Lean Rapid Improvement Events

A vital component of the lean operating system, rapid improvement events (“RIEs”) are a targeted, systematic, and collaborative approach to process improvement that align with an organization’s key result areas and overall strategies. RIEs help drive continuous improvement and are applicable to all industries.

Sponsored by an executive leader, championed by a manager, and guided by a skilled facilitator, a cross-functional team is tasked with achieving a stretch improvement goal in a compressed time period. Effective RIE teams solve problems; eliminate waste; remove barriers to flow; significantly reduce process lead times/inventory costs; and innovate to improve their work and maximize customer value.

Common RIE topics range from 6S workplace organization; set up reduction; designing/implementing new work cells; creating/ improving upon standard work; and eliminating opportunities for error through a robust system of visual controls and mistake proofing.

By setting a cadence and expectation of rapid improvement events, an organization can accelerate its lean implementation, greatly improve the problem solving capability of team members, share valuable knowledge, and generate a series of sustainable wins.

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