All Operations related checklists...
Theory of Constraints Checklist
Checklist to be used to deploy a sequence of improvement projects to address a resource constraint in a system.
- What is/are your system's resource constraint(s)?
- In what ways can you exploit the system's constraint? What projects can you deploy to minimize the waste of the constraint?
- In what ways can you subordinate everything else to the above projects that target the constraint? What projects can you deploy to maximize throughput of the constraint?
- In what ways can you elevate, or lift the restriction, of the constraint? What projects can provide additional resources to the constraint?
- Through these steps has your system's constraint been addressed? If so, return to the first question.
Eliyahu M. Goldratt. "The Haystack Syndrome: Sifting Information Out of the Data Ocean". (North River Press, 1990), p. 59-63.
See also:
Data Mining Checklist
Checklist to be used as a sequential guide to automatically explore large amounts of data to uncover patterns.
- GOAL DEFINITION - What is the goal/objective of your data mining project?
- DATA SELECTION - What is the data needed for the project and what is/are the sources(s) for this data?
- DATA PREPARATION - What processing does the data need to undergo before it is ready to be mined? Does it need to be sorted? Do any exclusion criteria need to be applied? Do multiple data sources need to be aggregated?
- DATA EXPLORATION - Have you undergone any data verification processes to validate the data set prior to pattern discovery?
- PATTERN DISCOVERY - Have you determined a pattern discovery algorithm and applied it to the data set?
- PATTERN DEPLOYMENT - Have you applied the patterns discovered in the data to the initial business goal/objective of your data mining project?
- PATTERN PRESENTATION - Have you communicated the pattern and its relationship to the business goal/objective to relevant stakeholders?
- BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE - Have you deployed the discovered patterns as queries against a database to derive reports?
- DATA SCORING AND LABELLING - Have you applied the discovered patterns to score and label each data record in the database?
- DECISION SUPPORT SYSTEMS - Have the discovered patterns been used to make a decision support system?
- ALARM MONITORING - Have the discovered patterns been established as norms for a business process against which deviations from the normal pattern can be set up with alarms?
- PATTERN VALIDITY MONITORING - As the business process changes over time, has the validity of the discovered patterns been re-evaluated?
Pyzdek, Thomas & Keller, Paul A. "The Six Sigma Handbook" 3rd Edition. McGraw Hill (2010), p. 110-112.
Developing Business Metrics Checklist
Checklist to develop solid business metrics to monitor performance.
- Are your metrics focused on indicators that provide direct value to end customers or alternatively on internal processes that provide indirect value to end customers?
- Are your metrics relevant to your organization's mission, vision, and strategic direction?
- Do your metrics provide useable information that can support management decisions and actions without requiring further analysis?
- Do your metrics measure performance across time to show trends?
- Are your metrics developed collaboratively by those who need to collect, process, and use the data?
K. H. Rose. “A Performance Measurement Model”, Quality Progress, (February 1995), p. 63-66.
See also Vision Statement Checklist
Successful Supply Chain Cross-Docking Checklist
Successful Supply Chain Cross-Docking Checklist
Checklist to ensure you have the basic elements to successfully practice cross-docking, or moving material from manufacturing to customer with little or no handling in between.
- Do you have support from upstream suppliers that provide stable and reliable service?
- Does your organization have a meaningful commitment to a culture of continuous improvement supported by methodologies such as Six Sigma and Lean?
- Does your organization have committed people, effective training, and standardized procedures?
- Does your facility layout support optimal efficiency and is work balanced throughout the day?
- Is your organization supported by information technology systems with tracking capability?
- Do the products you are cross-docking have consistent, high-volume sales?
J. Paul Dittman. “Supply Chain Transformation: Building and Executing an Integrated Supply Chain Strategy” (McGraw-Hill, 2013), Chapter 5 p. 13-14.
5 Pillar Supply Chain Analysis Checklist
Checklist to ensure your supply chain has the five elements that drive value.
- TALENT - Have you hired talented supply chain managers and created an environment in which they can develop and grow?
- TECHNOLOGY - Have you completed a technology assessment of your organization and identified any gaps?
- INTERNAL COLLABORATION - Are the supply chain function and other areas of your business (e.g. marketing, human resources) focused on meeting the needs of your customer in the most effective way possible?
- EXTERNAL COLLABORATION - Do you collaborate effectively with your external vendors/upstream suppliers?
- EFFECTIVELY GETTING THINGS DONE - Is your supply chain supported by effective project management and change management people and processes?
Reuben Sloan et al. “The New Supply Chain Agenda” (Harvard Business Review Press, 2010).