ASSIGNMENT INSTRUCTIONS

To complete this assignment:

This is a group assignment. Before you start the assignment, make sure to review the Rubric to understand how you will be evaluated on your work. You are expected to follow APA $7$th Edition opens in new window formatting in your in$-$text citation and references.

With your group members, choose a common business process that you experience regularly as an employee or a consumer. Confirm with your instructor and classmates that you do not have the same topic as another group. You should have your process selected by the end of class on Day $2.$

Carefully observe the process and record all the activities involved in it from start to finish. A good way to do this is to experience the activities as a consumer several times. You may have to interview the service provider and do further research to get a better look at what is going on $$behind the scenes$($things that you may not be aware of$).$

Take measurements of activity times and estimates of apparent inventory levels.

Note the order of activities from start to finish.

$3.$ Watch the following LinkedIn Learning video on Process Mapping opens in new window. Make a Process Flow Diagram opens in new window or Value Stream Map opens in new window of the activity from start to finish based on your observations in Step $2.$ You can use the standard symbols used for processes, inventory, material flow, information flow, and any other relevant symbols from the VSM Symbols.pptx$,$ which can be accessed from Resources $>$ Additional Resources. You are also required to demonstrate time estimates, apparent inventory levels, and direction of flow.

$4.$ Watch the following LinkedIn video for an overview of the DMAIC process opens in new window. Steps $5-9$ will require you to apply the DMAIC opens in new window roadmap in phases to what you observed.

$5.$ The first phase is Define:

In the Define phase, you will need to determine what you, as a consumer, would like to improve in the process.

It could be related to cost$,$ time, quality, flexibility, or any other improvement area that would bring you more value as a consumer.

Define a specific goal or target that you feel would be an attractive improvement compared to your current experience.

$6.$ The second phase is Measure:

In the Measure phase, you will use the data collected in Step $2$ and decide what activities or processes are most important to measure.

Determine how you would collect the data.

Make sure this data helps you specifically measure what you are trying to improve.

$7.$ The third phase is Analyze:

In the Analyze phase, you need to make sense of the data you collected and determine the potential cause of the problem.

You will need to illustrate at least $3$ process improvement tools from the following list:

Cause and effect diagram

Pareto Analysis

Check Sheets

Scatter diagram

$5$ Whys

Use these tools to uncover patterns and detect the underlying causes of the problem.

Determine at least $3$ areas of potential waste $($Muda$)$ in the process.

$8.$ The fourth phase is Improve:

In the Improve phase, you start to suggest solutions to your underling problems.

Each member of the group should come up with at least one solution. Determine which solutions will be part of your final recommendation based on a realistic criterion.

You must explain how these solutions will fix the problems in question and make the improvements you are expecting.

It could be one master solution, or a series of smaller solutions, all designed to address the problem.

Explain how your solution also addresses the waste that you identified in Step $7.$

$9.$ The fifth phase is Control:

Control is the final phase where your solutions are fully implemented.

Controls and standards are established so that improvements can be maintained.

Explain what you will continue to measure and monitor to ensure the solution is maintained.

$10.$ Construct a final Process Flow Diagram or Value Stream Map of the process from start to finish based on your implemented solutions. Show the effect of your improvements.

$11.$ Document your process and your findings in a report format. You should include any mapping of the process that you created before and after the improvements. Your report should demonstrate your understanding of the theoretical concepts you learned in class and how they relate to each stage of this project. Your report should also demonstrate the depth of your analysis and critical thinking in this project.

$12.$Create a PowerPoint presentation to present your findings. You may also use other presentation software platforms like Canva or Prezi. Illustrate and explain all the $10$ steps above.

$13.$Submit your report and presentation to the Submission folder before Day $8.$

$14.$ Deliver your presentation during class on Day $8.$ Each group member should take a turn to contribute and speak during the presentation. Presentations should be maximum $15$ minutes long. Allow for a class question and answer session immediately