Activity Objective

The objective of this assignment is to measure your progress in mastering the following course competency:

• Apply theories, models, and practices of global operations management to address business problems.

More specifically, you will be expected to demonstrate your ability to:

• Analyze the process selected for improvement using the fishboning technique to uncover the root causes of the problem.
• Analyze the process selected for improvement using flowcharting techniques to detail the steps of the process.
• Update the problem statement based on information gathered about the process and its role within the organization.
• Select a suitable process for improvement based on access to process data within the organization.
• Select suitable scope for process of improvement for this course.

Activity Instruction

Once you have broadly identified a process problem, the next critical step is to ensure that you thoroughly understand the problem in its detail. There are a number of tools you can use to do this. Two of the most useful are the fishbone diagram and the process flowchart. For this assessment:

• Create a fishbone diagram to identify, analyze, and graphically depict all potential causes related to the problem in your process in order to uncover the true root causes of the problem.
• Create a graphical flowchart that details all of the steps in the process over time. Pay attention to what this flowchart tells you about the following:
  • Previously unidentified, yet important, steps.
  • Products or services that should undergo quality checks but do not.
  • Times when critical information is not being shared among all involved people and functions.
• Update your problem statement to reflect additional information you gather that impacts your original assumptions.
• Based on your refined problem statement, briefly describe the scope of your process improvement objective. Focus on only one of the contributing causes of the problem in order to keep your project doable given the short time frame of the course.
• Sketch out a rough "Before and After" flowchart diagram that visually illustrates what your process looked like before your improvement and what it might look like after your recommendations are incorporated.