Manufacturing Process Improvement Projects

Hagen rolls out its manufacturing process improvement projects one asset at a time, starting with the asset that represents the largest opportunity. The projects are delivered through the use of Improvement Cycle Teams (ICTs) and with the application of Hagen software and our manufacturing improvement consulting services. These ICTs consist of personnel from the asset where the project is being delivered. They include operators, electricians, mechanics, process engineers, and gement.

Improvement Cycle Teams typically work for five weeks on the biggest problems ranked in terms of dollar value. After an initial training period of two or three days, the team immediately starts working on the largest problem and will solve it using the Hagen software tools and methodologies. The intent is to generate quick wins and prove that problems, previously thought as unsolvable, or "impossible", can be overcome using this new methodology. Teaching plant floor personnel how to tackle difficult problems in a different and more effective way empowers their work and encourages them to attack and solve all of the problems on the line.

After the five-week project, the Improvement Cycle Team will continue implementation of the Hagen methodologies and software to sustain savings and manufacturing process improvement. The ICT will analyze the current data collection and analysis systems, determine where there are gaps, and design solutions to correct these gaps so all necessary data to drive improvement will be captured.

The team will also establish a Steering process through which resources and actions can be assigned to the top opportunities and ensure project completion. Steering ensures focus on problems with the largest financial opportunity and that team actions are driven to completion to ensure the generation of performance improvements as quickly as possible.