Some Final Tips About Re-engineering
Everything that we've just discussed has been part of a term called re-engineering. There are still, however, some points that need to be made about the actual act of doing it that will help you pull the information together into a complete and logical thought. First, remember that although your ultimate goal is customer satisfaction and a healthy bottom line, this is accomplished through meeting many other goals like:- Improving the quality of the final product
- Increasing the level of service
- Shortening the length (in time) of the process
- Increasing productivity
- Reducing time spent waiting
- Reducing unnecessary activities
- Reducing costs of supplies and materials
- Eliminating unnecessary steps in the process
- Streamlining quality control and approval systems
- Reducing the size of batches for more quality control and less waste
- Sending out work that can't be done efficiently in-house
- Cross-training employees
- Eliminate excess movement of people, products, or materials
Remember that you need to identify precisely what needs to be fixed. If a particular process appears OK at first look, but is having considerable problems being as productive as it should be then maybe the problem isn't with the process itself, but with the training level of the staff who perform it. Make sure you have identified exactly what needs to be improved before you start making changes.
Don't overlook your human resources department as an area for re-engineering. The HR department is not typically one that sees a lot of re-engineering action, however, the skill level, caliber, and knowledge of your employees are really what allow your processes to work. Your HR department and their policies for professional development and training can make a big difference in your employees realizing their potential. By visiting the processes of hiring, training, promoting, and managing the HR system, you can make a big difference in the quality of work your employees produce, as well as the processes involved in hiring and training them.
For example, by improving and speeding up the current system of resume reviews and screening applicants, you can fill positions more quickly and have a lower loss of production. This could be achieved through outsourcing or internal automation systems.
Now let's talk about some ways to really apply all of this information to your business regardless of its size.
