Kepner-Tregoe, the Global Leader in Problem-Solving, Announces Its 2017 Process Achievement Award Recipients
Princeton, New Jersey (PRWEB) September 28, 2017 -- Kepner-Tregoe, a leader in problem solving and skills development for enterprises worldwide for almost 60 years, announced today its 2017 Process Achievement Award recipients in two categories: Single and Team Use of Kepner-Tregoe Process and Organizational Deployment of Kepner-Tregoe Process.
“Everyone at Kepner-Tregoe salutes our 2017 Process Achievement Award recipients,” said William B. Baldwin, COO/CFO. “Not only are they accomplishing more for their companies and their clients and stakeholders, but also clearly demonstrating the vital connection between them and KT to transfer knowledge and apply it to daily challenges and problems that maximize productivity and efficiency and ultimately improve profitability.”
Companies with a global presence and demonstrated leadership in their industries submit nominations every year. They are excellent examples of organizations that strongly rely on KT problem-solving and decision-making processes and skills development to reduce costs, operate at maximum efficiency and deliver an outstanding ROI to all stakeholders.
The 2017 Process Achievement Award recipients in the Single and Team Use of Kepner-Tregoe Process showcased a number of automotive production challenges. With the use of KT processes and the application of its training protocol, teams were able to overcome these challenges quickly and begin production, so products could be brought to market faster and at competitive prices.
In the Organizational Deployment of Kepner-Tregoe Process category, the three recipients demonstrated the versatility of KT solutions. Fokker Aerostructures improved performance by transforming from a reactive to a preventative approach. Fiat Chrysler Automotive utilized KT training to support its engineers. Rotary Engineering Ltd. discovered new ways to create a safer working environment, which has had a direct effect on greater productivity.
Category I Single and Team Use of Kepner-Tregoe Process
Gold Award: Yanfeng Automotive Interiors
Eliminating Wasted Time & Money at Yanfeng Automotive Interiors
Yanfeng Automotive Interiors (YFAI) is the global leader in automotive interiors, with more than 25 facilities in North America. KT is one of the primary tools in the Continuous Improvement tool kit at YFAI, providing structured problem solving and decision making. While prevention is key, issues that arise are addressed quickly and permanently, avoiding the potential for money wasted in work-arounds. During 2016, when a production issue arose, rather than jumping to the most likely cause, a team trained in KT Problem Solving and Decision Making resolved the issue within six hours and brought in expertise to confirm cause and adjust production accordingly. If the original “obvious” assumption of cause had been pursued, then managers estimate weeks of time wasted and the potential for continuous production issues.
The other recipients of the KT 2017 Process Achievement Award in the Single and Team Use category are:
Truck Hero
Rapid Analysis Moves Key Project Forward at Truck Hero, Inc.
The Truck Hero family of brands is a product innovator in the US light-duty truck aftermarket. To continue to lead in product innovation, KT tools were introduced to improve problem solving and reduce analysis time. Soon after completing training in the structured KT approach, a team tackled an issue with wrinkled fabric on a truck cover product under development. The issue had been unresolved for a period of time and a solution was needed, so the new product could launch on schedule. Within a week, the team identified the cause and tested a solution, freeing the new product for production. The rapid analysis and resolution avoided costly potential delays and supported timely introduction of a profitable new product.
FCA-COMAU
Sharing KT Tools Keeps FCA-COMAU On Schedule in Body Shop
Comau, a member of the FCA Group, specializes in producing advanced industrial automation solutions that integrate products, technologies and services. Body framing, a modular, flexible and expandable system, is one of the most important Comau developments in used in Body in White (processes when sheet metal parts are welded to chassis) to ensure the geometry of the car in the most critical assembly phase: the marriage of underbody with body sides. When this new system was designed, during the validation process, a problem occurred in the prototype. Comau, with the effective support of an FCA team, worked using KT tools to analyze and resolve the issue. Within two weeks the cause was identified and a solution implemented, allowing validation and production to be on schedule. Significant customer issues and costs of delays were avoided. Understanding the value of KT tools Comau has begun training employees to use the KT skills that are part of FCA’s Continuous Improvement tool kit.
Category II Organization Deployment of Kepner-Tregoe Process
Gold Award: Fokker Aerostructures, part of GKN AEROSPACE
Stepping up the Problem-Solving Game at Fokker Aerostructures
Fokker Aerostructures, part of GKN AEROSPACE, is a specialist in integrated aircraft structures serving Airbus, Boeing, Gulfstream, Cessna, Dassault and other major companies in aerospace and defense. KT recognized Fokker for tremendous cost savings and quality improvements by winning two 2016 awards. Since then, the organization has demonstrated the sustainability of its successful quality program and expanded the use of KT Process, further refocusing from reactive to preventive efforts and improving integration on a global scale. New programs were launched to yield savings and improvements as Fokker strives for zero defects by 2022.
The other recipients of the KT 2017 Process Achievement Award in the Organizational Deployment category are:
Fiat Chrysler Automotive (FCA)
Shared, Structured Problem-Solving Approach at FCA
Fiat Chrysler Automotive (FCA) is a major US automotive manufacturer. Two years ago, FCA resolved to improve first-time capability (FTC) for resolving engineering problems by giving engineers a shared, structured approach. The Reactive Master Blackbelt Group was reformed with two MBBs. FCA invested in developing and embedding KT skills in the FCA Greenbelt Program and tied certification to bonuses. Today six MBBs teach classes and certify students in the USA, Mexico, China and Italy. Some early results in the organizational rollout of the structured KT problem-solving approach have recouped costs of engineering changes, improved FTC and collaboration, and streamlined problem solving and escalations.
Rotary Engineering Ltd.
Driving Safety, Quality and Continuous Improvement at Rotary Engineering
Rotary Engineering Ltd. provides fully-integrated engineering design, procurement and construction (EPC) services to the oil and gas, petroleum, petrochemical and pharmaceutical industries throughout Asia/Pacific. Dedicated to safety, quality and continuous improvement, Rotary initiated a skill development and application program with KT to structure a shared approach to problem solving and lay a foundation for process optimization. During less than a year, Rotary has achieved good initial results within a range of initiatives. A structured safety program for transport operators has already yielded higher productivity due to improved material loading and greater safety compliance. Additional initiatives are underway as skills are learned and applied throughout the organization.
About Kepner-Tregoe
For almost 60 years, Kepner-Tregoe has empowered thousands of companies to solve millions of problems. We provide a data-driven, consistent, scalable approach to clients in operations, manufacturing, IT Service Management, Technical Support and Learning and Development. We empower you to solve problems.
Kepner-Tregoe provides a unique combination of skills development and consulting services, designed specifically to reveal the root cause of problems and permanently address your organizational challenges. Our approach to problem solving will deliver measurable results to any company looking to improve quality and effectiveness while reducing overall costs
David Kossoff, Global Director of Marketing, Kepner-Tregoe Inc, http://www.kepner-tregoe.com/, +1 609-252-2535, [email protected]
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