QRM Mind-Set & Training

The traditional belief is that for an organization to implement QRM, it will require large investments in technology.

QRM Principle #10

The biggest obstacle to QRM is not technology, but "mind-set." Combat this through training. Next, engage in low-cost or no-cost lead-time reductions. Leave big-ticket technological solutions for a later stage.

The mind-set of all employees, from the manufacturing floor to the boardroom, from desk workers to senior managers, must be realigned to QRM principles. To bring about this mind-set change, organizations will need to rethink existing performance measures from top to bottom. Performance measurements are intimately tied in with the cost accounting system, which is an obstacle to implementing an effective QRM program.

The only way to combat the existing mind-set is through extensive education. This must be the first step, or else other efforts will fail. Successful QRM companies supplement their QRM projects with many training seminars for everyone in the organization. They also visit other companies to see first-hand the use of nontraditional strategies and work methods.

The next step is to engage in lead-time reductions that can be achieved through low-cost or no-cost QRM projects to demonstrate the validity of the concepts in your own organization. Much can be accomplished through rethinking current work methods and processes, without making large investments.

Mind-Set Modifications At AEC

From the very beginning of AEC's implementation of QRM, the company has witnessed a dramatic shift in organizational mind-set resulting in positive QRM strategies.

Traditionally, emails were considered private messages and directed to one person for action. In today's environment the QROC's realize that response time of another member's emails are critical to the success of the team's lead-time reduction statistics.

As an outcome, each team member has authority to view and respond to other team members' email messages. AEC's QROC's are proud to announce an average lead-time of 2.7 days for quote turnaround on new projects!