ODI’s Johan Benadie recently did a SGA (small group activity) with the Creditors Team at Grain Field Chickens Head Office.
ODI’s Johan Benadie recently did a SGA (small group activity) with the Creditors Team at Grain Field Chickens Head Office – the current procedure for processing creditor invoices, by following the Key 6 (Kaizen of Operations) methodology of the 20 Keys Operations Improvement System.
Kaizen is about continuous improvement “for the better”, and Key 6 is, therefore, about continuously improving the way in which things are done. There is always an opportunity for doing things safer, better, more cost effectively, more time efficient, and smarter. The procedure was mapped and analysed for “waste”, that is, non-value adding activities. Improvement opportunities identified will be built into the standard operating procedure (SOP), after which training will be given to all involved with the procedure. In administrative functions, any reduction in non-value adding time improves efficiency, allowing for a higher output, or doing other value adding, work. The SGA approach (Key 3) is based on the principle that “a few heads are better than one”, and implementation is facilitated in such a way that it assists with “psychological ownership”, which means, people feel that they own something, and they then assume responsibility over a target, or a solution. It’s the opposite of “passing the buck”, or making excuses. And, looking at the smiling faces, it is also fun!
At GFC, customers and consumers are truly seen as “kings”, and any enquiry is handled as fast as possible, with the main priority being, keeping them happy. An SGA was also done with the Sales Team and Quality Manager, to analyse the enquiry process, with the objective of addressing any enquiries as fast, and as effectively as possible. GFC uses a world class computer system to support this process. The human interfaces around the system were analysed, based on the principle of “do as much processing as possible at the point where the data originates”. By using this principle, improvements were identified by the team to shorten the response time for addressing enquiries.
Grain Field Chickens is a member of the VKB group of companies, a state-of-the-art, technologically advanced abattoir in Reitz in the Eastern Free State, supplying a range of chicken products from the farms of the Free State.
SGAs facilitated by Landi vd Merwe (VKB CI Manager), Renee vd Westhuizen (GFC 20 Keys Facilitator), and Johan Benadie (ODI). #virdieliefdevandieland #fortheloveoftheland
Author: Johan Benadie
To read more about ODI’s Continuous Operations Improvement System, click here.