We coach your team members on how to create project charters that clearly define the problems, scopes, deliverables, owners, and timelines as well as clarity of purpose. In our experience, this is critical step in project execution. Indeed, as Charles Ketterling said, “A problem well-stated (or you might say defined!) is a problem half-solved.” At this stage, we also plan the kaizen event schedule.

This is a rapid improvement “Kaizen Week” during which teams work on the gemba (the actual workplace) to achieve breakthrough improvements through the act of “trystorming.” Our hands-on, experiential approach to work at the gemba involves 20% thinking, 40% doing, and 40% refining the work until your team achieve the desired results. Prior to this week, team members perform pre-work collecting data and fine- tuning their strategies for approaching the work during the actual Kaizen Week.

These projects typically need focused attention from the team on a medium to long-term basis. These projects tend to involve formulating strategic game plans around customer involvement, changes in technology, process, vendors etc. We help coach your project teams on these change initiatives by offering a combination of lean concepts and methodologies, other best practices, and our own unique insight based on what we know about your business and your industry. We keep a check on timelines and target dates in these projects and help your team members do the same.

This phase typically requires 3-5 days for a Kaizen week and flexible timelines for dedicated Kaizen projects.

When you engage True North Solutions only for this phase of the 5A Framework (without the AWAKEN and ALIGN phase), we will need to discuss your specific business needs and goals upon contract award. We will then charter the course schedule based on these needs.