Seven Step improvement

programme
Overview
Seven step methods is a technique that leads to
process improvement.
This method is a structural approach to problem
solving & process improvement.
It leads a team through a logical sequence of steps that
do analysis of the problem, its potential causes &
possible solutions.
This helps the team to focus on the correct issues
(problematic areas) rather than disseminating its
energy & resources on other productive processes.
Step1:Define problem
a. Define the problem in terms of gap between what is &
what should be.
b. Document why it is important to be working on this
particular problem.
Explain how you know it is a problem, support this with data.
List the customers key quality characteristics and state how
closing the gap will benefit the customers.
c. determine what data you will use to measure progress.
Develop what data you will use to provide a baseline against
which improvement can be measured.
Step 2: Study the current situation
a)Collect the base line data & plot them. A
control chart is usually used to reveal base line
data.
b)Develop flow chart of the processes.
c)Provide any helpful sketches or visual aids.
d)Identify any variables that might causing the
problem. Data will be gathered on these
variables.

Step 2: Study the current situation
e)Design the data collection instruments.
f)Collect the data & summarize & find the
variables that are affecting the problem.
g)Determine what additional information
would be helpful at this time.
h)Repeat sub steps (b)through (g) until there
is no additional information that will be
helpful at this time.
Step 3: Analyze the potential causes:
a)Determine potential causes of the current
condition
Use the data collected in step 2 & the experience of
the people who work in the process to identify
condition that might lead to the problem.
Construct cause & effect diagrams for these condition
of interest.
Decide on the most likely causes by checking against
the data from step 2 & the experience of the people
working in the process.
Step 3: Analyze the potential causes:
b)Determine whether more data are needed.
If so repeat sub step 2 through 7 of step 2.
c)If possible, verify the causes through
observation or by directly controlling
variables.
Step 4: Implement a solution
a)Develop a list of solutions to be considered.
Be creative.
b)Decide which solution should be tried.
Carefully access the feasibility of each solution.
Clearly indicate why you are choosing a particular
solution.
Step 4: Implement a solution
c)Determine how the preferred solution will
be implemented. Who will be responsible for
the implementation? Who will train them?
d)Implement the preferred solution.
Step5:Checktheresults:
a)Determine whether the action in step 4 were
effective.
Collect more data on the baseline measures from step 2.
Collect any other data related to the conditions at the start
that might be relevant.
Analyze the results. Determine whether the solution
tested was effective. Repeat previous steps as necessary.
b)describe any deviation from the plan & what was
learned.
Step6: Standardize the improvement
a)Institutionalize the improvement
Develop a strategy for standardizing the
improvement & assign responsibilities.
Determine whether the improvement should
be applied else-where & plan for its
implementation.
Step7:Establish future plans
a)Determine your plan for the future
Identify related problems that should be
applied else where & plan for its
implementation.
b)Summarize what you learned about the
project team experience & make
recommendations for future project teams.