Organizations don't plan to fail, they just don't have a structured system for problem solving. In this presentation you will find out how to solve problems the way one of the most successful, admired, studied, and emulated companies in the history of commerce solves problems and continuously improves its business and enjoys major breakthroughs time and time again.

1. How to use Toyota’s Problem Solving
Method to Create an Environment of
Continuous Improvement in Your
Organization

2. It doesn’t mush matter what your craft is in
business, (i.e. Sales, Marketing, Retail,
Manufacturing) or what your product or service is,
if you don’t have a repeatable and reproducible
framework in place for solving problems, some
degree of chaos or lack of organization most likely
ensues.

3. Without a structured approach to solving
problems in your organization,
problem forecasting probably doesn’t occur as
much as it should and a proactive approach to
problems might not exist

4. Problems are probably perceived as
inevitable and are usually only dealt with
when they surface. And usually by people
who were assigned to the problem with
much kicking and dragging.

5. When we teach our employees (arguably
our greatest asset) how to think, and not
what to think, they become more engaged
problem solvers, proactivity increases, and
preventable problems decrease.

6. So What are the 8 steps of Toyota’s
method?

8. 1. Clarify the Problem
Clearly identify the problem. Communicate
how it aligns with the goal of the
organization. Quantify what the ideal
outcome should be in the future state,
what the current state is, and calculate the
spread.

9. 2. Breakdown the Problem
There’s only one way to eat an elephant.
One bite at a time. Break down the
problem into manageable chunks. Ask
Who, What, When, and Why to break the
problem into Priority, Process, and Point
of Cause

10. 3. Set a Target
Set a target of how much you plan to
improve the problem and when the
improvement will be made

11. 4. Analyze the Root Cause
Conduct a Brainstorming Session to
determine potential causes of problem. Use
the 5 Why method to drill down to the root
cause. Go to Gemba (or the physical
process) to verify the validity of your
findings

12. 5. Develop Countermeasures
Brainstorm with your team potential
solutions to the problem. Establish a
criteria to prevent future events, develop
action plans to fix the problem, assign
tasks, and gain consensus from all
stakeholders necessary

13. 6. See Countermeasures Through
Verify that all action items are being
completed in time allotted. Make sure
all milestones are being reported as
well as roadblocks. Be persistent and
see it through.

14. 7. Evaluate Both Results and Processes
Determine if the target was achieved.
Evaluate current state process and
compare to past state. Calculate
results to see if the original spread has
been eliminated or reduced.

15. 8. Standardize Successful Processes
Standardize Successful Processes, share
results with all key stakeholders and other
department heads that can benefit from
your successful project completion, and
start your next round of Kaizen.

16. The End
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