asylum seekers with legal citizenship status, if offers an opportunity for asylum seekers to act like citizens and supports their inclusion into society. It will be of interest to researchers, academics, policymakers, public services managers, and students in the fields of public management, public administration, organizational studies.

This book addresses the essentials of an automotive audit which is required by all automotive suppliers world-wide. They are based on customer specific requirements, ISO standards, and Industry specifications. This book covers both the mandated documents and records that are necessary for compliance, with an extensive discussion on Layered Process Audits and distance auditing. The book addresses the six standards for certification in one volume. It explains "why" and "how" an effective audit should be carried out. It identifies the key indicators for a culture change with an audit, explains the "process audit" at length, discusses the rationale for Layered Process audits and summarizes all the mandatory documents and records for all standards and requirements. The book covers the issue of risk in auditing and emphasizes the role of a "checklist" in the preparation process. This book is for those that conduct audits, those that are interested in auditing, and those being audited. It specifically addresses automotive OEMs and their supplier base but is also of interest to anyone wanting information on auditing.

The aim of this book is to provide a single source of information to support continuing professional development (CPD) in the built environment sector. The book offers a comprehensive introduction to the concept of CPD and provides robust guidance on the methods and benefits of identifying, planning, monitoring, actioning, and recording CPD activities. It brings together theories, standards, professional and industry requirements, and contemporary arguments around individual personal and professional development. Practical techniques and real-life best practice examples outlined from within and outside of the industry empower the reader to take control of their own built environment-related development, whilst also providing information on how to develop fellow staff members. The contents covered in this book align with the requirements of numerous professional bodies, such as the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE), and the Chartered Institute of Builders (CIOB). The chapters are supported by case studies, templates, practical advice, and guidance. The book is designed to help all current and future built environment professionals manage their own CPD as well as managing the CPD of others. This includes helping undergraduate and postgraduate students complete CPD requirements for modules as part of a wide range of built environment university degree courses and current built environment professionals of all levels and disciplines who wish to enhance their careers through personal and professional development, whether due to professional body requirements or by taking control of identifying and achieving their own educational needs.

Originally published in 1995, Beyond Capital Labor is a comprehensive empirical study about how and how much technology and regional contextual factors may influence company production and productivity growth. The book constitutes a conceptually consistent and empirically efficient study and provides a consolidated model and an analytical framework to examine the contributions of technology and regional factors to company production and productivity growth. This work goes beyond the current state and brings many scattered theoretical components together to establish an integrated model.

Construction Cost Estimating equips a new generation of students and early-career professionals with the skills they need to bid successfully on projects. From developing bid strategies to submitting a completed bid, this innovative textbook introduces the fundamentals of construction estimating through a real-life case study that unfolds across its 24 chapters. Exercises at the end of each chapter offer hands-on practice with core concepts such as quantity take-offs, pricing, and estimating for subcontractor work. Online resources provide instant access to examples of authentic construction documents, including complete, detailed direct work estimates, subcontractor work estimates, general conditions estimates, markups, and summary schedules. Through its unique mix of real-world examples and classroom-tested insights, Construction Cost Estimating ensures that readers are familiar with the entire estimating process even before setting foot on the jobsite.

This book will change the way you think about problems. It focuses on creating solutions to all sorts of complex problems by taking a practical, problem-solving approach. It discusses not only what needs to be done, but it also provides guidance and examples of how to do it. The book applies systems thinking to systems engineering and introduces several innovative concepts such as direct and indirect stakeholders and the Nine-System Model, which provides the context for the activities performed in the project, along with a framework for successful stakeholder management. A list of the figures and tables in this book is available at https://www.crcpress.com/9781138387935. FEATURES * Treats systems engineering as a problem-solving methodology * Describes what tools systems engineers use and how they use them in each state of the system lifecycle * Discusses the perennial problem of poor requirements, defines the grammar and structure of a requirement, and provides a template for a good imperative construction statement and the requirements for writing requirements * Provides examples of bad and questionable requirements and explains the reasons why they are bad and questionable * Introduces new concepts such as direct and indirect stakeholders and the Shmemp! * Includes the Nine-System Model and other unique tools for systems engineering

This multi-contributed handbook focuses on the latest workings of IoT (internet of Things) and Big Data. As the resources are limited, it's the endeavor of the authors to support and bring the information into one resource. The book is divided into 4 sections that covers IoT and technologies, the future of Big Data, algorithms, and case studies showing IoT and Big Data in various fields such as health care, manufacturing and automation. Features Focuses on the latest workings of IoT and Big Data Discusses the emerging role of technologies and the fast-growing market of Big Data Covers the movement toward automation with hardware, software, and sensors, and trying to save on energy resources Offers the latest technology on IoT Presents the future horizons on Big Data

Design for Six Sigma (DFSS) is an innovative continuous improvement methodology for designing new products, processes, and services by integrating Lean and Six Sigma principles. This book will explain how the DFSS methodology is used to design robust products, processes, or services right the first time by using the voice of the customer to meet Six Sigma performance. Robust designs are insensitive to variation and provide consistent performance in the hands of the customer. DFSS is used to meet customer needs by understanding their requirements, considering current process capability, identifying and reducing gaps, and verifying predictions to develop a robust design. This book offers: Methodology on how to implement DFSS in various industries Practical examples of the use of DFSS Sustainability utilizing Lean Six Sigma techniques and Lean product development Innovative designs using DFSS with concept generation Case studies for implementing the DFSS methodology Design for Six Sigma (DFSS) enables organizations to develop innovative designs. In order to redesign an existing process or design a new process, the success is dependent on a rigorous process and methodology. DFSS ensures that there are minimal defects in the introduction of new products, processes, or services. The authors have compiled all of the tools necessary for implementation of a practical approach though innovation.

Although regularly introducing new products or services is the lifeblood of most industries, bringing them to market can be fraught with peril. Timing, cost, and quality all play important roles in a successful product launch and avoiding expensive - often in more than just dollars - recalls and redesigns. Quality Assurance: Applying Methodologies for Launching New Products, Services, and Customer Satisfaction details continual improvement (CI), a proven process for avoiding common problems and creating customer satisfaction. The book explores the three fundamental approaches required to create a truly CI culture in any organization: a) consistent philosophy of improvement by management, b) receptive organizational culture, and c) the entire culture of the organization must be willing to make decisions based on measurement and data. It outlines the seven principles: research/plan, assure, explain, prioritize, demonstrate, confirm, and show. However, as with CI itself, this attitude must be incorporated into the processes of any organization and create products or services for the market place that will delight customers rather than just satisfying them. Time and cost constraints are the biggest culprits here, not any one person's lack of due diligence. When this happens, organizations must look at the bigger picture internally and identify it as a system problem. Based on the author's 35 years of experience, this book covers the essential items for doing the right thing the first time especially during launching a good product and/or service to the customer. It identifies key indicators and methodologies that will help you attain excellent performance, delivery, and cost with both the customer and supplier. In other words, by following these methodologies and indicators, the job will get done right the first time.

This book covers fire and extinguishing theory and reliability theory and how to validate any survey within the field of engineering. It's based on a year's study of historical literature, using critical review and document analysis. It covers how data is collected, analyzed, and presented. It discusses reliability theory, calculation, and uncertainty analysis, and after validating proposes a new methodology and approach using general scientific value and examples. Features Includes an in-depth study on relevant sprinkler reliability studies based for the first time on critical review and document analysis Presents a scientific validating analysis of studies based on how a survey should be conducted Critiques the fact that reliability of a sprinkler system as its ability to function as designed, has never been subject to surveys Suggestions for new survey methodology that can be used for the field of engineering, including all active and passive fire protection measures Discusses extinguishing theory, general design of extinguishing systems, different systems and the reliability of them all "Reliability Data on Fire Sprinkler Systems" will be of interest to Reliability Engineers, Systems, Architecture and Engineers, Design, Maintenance, Mechanical and, Civil Engineers, as well as those working in the field of fire protection and building and fire codes.

The key to success and reaching peak performance is integrating three processes to optimize business through the use of human performance improvement tools, lean thinking, operational excellence, along with a strong organizational culture as the underpinning. These components form the basis of the Peak Performance Model. The tools presented in this book, along with the case studies, demonstrate how the model is applied and integrated into company practices. Companies and organizations want to improve their performance, but many have not integrated the right tools and processes. Through the application of the Peak Performance Model, every company can achieve and sustain Peak Performance.

This book provides the latest research advances in the field of system reliability assurance and engineering. It contains reference material for applications of reliability in system engineering, offering a theoretical sound background with adequate numerical illustrations. Included are concepts pertaining to reliability analysis, assurance techniques and methodologies, tools, and practical applications of system reliability modeling and allocation. The collection discusses various soft computing techniques like artificial intelligence and particle swarm optimization approach for reliability assessment. Importance of differentiating between the optimal release time and testing stop time of the software has been explicitly discussed and presented in the book. Features: Creates understanding of the costs associated with complex systems Covers reliability measurement of engineering systems Incorporates an efficient effort-based expenditure policy incorporating cost and reliability criteria Provides information for optimal testing stop and release time of software system Presents software performance and security layout Addresses reliability prediction and its maintenance through advanced analytics techniques Overall, System Reliability Management: Solutions and Techniques is a collaborative and interdisciplinary approach for better communication of problems and solutions to increase the performance of the system for better utilization and resource management.

This book offers a practical and reliable approach to how an organization can move beyond all of the separate initiatives and hype associated with sustainability. It shows how to build in what is already in place, in order to create a sense of stewardship that protects the environment, creates a sense of social well-being, and shared value within the organization.

It is no secret that Lean Six Sigma (LSS) is not as popular with small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) as it is with larger ones. However, many SMEs are suppliers to larger entities who are pushing for superior quality and world-class process efficiencies from suppliers. Lean Six Sigma for Small and Medium Sized Enterprises: A Practical Guide provides a roadmap for the successful implementation and deployment of LSS in SMEs. It includes five real-world case studies that demonstrate how LSS tools have been successfully integrated into LSS methodology. Simplifying the terminology and methodology of LSS, this book makes the implementation process accessible. Supplies a general introduction to continuous improvement initiatives in SMEs Identifies the key phases in the introduction and development of LSS initiatives within an SME Details the most powerful LSS tools and techniques that can be used in an SME environment Provides tips on how to make the project selection process more successful This book covers the fundamental challenges and common pitfalls that can be avoided with successful introduction and deployment of LSS in the context of SMEs. Systematically guiding you through the application of the Six Sigma methodology for problem solving, the book devotes separate chapters to the most appropriate tools and techniques that can be useful in each stage of the methodology. Keeping the required math and statistics to a minimum, this practical guide will help you to deploy LSS as your prime methodology for achieving and sustaining world-class efficiency and effectiveness of critical business processes.

Statistical Analysis for the Reliability Engineering Professional Effectively conduct reliability analysis using the world's leading statistical software. Reliability Analysis with Minitab (R) outlines statistical concepts and applications, explains the theory of probability, reliability analysis, and quality improvement, and provides step-by-step instruction on the use of Minitab. Minitab introduces reliability analysis tools that can be used to perform tasks that range from checking the distribution fit of lifetime data to estimating the warranty costs of a product. Perform the Analyses Needed to Minimize Product Failures and Reduce Costs Chock full of examples that include numerous case studies and over 200 screenshots, this book is a comprehensive guide to quality and reliability in the service and manufacturing industries. It illustrates the shapes of the most commonly used statistical distributions in reliability analysis, and in simple language demonstrates concepts that include parametric reliability analysis, nonparametric reliability analysis, warranty analysis, accelerated life testing, reliability test plans, and probit analysis. Illustrating the application of Minitab for reliability analysis, this book explains how to: Perform reliability analysis of a product with right-censored and exact failure time data Complete reliability analysis of a product with arbitrarily censored failure time data Achieve nonparametric reliability analysis of a product Predict the amount of money that is needed to cover the warranty costs for products in a specific period of time in the future Analyze the results from accelerated life testing on two different products Determine the reliability test sample size when the test time and the number of failures are constrained Regulate the testing time when test sample size and the number of failures are constrained Compare the reliabilities of parts from different vendors Test whether the reliability of a product depends on certain factors Predict the stress level at which a product will fail after a certain test period