PSCI news

Ventura County’s Lean Journey with Paul Stamper

Thu, 13 Oct 2022

In this podcast, Paul Stamper shares how lean has helped Ventura County improve its processes and how continuous improvement can bring positive change to government and service environments in general.

Systems thinking for civil servants

Wed, 01 Jun 2022

The UK Government Office for Science, in collaboration with the Policy Profession, Royal Academy of Engineering and the Systems Thinking Interest Group has produced a suite of documents to promote and embed systems thinking across the Civil Service.

The guidance is intended for civil servants working all over government, regardless of grade, department, background or profession.

The documents include:

an introduction to systems thinking, a short summary of what systems thinking is, when it is useful and why it can be beneficial to your work
the systems thinking journey, which expands on the content within the introduction to systems thinking and maps 5 systems thinking principles to different stages of the policy design process
the systems thinking toolkit, which contains step-by-step instructions on how to use 11 systems thinking tools
the systems thinking case study bank, which contains a collection of 14 personal testimonials from civil servants on their experiences of using systems thinking in their work

Is Lean/TPS Possible in the Public Service?

Mon, 15 Nov 2021

As a general rule, government departments most similar to private sector operations had the greatest success – (e.g. a city’s motor equipment division which maintained & repaired its cars & trucks).

But the literature suggests that even those areas were unable to sustain continuous improvement, which as we know, entails building a supporting management system.

Lean the Virus - Applying Lean principles to the COVID-19 response

Sun, 01 Nov 2020

"This paper describes how lean concepts and techniques can be applied to the pandemic response. It explains how the principles of quality, efficiency, and standard work apply to elements of the response including regulation, supply chain management and data collection. The paper urgesthe integration of lean principles and techniques into public management systemsduring this public health crisisand going forward."

Lean and Strategy in the U.S. Air Force with Reza Zeinalpour

Sun, 29 Dec 2019

In this Gemba Academy podcast Reza Zeinalpour and the host talk about applying continuous improvement in the U.S. Air Force, including how they integrate performance metrics, innovation, and virtual reality.

U.S. Navy swapping $38,000 periscope joysticks for $30 Xbox controllers on high-tech submarines

Wed, 19 Sep 2018

“The Navy got together and they asked a bunch of J.O.s and junior guys, ‘What can we do to make your life better?'” said Lt. j.g. Kyle Leonard, the USS John Warner’s assistant weapons officer. “And one of the things that came out is the controls for the scope. It’s kind of clunky in your hand; it’s real heavy.”

...The Xbox controller typically costs less than $30. The Pilot’s report said the photonic mast handgrip and imaging control panel cost about $38,000.

The effort to put familiar technology in the hands of sailors won’t stop with the controllers, as touch screens like those on iPads and other devices will soon be incorporated into tasks.

Using Kaizen to eliminate the large CSI evidence backlog in Ohio

Wed, 15 Aug 2018

There are large backlogs in processing rape kits at police departments around the country. In many states the problem is so long term and so visible and politically damaging that legistlatures have tried to address the huge backlogs. The success has been fairly limited. In Ohio they commited resources to addressing the problem and using kaizen principles to improve their internal processes and get real results. We need more states to follow Ohio's lead.

In 2011, the Ohio Attorney General’s office pushed the state to address its backlog. In response, the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation held a week-long hack-a-thon where they revamped each step in the rape kit testing process using Kaizen, a Japanese productivity philosophy, said Kristen Slaper, a DNA laboratory supervisor.

“It used to be that it could take a scientist an entire day to work a rape kit,” Slaper said. “Now it can take an hour or two for them to open it, do minimal screening, take their notes and cut the samples into tubes.”

The lab runs like an assembly line with tasks divided among scientists. Ohio trains newly hired forensic scientists in small tasks, like cutting swabs, and gets them on the job within a month, Slaper said.

Phoenix — A Challenge to the Public Sector

Wed, 21 Mar 2018

I intend to provide a concrete way forward to our elected and appointed federal government officials to replace the Phoenix pay system. It frustrates me to no end that in 2018 we have to pay for failed IT systems that use approaches firmly rooted in the 1960s, when I and many other software people know that we could ship most if not all of the system, with substantially better quality, at a cost that’s at least one if not two orders of magnitude lower.

...

My proposal is to start with a small, handpicked team of perhaps a dozen people from a number of disciplines and grow only when there’s enough pain to warrant growth. Let that team work outside the normal government bureaucracy, with the backing of the highest levels of elected officials and members of the federal public service. Stay out of that team’s way and let them deliver a high quality system that is extremely well-tailored to the needs of the users and stakeholders, and does what it’s supposed to do… pay people in the public service.

Government service is to be judged on equity as well as on efficiency

Tue, 12 Dec 2017

W. Edwards Deming, from page 198 of Out of the Crisis

Government service is to be judged on equity as well as on efficiency.

Which he follows with a quotes from Oscar Ornati “We have forgotten that the function of government is more equity oriented than efficiency oriented.”

How Learning Collaboratives Are Helping to End Homelessness

Mon, 04 Dec 2017

Our team at Community Solutions is adapting IHI’s quality improvement methodology and Breakthrough Series Collaborative model to help communities end homelessness among veterans and chronically homeless people. To date, 10 of the 70 communities we’re coaching have ended homelessness for at least one of these populations, and another 22 communities are reducing the number of people experiencing homelessness month-over-month. These communities are applying systems thinking, real-time measurement, and quality improvement methods to methodically drive down homelessness over time.

Washington State Government Lean Transformation Conference Presentations Available Online

Tue, 17 Oct 2017

The 2017 Washington State Government Lean Transformation Conference is taking place now. Follow the link to view past presentations on YouTube and download slides and session materials (2012 through 2016 and I would imagine 2017 will be added soon).

Webcasts include

Continuous Improvement and Personal Kanban by Jim Benson (Modus Cooperandi)
We're not robots - reorganize for speed! by John Dickson (Spokane County)
Embracing employee ideas by Alex Ogunji (Los Angeles County) and Tracy O'Rourke (Integris)
Lean Transformation in Government by Jim Womack Lean Enterprise Institute
Developing Problem Solving Capability in Others through Coaching by Hollie Jensen (Results Washington, Office of the Governor)
Build Your Management System First, Then Optimize Lean: The Department of Retirement Systems Case Study by John Bernard and Marcie Frost (Department of Retirement Systems)

How to Start a Lean Agile Transformation?

Mon, 16 Oct 2017

In the 5th episode of Lean Agile Management Podcast, change management expert and a governmental Lean-Agile professional Mike Burrows answers questions about transforming teams, organizations, and governments into lean thinkers and agile practitioners.

Lean Project Helps Colorado DOT Provide Disaster Response Following Historical Flood

Sat, 09 Sep 2017

The team was able to identify needless handoffs delaying the review process of many permits. A common handoff occurred when a permit writer sent an application to the engineering staff to make the determination of whether that particular truck posed any threats to bridges along the proposed route. By trimming wasteful work and providing new training opportunities, the department reduced the total number of steps in the approval process from 17 to 12, with plans to reduce it even further in the future.

Lean Blog Podcast with Harry Kenworthy, “Lean Government Now!”

Wed, 06 Sep 2017

Mark Graban and Harry Kenworthy discuss Harry's new book.

Harry said that Lean government is not only happening in the US, but in other countries as well. His consulting company has a very strong relationship with the United Kingdom, and also has links with Australia, and Canada.

...

Practising lean is just living that [idea that] people are the most important resource, and the high-level respect for individuals and developing

your people, I guess that’s how I would sum it up.

Violence Reduction on Adult Inpatient Units using a Quality Improvement Approach

Tue, 22 Aug 2017

Tower Hamlets Adult Mental Health inpatient wards reduced violence by over 40% and by 60% on the acute admissions wards, using a Quality Improvement approach.

The change ideas that have helped in general adult settings work on 2 main drivers:

Increasing teams ability to identify and predict risks of violence and to take action proactively as a team. Two change ideas work on this; Safety Huddles and the Broset Violence Checklist

IHI Partners with South Africa National Department of Health to Improve TB Outcomes

Thu, 17 Aug 2017

The Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) has been awarded a $3 million grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to support a four-year quality improvement (QI) initiative to reduce deaths from tuberculosis (TB) in South Africa. The initiative has been co-designed with the South Africa National Department of Health (NDoH) and other partners, and will be the first country-wide TB effort of its kind to utilize QI methodologies at both local and national levels.

Lean Ohio: Making state government in Ohio simpler, faster, better, and less costly.

Tue, 08 Aug 2017

The mission of LeanOhio is to make government services in Ohio simpler, faster, better, and less costly. Using the improvement methods of Lean and Six Sigma, Ohio's state agencies are cutting red tape, removing inefficiencies, improving customer service, and achieving measurable results.

The LeanOhio Network includes hundreds of state employees who have been involved in Kaizen events and other improvement projects. Many have earned Lean certifications. The Network includes state employee unions and members who promote Lean, improve processes, and partner with the state to teach Lean tools and strategies.

‘Leaders of Change’ award named after UW-Madison innovator Maury Cotter

Mon, 07 Aug 2017

At the Office of Quality Improvement, Cotter developed organizational excellence services, including project management, process improvement, and change management. She also coordinated the development and implementation of UW-Madison’s strategic plan over the course of 20 years. She now works as a special assistant in the Division of Continuing Studies.

Japan Gemba Visit: Lean Thinking in Government

Wed, 19 Apr 2017

The government’s main goals are to:

Improve the satisfaction of Nakano residents / constituents by delivering excellent customer service
Improve the satisfaction of Nakano-ku employees
Improve the effectiveness and efficiency of city hall

Mr. Nagata explained that the ward delivers on its goals is by developing people to work self-reliantly to improve the satisfaction of constituents. In order for employees to “give great satisfaction” to constituents, employees must enjoy what they are doing!

Lean Government

Wed, 26 Oct 2016

I was one of the founding board members on the ASQ Public Sector Network (now the ASQ Government Division). I also, created and have maintained the Public Sector Continuous Improvement web site for a decade (some additional details on my background).

There have been many great efforts in the government, but still so much more needs to be done.

Here are articles exploring what has been done:

Doing More With Less in the Public Sector: A Progress Report from Madison, Wisconsin by William G. Hunter, Jan O’Neill, and Carol Wallen
Transformation and Redesign at the White House Communications Agency by March Laree Jacques

Rhode Island’s Governor Announces Lean Initiative, Declares “Operations Matter”

Mon, 13 Apr 2015

Governor Gina M. Raimondo signed an executive order that will mandate the use of Lean principles and methods in state government.

The application of Deming’s Approach to Government in King County, Washington

Fri, 05 Jul 2013

As mayor, Jarrett experimented with Deming’s approach in the public sector. As a result, the city reduced its budget by 20 percent while improving and increasing services. For example, through process improvement, the city’s permitting team slashed the time for approving most re-model permits from 90 days to only three days.

“Deming’s influence lives on in any team or organization seeking to continuously improve. Two decades after his passing, his insights remain fresh, relevant and, all too often, astonishing to those new to his work.”

Irving, Texas, saved millions as a result of Lean Six Sigma

Wed, 25 Jan 2012

City Manager Tommy Gonzalez began implementing the Lean Six Sigma program in Irving, Texas, in 2006. As a result of eliminating unnecessary steps in city operations, he says the city is performing services more quickly, departments are working cooperatively, and morale is higher among city employees. American City & County Contributing Editor Jennifer Grzeskowiak spoke with Gonzalez about the effects Lean Six Sigma has had in Irving.

Applying Lean Thinking in Government

Fri, 07 Oct 2005

Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center:

the Tanker Division utilized an array of process improvement tools to facilitate improvements while increasing quality, efficiency and safety; thus enabling them to become the benchmark effort in lean implementation for Tinker Air Force Base. The results were dramatic: within four years, the average yearly flow time for a KC-135 PDM dropped 52%, the number of aircraft on station (WIP) decreased 49%, and capacity increased 75%.

Article about a Deming 4 day seminar at the Department of Defense in 1988

Sun, 29 May 1988

The legendary sage of quality control, now halfway through his 88th year, appears to think not. Last week in an Arlington conference hall, he devoted four days to lecturing 420 senior Pentagon officials on how the "Deming Way" could build efficiency and morale in the nation's armed forces. It was his first foray into this most formidable of Washington bureaucracies, part of continuing efforts there to stretch resources and reduce waste.

In his trademark rumpled suit and crusty voice, Deming expounded his gospel of "doing it right the first time," bringing rank-and-file employees into the decision-making process, of using statistical analysis to track down and eradicate faults in a production line. He sketched graphs on a projection system. He paced the podium. Pregnant pauses abounded, in which the master gazed enigmatically at the assemblage of note-scribblers. There were generals and admirals among them, but few in the audience had the courage to raise questions.

Doing More with Less in the Public Sector

Wed, 01 Jul 1987

These days there is a considerable amount of discussion on new ideas for improving quality and productivity in organizations and the need for a complete transformation of the way these organizations are managed. Such discussions are almost always couched in terms of organizations in the private sector. There are compelling reasons for believing that significant improvements in quality and productivity can also be made in organizations in the public sector. This report describes some experiences gained in city and state governments in Madison, Wisconsin, in using these new methods and provides some practical guidelines for getting started elsewhere.